Food Myths: 4 Foods “Science” Got Wrong

Food Myths: 4 foods “science” got wrong

The media pump out so much nutrition information that is contradicting. All the flip-flops, twists and turns written over the years about the goodness or badness of any number of foods leaves most people not knowing what to believe. It takes a long time to change people’s minds about stories and information we heard a long time ago. Whether that information is correct or not, because you believed it first, it’s hard to change that message now. There are 4 foods I always find myself correcting people on… Egg yokes, saturated fats, salt and soy.

The bad rap comes from poor and bias research or reporting by the media. We all need to be more concerning consumers to learn and be more conscious of what we put in our mouths.

1 – Egg Yoke: despite the claims that eggs (in particular the yoke, as this is where all the nutrients are found) contain too much fat and cholesterol, a healthy egg also contains adequate lecithin. Lecithin is a compound that effectively emulsifies the fats and cholesterol in eggs making the whole egg a well-balanced, natural food source that is very healthy. It is recommended that quality free-range eggs can be enjoyed in abundance. Dr Bernard Jensen author of Foods That Heal describes eggs as “having all the right nutrients for the brain, nerves and glands”.

The cholesterol myth has been turning people away from eggs yokes for too long. The case against cholesterol, which was made nearly 30 years ago, was based on faulty evidence. This bogus science that incorrectly labeled cholesterol as the ‘bad guy’ has caused the public to focus on the wrong aspects that lead to poor heath and heart disease; inflammation, oxidative damage, stress and sugar.

2 – Saturated Fat (red meat, butter, coconut, etc): Dr Mercola states the belief that saturated fats are bad for you and will increase your risk of heart disease and heart attacks is “a misguided fallacy. This is simply another myth that has been harming your health for the last 30 or 40 years”. Saturated fats, from good sources, are essential for your health and have been proven to be beneficial for your cardiovascular health, bone strength, liver health, lung function, brain function, proper nerve signalling, and immune strength.

3 – Salt: my grandfather used to call salt “white death”, which made me not eat salt for a very long time. Now don’t get me wrong table or refined (like all refined food) is not great for you. However, colored salt – the best of which is Himalayan Pink Salt, has many health benefits. It contains 84 essential minerals required by the human body, promotes a healthy pH balance, helps regulate blood sugar levels and helps regulate the body’s natural sleep cycle.

A major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has determined that there is insufficient evidence to show that limiting salt consumption has any effect on health. Research has shown that when we limit our salt intake, the resulting blood pressure drop is generally minimal (120/80 may drop to 118/79), not really enough to make much difference. Furthermore, limiting salt too much has its own risks, since the human body needs salt to function properly.

4 – Soy: Soy has been promoted as a healthy alternative to meat and diary for years. However, soy is closely related to estrogen dominance. High estrogen levels are linked to digestive distress, immune system breakdown, PMS, endometriosis, reproductive problems for men and women, allergies, ADD, higher risk of heart disease and cancer, malnutrition and loss of libido.

Soy is one of the great healthy option mistakes! Although, there are some acceptable forms of soy products. Good options are fermented soy products like miso soup, natto and tempeh but these should not be consumed in great quantities.