When it comes to healthy diet advice it can be a nightmare deciding what’s junk and what’s genuine.
It’s actually quite simple to get a balanced diet – just eat the right amount of foods from all the food groups. But every day we’re bombarded with celebrity diets, superfood fads and advertising pushing new ways to eat well and stay in shape. And not everything you read about healthy eating is true – so here are five common myths busted by the NHS.
Myth 1: ‘Foods labelled “low fat” are always a healthy choice’.
The reality: ‘Low fat’ foods can still pack plenty of calories. All the low-fat label really means is that this food is 30% lower in fat than the standard equivalent. So if the type of food in question is high in fat in the first place – like a doughnut – the low-fat version may also still be high in fat. Low-fat foods are often high in sugar too – so check the label carefully.
Myth 2: ‘Steer clear of starchy foods if you want to stay slim.’
The reality: Starchy foods such as rice, pasta, bread and potatoes should make up around one third of everything we eat. This means we should base our meals on these foods for a healthy, balanced diet.
Myth 3: ‘Eating less is the secret of a healthy diet.’
The reality: When it comes to healthy eating, balance is the key. While it’s true that many of us eat too much, a healthy diet means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions. Most people eat too much fat, sugar and salt, and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre.
Myth 4: ‘All fat is the same.’
The reality: Many of us would benefit from cutting down on all types of fat but swapping saturated for unsaturated fat can have health benefits.
Saturated fat – found in sausages, pies, cheese, butter and biscuits – can raise cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. But unsaturated fat – found in oily fish, sunflower and olive oils – can help reduce cholesterol and provide essential nutrients. So, for a healthy diet, limit the total amount of fat you eat and switch to unsaturated fat where possible.
Myth 5: ‘I don’t add salt to my food, so I can’t be eating too much of it.’
The reality: Not salting your food is a good idea but three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in our food when we buy it.
Too much salt can raise blood pressure and increase your risk of stroke and heart problems. Adults shouldn’t eat more than six grams a day, so keep an eye on food labels.
These myth-busting tips are based on NHS-approved information from NHS Choices.
For more information on healthy eating, including tools to check your BMI and help you shop healthily, go to www.nhs.uk