‘The best detox items are foods like vegetables, fish, nuts, fruits, which are all antioxidants and detoxifying agents via our liver, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys…’
MYTHS about food, other matters, fake news, and other mis-and disinformation abound in social media. What a waste of a wonderful, valuable technological advance in communication! In this column today, we shall debunk nine common myths about food and diet.
1. Eating out is healthier
Unless you are a lousy cook or have poor choice of food items, home-cooked food items could certainly be a lot healthier than restaurant food. The quality and quantity of your food are under your total control.
2. Fasting is good
Occasional fasting, within reason, is fine, but eating small portioned quantity more than the usual three times a day, even up to eight times a day, can be healthier as far as having a more even keel in blood glucose level (less fluctuation), so long as you eat within your normal total calories a day. Dividing the total calorie intake into several times a day is healthier than fasting or missing a meal or two a day. The less blood glucose fluctuation, the better.
3. Eating healthy is costly
This is false. If one eats less red meat, which is healthier (it even lowers your risk of getting cardiovascular disease and cancer), the grocery bills would be leaner. Some frozen food items are cheaper than fresh ones. Eating fish and vegetables, combined with regular physical exercise, could even make one look and feel younger, and improve longevity.
4. Fat-free and low-fat are healthy
Low-fat and fat-free diets were popular in the 80s and 90s, but fat protects our organs, absorbs essential vitamins, supports our cell membrane and promotes growth and development. Not all fats are the same. Saturated and trans fats in fatty red meats and high-fat dairy products are unhealthy. Unsaturated fats from olive and canola oil, avocados, nuts, provide healthy fats.
5. All big fishes are safe to consume
Big fishes, like albacore tuna, shark, orange roughy, southern bluefin tuna, ray, swordfish, barramundi, marlin, king mackerel, and gemfish have high mercury contents. Regular mackerel, salmon, canned yellowfin and regular small tuna are safe. Unlike eating red meat that increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer, consuming fish five or more times a week, helps boost the immune system, improves brain health, prevents blood clots, and reduces the risk for heart attack, stroke and cancer.
6. Unrefined sugars are healthier
A popular myth is that unrefined sugar, like raw sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar, honey, provides lesser calories. All sugars, except artificial sweeteners, are sugars, carbohydrates with high calories and fattening. The calories from consuming unrefined sugars should be counted accordingly, especially among diabetics or those trying to lose weight.
7. Processed foods are safe
Definitely not! While it is commonplace to see people all around us eat processed foods like hot dogs, bacon, ham, salami, sausages, processed veggies, etc., they increase the risk for the development of cancers, especially of the gastrointestinal tract, including pancreas and the colon. The risk is greater with meats grilled at high temperature, with burnt edges or surfaces.
8. Detox pills are necessary
False! These pills or bowel cleaners (irrigation, enemas) could be dangerous to health. The best detox items are foods like vegetables, fish, nuts, fruits, which are all antioxidants and detoxifying agents via our liver, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys, our natural detoxifying organs, day in and day out, 24/7, cleansing our body of toxins and poisons. Eat a healthy diet, avoid processed foods and minimize fast food, drink a lot of water (not poisonous soft drinks) and exercise daily to rejuvenate yourself.
9. Soft drinks are better than water
Although soft drinks may contain some minerals, they are all (cola or un-cola, diet or regular, caffeine-free or not) toxic to the body of adults, and more so to children. The phosphoric acid in them is only one scary chemical, which many use to clean car carburetors or flush a blocked toilet or kitchen drain. All soft drinks increase the risk for metabolic syndrome. They are indeed poison.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
