The road to better health may sometimes involve an extra expense here and there, but you should be careful about wasting money on diet ideas with promises that are more based on myth than fact. Here we are going to explain our top food myths and why they are money-wasters you need to start avoiding today!
Multi Vitamins: There is no clear evidence of multi-vitamins’ health efficacy, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins. Not only are they of questionable value, but, in excess, they can be harmful. Some supplements may be of some use to some people, but determining the right supplement for your age, gender, and personal health status is best left to you and your physician. Outside of getting quality physician advice, multi-vitamins rank high as a common “over spend” in the food myths department.
Gluten Free: The growth of gluten-free products has been explosive. And, in many cases, consumers are paying a higher premium for them. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, and is more beneficial than detrimental. Gluten is harmful to individuals with celiac disease and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in individuals with a gluten sensitivity.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that a gluten-free diet helps with other health issues or losing weight. Unless you are one of the minority of Americans who truly needs to avoid gluten, you may be wasting money on gluten-free products and the food myths associated.
Detoxing: Body detoxification using special juices has been touted as a way to lose weight, rid the body of “poisons,” and treat or prevent any number of diseases. These expensive juices, however, don’t live up to their billing. Indeed, detoxing may be dangerously unhealthy to some people. Your body already does a wonderful job of detoxing, thanks to your liver, kidneys, and intestines. Save the money and let your body do what it’s ideally designed to do. You know, just another item to add to our food myths!
Superfoods: There is no generally accepted definition of a superfood, and it certainly has no meaning among nutrition scientists. Superfood is more marketing than it is science. Before you spend good money on the latest superfood, find out if the claims are backed by any independent qualified research. If there is none, save your money and stick with a balanced diet.
If you’re considering a diet, you should consult your physician to determine the best approach for you.