Diet is an important means for humans to obtain nutrients. Therefore, scientific methods of obtaining nutrients should be mastered in diet, but at present, there are many misconceptions about obtaining nutrients.
Misconception 1: Fruits are always more nutritious than vegetables.
In fact, the nutritional value of most fruits is not as high as that of daily vegetables.
Misconception 2: Lean meat does not contain a lot of fat.
Generally, the fat content in lean pork is the highest among all meats, reaching 25%—30%, while rabbit meat is the lowest, at only 0.5%—2%. The fat content of chicken (without skin) is also relatively low. The fat content of beef is generally below 10%, but if it is fatty beef, even the tenderloin is covered with fine fat dots, and the fat content can even exceed that of pork.
Misconception 3: Eating more vegetable oil is conducive to longevity.
Population surveys and experiments have shown that people with high intake of animal fat have a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases, while people with high intake of vegetable oil have a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Strangely, however, there is no significant difference in lifespan between the two groups.
According to surveys, the reason is that people with high intake of vegetable oil have a higher incidence of cancer. If you eat more vegetable oil, it is best to supplement with antioxidants such as vitamin E.
Misconception 4: Only chicken, duck, fish, and meat contain high-quality protein.
The protein in animal foods is indeed of high quality, but inexpensive legumes and oil-bearing seeds such as peanuts and sunflower seeds also contain rich protein.
Misconception 5: The purer the drinking water, the better.
In fact, many elements that the human body needs are obtained from drinking water. Mineral water containing certain trace elements or compounds can even have therapeutic effects on certain diseases. Distilled water itself contains almost no solutes and can dissolve some substances in the human body, which is beneficial for people with metal poisoning, but drinking it regularly by normal people may lead to a lack of certain minerals.
Misconception 6: Foods without a salty taste do not contain salt.
Salt is sodium chloride, but in addition, sodium has various compound forms. Because blood contains a large amount of sodium ions, animal foods all contain more sodium. In addition, processed foods also contain a large amount of sodium. Therefore, even if you eat foods without a salty taste, you can still get a lot of sodium.
Misconception 7: Foods containing various amino acids are all high-grade nutritional products.
Amino acids are not mysterious in themselves; they are just the building blocks of protein. Foods that contain protein also naturally contain amino acids. Inexpensive corn and potatoes also contain various amino acids. Since healthy people have the ability to digest protein, they can completely obtain amino acids from ordinary food, and there is no need to drink expensive amino acid nutritional supplements.
Misconception 8: All-natural foods are definitely harmless to the human body.
Food chemical analysis has also found that many all-natural foods contain harmful substances. For example, raw beans contain hemolytic substances, sprouted potatoes contain toxins, and some fish contain substances such as amines that may cause poisoning. If these foods are not handled properly, danger may occur.
Misconception 9: Foods with additives are definitely harmful.
Compared to tobacco and alcohol, the harm caused by food additives to healthy adults is minimal. As long as the national regulations on limits are followed, the currently permitted additives are quite safe, and on the whole, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Misconception 10: Western fast food is rich in nutrients.
Nutritionists believe that Western fast food is high in calories and fat, lacks green vegetables, has insufficient dietary fiber, and is nutritionally unbalanced. Other types of fast food have similar problems. Frequent consumption will inevitably lead to malnutrition.