Experts debunk seven food mythsFitness and health22:09 | 04 April 2023

1. You need to drink eight glasses of water a day. First, we all have glasses – in different sizes. In addition, 20% of the liquid can be obtained from fruits and vegetables. The easiest way to tell if you’re drinking enough water is to look at the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow.

2. No food after 8pm. Some studies have shown that eating before bed is associated with less restful sleep. It is better not to eat anything two to three hours before bedtime to give the body time to digest food. Well, also pay attention to the products that interest you in the evening. There should be no chips, popcorn, cookies, ice cream.

3. Raw vegetables are healthier than boiled. Some nutrients are actually lost during the cooking process. At the same time, cooking increases the availability of nutrients in certain vegetables. For example, the body absorbs lycopene better from boiled tomatoes than from raw tomatoes.

4. Consume less carbohydrates for health. This is wrong. Whole grains are beneficial. However, it is best to avoid highly processed foods (e.g. white bread).

5. Juice and smoothies are healthy foods. It all depends on what’s in them. For example, store-bought juices may be too high in sugar.

6. Natural seafood is better than farm-raised. It will be much more important to think about the type of fish, its cut and preparation methods.

7. Eating fat makes you fat. No, dietary fat does not automatically convert to body fat. According to scientific studies, high- and moderate-fat diets can help you lose as much weight as low-fat diets. In addition, fat helps you feel full for longer, keep you warm, absorb nutrients and produce hormones.

News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.