Nutritional Myths: Which are True? Which are False?

There is much information about nutrition, but a lot of it is incorrect.

That's the thing with nutrition- we can find countless words of advice, tips and wisdom online, but sometimes it's hard to know which advice you can trust. Here are a few common myths:

• Coffee deprives the body of water
  We often hear that coffee dehydrates the body. This isn't actually true. Studies show that the caffeine in coffee has a diuretic effect. This means that the liquid we drink leaves the body more quickly than other drinks, but the overall impact on the water levels in the body is negligible. This means you can enjoy your coffee without worrying about dehydration.

• Eggs increase our cholesterol levels
  Eggs contain a lot of cholesterol; a number of studies have proven this fact. Cholesterol is a substance that we need to survive. Our bodies can make their own cholesterol, but a lot of foods also contain it. Recent studies have shown that our bodies can regulate our cholesterol intake themselves. Since the influence of eggs on our cholesterol levels is very low, you can consume them with a good conscience.

• Our beer bellies come from beer
  Beer is a high-calorie food and it does make you fat - that's undisputed. However, the extra weight gained from the over-consumption of beer doesn't necessarily always land around our middles. Where we see our weight gain varies from person to person.

• Fruit acids damage the enamel
  This is true. Many people eat healthily by eating lots of fruit and salads and by drinking fruit juices on a regular basis. While fruit and acidic veggies are good for your health, they are not optimal for our teeth. The acids soften the enamel and deprive it of minerals. Over time, enamel can become brittle and thin with frequent consumption of acidic foods. Fruit, vinegar, fruit juices, wine and sports drinks are particularly dangerous for the enamel.
• To reduce the negative effects of acid on our teeth, we can either add calcium-containing foods (this remineralises the teeth) or simply rinse our mouths with tap water after each meal. This brings the pH in the mouth back to its natural level and neutralizes the acids.

• Eating in the evening makes you fat
  This is indeed a myth, but it is a very persistent one. There is no scientific evidence, however, that eating after 6 pm will cause weight gain in the hips and stomach. It is the total amount of calories you consume daily that influence your weight. If you do eat at night, just be careful not to go to bed with a full stomach, so you don't wake up with a stomach ache.