While fruit juices provide a lot of vitamins, they do not have the other nutrients that your body needs. — Filepic
Some food myths have circulated through time and along the way, become “fact”. However, a lot of facts are probably misconceptions as people don’t fully understand food nutrition. Here are some of the myths which can be dispelled with food-related science. — Compiled by PATSY KAM
MSG is vilified by some health websites. — Filepic
1. MSG has bad rap
MSG or monosodium glutamate has been vilified time and again, and the West swears that it’s bad for you, although Uncle Roger (comedian Nigel Ng) is doing his best to promote it. MSG is a sodium salt from glutamic acid and, in fact, an amino that our body naturally synthesises as it’s required for protein synthesis. Just like salt, MSG − which acts as a flavour enhancer − in moderation should not be a problem. Yes, some people do seem to show sensitivity and have allergic reactions such as headaches or rashes, but otherwise, there is no clear scientific proof that MSG causes serious health problems. If you react to it, the simple solution is to avoid foods with MSG.
Expiry dates are an indication of manufacturer’s guarantee. — Filepic
2. Past expiration dates
When manufacturers print expiration dates on packaging or tins, it just means that’s the period which they would guarantee the product for. But just because it’s past that date, it doesn’t mean the food item will suddenly turn bad. It just means you eat it at your own risk and most times, the food is still good enough for consumption, especially if it’s stored in the freezer.
3. All I need is fruit juice
We associate fruits with health, hence a lot of people drink juices for detoxification. While juices do provide a lot of vitamins, it doesn’t provide other nutrients that a balanced diet gives your body, such as healthy fats, protein, and fibre from vegetables and actual fruits. Moreover, an overly high consumption of juice means you’re loading up with sugar. Even if it’s a natural source, it’s still not recommended to overdo it, especially if you have diabetes.
An egg or two a day is good for you. — Freepik
4. Eggs are bad
In the last couple of decades, there has been so much misinformation on eggs that it’s astounding. It was targeted as the main contributor to high cholesterol, which has been found to be not true. Eggs contain many nutrients such as zinc and iron, antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, and vitamin D among others, and are probably the cheapest and easiest available source of protein. People have to remember that all things should be eaten in moderation, and having an egg or two a day is perfectly fine and actually good for you.
5. Cranberry juice cures UTI
How often have you heard this? Reach for cranberry juice when you have UTI (urinary tract infection). Scientifically, there is no real proof that it cures infection. According to a medical journal, compounds in the juice can stop infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall, but that’s about all it can do for you. If you have a full-blown infection and suffering in pain, you should see a doctor immediately for a dose of antibiotics.
6. Eating late at night
Here’s the low down on stuffing your face at night. No, you don’t magically gain more weight just because you eat at 12am compared to eating at 12pm. It just means you’re not giving your body enough time to digest properly and burn off the excess energy obtained from the food you just ate. Regardless of the time you eat, the calories remain the same. The question is, what kind of foods are you snacking on at night, and how much physical activity do you do in a day? Those factors are more important in determining whether you gain weight or not.
