Is mineral water better than boiled water? 9 "scam" diet misconceptions
Introduction: In life, sometimes for the sake of convenience, we use instant noodles for breakfast, or replace vegetables with fruits, thinking they have the same effects. In fact, this kind of thinking is wrong. Some nutritional foods not only cannot be replaced, but their effects are even the opposite, and they can be harmful to health. Below, Amway.com shares 9 "scammed" diet misconceptions in daily life.
In diet, sometimes we think that buying expensive food is better, that drinking mineral water is healthier than boiled water, that fresh vegetables are better than refrigerated ones... In fact, these things you think are correct are not only unscientific, but also their nutritional value is greatly reduced. Here are 9 common diet misconceptions, have you been scammed?
Instant noodles instead of breakfast
Frequently eating instant noodles for breakfast is very detrimental to human health and development. This is because the human body needs six essential elements to maintain normal physiological metabolism, while the main component of instant noodles is carbohydrates with very few other nutrients. Therefore, if breakfast is replaced by instant noodles for a long time, it can lead to dizziness, fatigue, weight loss, palpitations, and listlessness. In severe cases, symptoms of malnutrition such as weight loss and muscle atrophy may occur.
Fruits instead of vegetables
Both fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, so many people think that as long as they eat some fruits every day, it doesn't matter if they don't eat or eat less vegetables. In fact, vegetables are a food essential to the human body, second only to grains. They can more effectively promote the absorption of the three major nutrients: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. If a person only eats animal foods, the protein absorption rate is 70%; if they also eat vegetables, the absorption rate can reach over 90%. Furthermore, the unique plant crude fiber in vegetables can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, aiding digestion and preventing colon cancer.
Fresh vegetables instead of refrigerated vegetables
This statement is perfectly fine if we are talking about fresh vegetables just picked from the field. But in fact, most of the vegetables we eat are not that fresh; they have usually been stored for several days, and their vitamins are gradually lost during the storage process. On the contrary, refrigerated vegetables can retain more vitamins because refrigeration after picking can effectively prevent the loss of vitamins.
Mineral water instead of boiled water
Many people say that mineral water is rich in minerals, so they stop drinking boiled water and use mineral water instead. However, mineral water can also be contaminated by harmful substances in the soil. Recently, Dutch scientists analyzed bottled mineral water and found that it is more susceptible to contamination by dangerous microorganisms and bacteria. Although these bacteria may not pose a great threat to healthy people, for those with weaker immune systems, the bacteria in bottled mineral water can be quite dangerous.
Livestock meat instead of fish
It is a habit for most Han Chinese to eat only pork and little or no fish. Although there is little difference in the protein content and absorption rate between the two, the composition of fat is very different. Fish fat contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for children's brain development and preventing cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, the fat in livestock meat, especially beef and mutton, is mainly saturated, and excessive intake is not good for health.
Brown sugar instead of white sugar
Both brown sugar and white sugar are extracted from sugarcane or sugar beets. The production process of brown sugar is slightly simpler than that of white sugar, and it contains more glucose and cellulose. It also releases energy faster and has a higher absorption and utilization rate. However, brown sugar is not as sweet as white sugar, so people tend to use more of it when drinking tea and coffee. Therefore, brown sugar can sometimes be more dangerous than white sugar.
Tonics instead of nutritional supplements
When advised by doctors to improve their nutrition, many people often take various tonics. However, experts point out that tonics cannot replace nutritional supplements. Amino acids are common tonics, but they are not necessary unless there is difficulty eating. Blindly administering amino acids can not only cause allergic reactions, but for those with poor kidney function, it may also lead to hepatic coma and uremia. Many people believe that vitamin drugs are beneficial to the body and that it's fine to take more, but this is not the case. Long-term use of vitamins A and D pills can lead to vitamin A poisoning, with symptoms such as bone pain, vomiting, itching, and hair loss. Therefore, to improve nutrition, one should start by adjusting their diet and not abuse nutritional supplements.
Nutritional supplements instead of natural foods
More and more people are paying attention to nutrition, which is a good thing, but abusing nutritional supplements can turn this good thing bad. Using protein powder as a meal, or taking vitamins as fruits and vegetables, believing that eating these supplements will keep the body healthy. Many people also believe that vitamin drugs are beneficial to the body and that it's fine to take more, but this is not the case. For example, large amounts of vitamin C are associated with kidney stone formation. To improve nutrition, one should, in principle, start with dietary adjustments. If the diet is insufficient and supplementation is indeed needed, it should be recommended by relevant experts, and one must not supplement indiscriminately.
Expensive instead of cheap
Expensive does not necessarily mean the best. For example, expensive shark fin is mainly composed of collagen. The amino acid composition of collagen is not comprehensive and does not quite match the amino acid composition needed by the human body. It is far less nutritious than the albumin and globulin in eggs and milk. Rather than eating shark fin to get that little bit of collagen, it is more nutritious to eat eggs and drink milk to absorb albumin and globulin.