Weight Loss Dietary Myths II

One feels that as long as human life goes on earth, life will be guided by myths and senseless beliefs. The origins of these myths are unknown but they are everywhere, without any distinction of caste, age or race.

1. It is generally taken and spread that low fat foods help weight loss. It is not the fat but the calories that people need to watch out. Fat-free food items do not mean calorie-free. Foods labeled low-fat or fat-free may contain lots of unnecessary and unexpected calories in other forms. These include foods like ready-to eat meals, confectionaries, biscuits and your favorite ice-creams. Look for foods which have fat not more than 3g per 100g. Also eat less or reduced portion sizes to keep fat at the minimum. Sugar filled foods also need to be reduced even if they are low on fat.
2. Eating late in the night contributes to weight gain. I have seen many people eating less of meal and dessert in fear of gaining weight. I never thought the logic behind it and believed the same myself. I ate less at night and was happy to think that I will not put one extra weight if I did so. Even certain diet plans second this idea recommending less food in the night. This is based on the idea that there is no activity at night and therefore there is less digestion. The body will store more fat with no physical activity going on and burns no fat. Studies prove that it is wrong. What makes the difference is the portion sizes you have in the whole of 24hrs. A regular and balanced meal is the key to maintain your weight.
3. Crash diet helps rapid weight loss. It is a totally senseless idea. Crash diet is short term weight loss. As the name suggests the diet may crash any time. It is short-lived and difficult to follow. When the body does not get enough calories it goes on a ’starvation mode’. Once you start eating normal food the body is not able to process the high calories coming in. It needs fewer calories for its functioning and you end up putting on additional weight than before. Further, as you diet you metabolism also slows down to conserve energy. This goes on even when you get back to your normal routine and more fat is stored due to slow metabolism.
4. I have read that certain foods can aid weight loss. To my amazement, they included my favorite vegetable cabbage as well. But there are strong opinions from researches that foods like these consumed in normal quantities cannot burn fat.