I recently came across a headline in the mainstream news that read, “Seven ‘Healthy’ Eating Habits that Really Aren’t Healthy.”
And I must say, it made some good points. But it reminded me of an old saying, “It’s not so much what the dog said, but that the dog spoke at all.”
Remember, throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, the mainstream media remained silent about all the bad, unsubstantiated dietary advice doled out by the so-called “experts.”
Millions of American men and women followed this disastrous advice and cut out whole, entire categories of healthy foods from their diets and replaced them with ultra-processed and “low-fat” foods. Foods that, in actuality, were packed with processed carbs and sugars!
Ultimately, this bad advice (and the mainstream media’s silence on the topic) has helped contribute to the modern chronic disease epidemics of cancer, heart disease, obesity, and Type II diabetes now plaguing this country.
Well, apparently, after decades of silence, some of the mainstream media hounds are finally finding their voice and speaking up about the real science—which has been around for well over 30 years (if any of them had cared to pay attention)!
So, today, let’s take a look at the seven dietary myths that were finally debunked in this mainstream news article…
Myth #1: You should cut out dietary cholesterol
For decades, mainstream medical “experts” claimed that healthy foods like dairy, eggs, meat, and certain seafood were “bad” because they are high in dietary cholesterol. And they told us to completely cut these foods from our diet.
But this advice has to be the single biggest fraud and scam of modern nutrition and medicine.
The author said we “now know” that eating a lot of high-cholesterol foods does not raise your cholesterol.
And—yes—that’s true.
But that wording makes it seem like the real science just recently surfaced. When in reality, we’ve actually known that dietary cholesterol doesn’t affect blood cholesterol since the early 1980s!
I know because I was in the room in 1984 when the Harvard researchers who made this discovery (Dr. Mark Hegstead et al.) presented their findings to a group of scientists at the National Institutes of Health.
We also knew in 1984 that there’s no correlation between blood cholesterol and death rates from heart disease. (But that’s another story for another day…)
So, what’s been going on over the past 30-plus years? And why didn’t the mainstream embrace the real science sooner? Did “big brother,” as George Orwell suggested in his book 1984, manipulate the data and cover it up?
Unfortunately, the answer is rather simple: Most people didn’t really care to know the truth. That is, until now…
Myth # 2: Eating fat is bad for you
Mainstream medical experts also railed against fats for decades. But science shows you need fats in your diet, including healthy animal fats from meat and dairy. The essential fats in avocados, fish, and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts) also offer numerous health benefits.
Myth #3: Going gluten-free is healthier
Over the past few years, Americans have been going “gluten-free” in droves. But this latest diet craze isn’t as health-conscious as you might think. In fact, new research links a gluten-free diet with increased risk of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.
In reality, only about 1 percent of people actually have celiac disease—a true genetic sensitivity to gluten. In fact, most people who experience some type of sensitivity to gluten really have a sensitivity to glyphosate, the herbicide found in Roundup®, which is sprayed on 95 percent of our wheat supply.
In my view, “gluten” is a red herring. And unless you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease, you won’t benefit from avoiding it.
In addition, whole grain barley, rye, and wheat—in moderation—can be part of a healthy diet. Just make sure to steer clear of most regular breads and grain products on grocery store shelves. These products were most likely made from grains sprayed heavily with glyphosate, from genetically modified (GM) organisms. So, your best option is to opt for organic versions, whenever possible.
Myth #4: Sports drinks are healthy
Many people consume “sports drinks” to stay hydrated or “energy drinks” to stay alert. But the reality is, these drinks are typically laden with calories, sugars, fats, hydrogenated oils, chemicals, and artificial dyes.
Sure, they might provide an illusion of an artificial, short-term boost. But don’t be fooled…
These drinks actually end up dehydrating and overexerting the body as it works to get rid of all these liquid toxins.
It’s certainly true that healthy hydration is a major key to physical performance. It helps you avoid muscle fatigue and injuries. But I recommend drinking safe, natural spring mineral water or this tea, which will help you stay hydrated…all the way down to a cellular level.
Myth #5: Low-fat dairy is healthier than full-fat dairy
I’ve written a lot about the importance of eating several daily servings of full-fat dairy. It’s a key part of the Medi Diet, the healthiest diet on the planet. For one, studies show men and women who eat full-fat dairy reduce their risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Type II diabetes.
In my view, it’s no wonder. Artificial, low-fat products remove the healthy fats your body needs. And then they replace them with harmful refined sugars and artificial ingredients to enhance the taste.
Myth #6: Raw food is healthier
You may have heard that cooking vegetables “kills” vital nutrients. But that half-baked (so to speak) theory ignores basic biology, which tells us that understanding the nutrient composition of foods is just half the battle.
The other half relates to how the nutrients in foods are digested in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, influence the GI microbiome, are absorbed into the bloodstream, and transported throughout the body’s tissues. And it turns out, lightly steaming or sautéing many vegetables actually boosts absorption of their vital nutrients in the body.
Myth #7: Extreme diets work
Lately, it seems like more and more people are resorting to extreme measures to lose weight. They’re following overly restrictive diets, like the so-called Paleo or Keto diets. And they’re adopting excessive exercise habits.
But as I’ve reported time and again—when it comes to diet and exercise, you don’t need to take these drastic measures to live a long and healthy life. In fact, these measures can actually harm your health and shorten your lifespan. And the modernized, pop paleo diet completely misses the mark.
So, there you have it…all seven myths have been busted, once and for all.
And now you know better than all of those diet and nutrition “experts” who are still doling out bad advice…and how to spot bunk news when you see it.
Knowledge really is power…especially when it comes to your health.
P.S. I’ve been exposing dietary myths for years now. And in the May 2014 issue of my monthly newsletter, Insiders’ Cures (“Nine big fat myths still being mouthed by ‘experts’”), I talked more about why it’s time to question all of these health-focused know-it-alls.
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Source:
“7 ‘Healthy’ Eating Habits that Really Aren’t Healthy.” Newsmax, 5/1/19 (newsmax.com/health/health-news/healthy-diet-habits-eating/2019/05/01/id/914167/)