1. Granola is
good for you
Oats are good for you, and the same goes for oatmeal. But
granola takes those good-for-you hunks of flattened oat, blankets them in sugar,
and bakes them in oil to give them crunch.
2. Foods labeled
“natural” are healthier
Case in point: 7UP boasts that it’s made with “100% Natural
Flavors” when, in fact, the soda is sweetened with a decidedly un-natural dose
of high fructose corn syrup. “Corn” is natural, but “high fructose corn syrup”
is produced using a centrifuge and a series of chemical reactions. Other
"natural" abusers include Natural Cheetos, which are made with
maltodextrin and disodium phosphate, and “natural advantage” Post Raisin Bran,
which bathes its raisins in both sugar and corn syrup. The worst part is,
you're likely paying a premium price for common junk food.
3. Egg yolks
raise your cholesterol
Egg yolks contain dietary cholesterol; this much is true. But
research has proven that dietary cholesterol has almost nothing to do with
serum cholesterol, the stuff in your blood. Wake Forest University researchers
reviewed more than 30 egg studies and found no link between egg consumption and
heart disease
4. Chocolate is
bad for you
Cocoa is a plant-based food replete with flavonoids that
increase blood flow and release feel-good endorphins. Plus, it contains a
healthy kind of saturated fat called stearic acid, which research has shown can
increase your good HDL cholesterol. A
bar with 60% cocoa is good, but the more cocoa it contains, the greater the
health effects.
5. Organic is
always better
Often, but not in every case. Organic produce is almost
nutritionally identical to its conventional counterpart. The issue is pesticide
exposure—pesticides have been linked to an increased risk of obesity in some
studies. In general, fruits and vegetables with impermeable skins are safe to
buy conventional, while produce like celery, peaches, apples, and blueberries
are better purchased organic.
6. Meat is bad
for you
Pork, beef, and lamb are among the world’s best sources of
complete protein, and a Danish study found that dieting with 25 percent of
calories from protein can help you lose twice as much weight as dieting with 12
percent protein.
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