Smoothies are healthy, carbohydrates make you fat and detox clears the body of waste products? Thought wrong! We reveal the five most common nutritional myths.
Stars and starlets do a lot for a slim body, beautiful skin and a younger appearance. Especially when it comes to nutrition, everyone seems to have found their own secret recipe and relies on special diets and foods.
But not all food tricks really do what they are said to be. And although many stars can look forward to a personal nutritionist at their side, some celebrities still fall for these five nutrition myths.
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1. Smoothies are healthy
Instagram is full of foodies who first mix a smoothie in the morning and start the day with a drink made from fruits, vegetables, nuts and the like. After all, it’s healthy! A widespread nutritional myth is already hidden here, because not every smoothie is automatically health-promoting.
Fruit-based smoothies mainly provide carbohydrates and plenty of fructose. This becomes clear to you when you consider how many fruits actually end up in just one smoothie serving – as a whole fruit nobody would eat that large amount at once.
The fructose is naturally contained in the fruit, but it still has the same effect on the blood sugar level as conventional household sugar: The blood sugar level skyrockets and falls just as quickly, which leads to food cravings.
It is better to eat fruit in its natural form. This way, valuable vitamins and minerals are retained that would otherwise have been lost through the many technical processes. Another plus point: There is a lot of fiber in the fruit bowl in particular, which has a positive effect on the intestinal flora and keeps you full for a long time.
2. Carbohydrates make you fat
Potatoes, rice, pasta and bread are usually not to be found on the diet plans of the stars. The reason: After eating the carbohydrate suppliers, the body releases the hormone insulin to transport the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. At the same time, the storage of fat is favored and fat breakdown is inhibited – not the best prerequisites for a dream body. But not all sources of carbohydrates have to be banned because of this: the decisive factor is their quality!
Simple carbohydrates, such as those found in white bread or sweets, cause the blood sugar level to fluctuate significantly, which promotes food cravings. If complex carbohydrates from whole grain products or legumes are eaten, however, the blood sugar level rises more slowly, decreases more slowly and less insulin is required. If you want to lose weight, you should rely on complex carbohydrates and have the last meal of the day rather low-carb in order to let the fat loss go on in peace.
3. Detox is good for the body
Detoxification cures of all kinds are booming. Stars in particular rely on the multitude of detox products to purify their body and cleanse it from the inside. A pure nutritional myth, because the fact is: there is no such thing as “waste products”!
In a healthy human body there is no accumulation of waste products and deposits of metabolic products!
Substances that cannot be used are excreted through the intestines and kidneys, as the German Nutrition Society explains in a statement. If you want to do something good for your body, you should opt for a healthy and varied diet instead of expensive detox products. Green vegetables, fruit, water, unsweetened herbal and fruit teas and whole grain products are best. In this way, the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and gastrointestinal tract are best supported in their natural detoxification function.
4. Gluten free is always healthier
Many stars do it deliberately, even though they don’t actually have any health problems like celiac disease: They eat completely gluten-free. A food trend that is gaining more and more supporters. Many people hope that a gluten-free diet will make it easier to lose weight and have a healthier body.
But in fact, meals with gluten-free foods do not bring any health benefits for those who do not have to do without the adhesive protein due to illness. The reason why many gluten-free fans still feel better during their special diet plan is often due to the fact that they automatically eat a lot less ready-made products and cook more with fresh products themselves – this increases well-being all by itself.
5. Fatty food makes you fat
Many people disapprove of fat – so it’s no wonder that high-fat foods are often not on the stars’ diets either. Wrong, because this is where another nutritional myth is hidden! Of all the nutrients, fat provides the most calories per gram (1 gram of fat = 9 kilocalories), but similar to carbohydrates, the quality is also crucial here.
Saturated fatty acids, such as those found in fast food, meat or cheese, have a negative effect on the cholesterol level. On the other hand, the polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from avocado, rapeseed and linseed oil as well as herring and salmon are particularly beneficial to health. They are vital for the body and have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, cell membranes and are anti-inflammatory.
Sources used: German Nutrition Society (DGE), Instagram