I found this list of myths about food on the Weight Watchers site and thought it would be great reading for anyone.
(1) An apple a day keeps the doctor away
This fleshy fruit is rich in nutrients, but will munching your way through a daily Red Delicious or Granny Smith guarantee a clean bill of health? According to the Institute of Food Research, apples are packed with dietary fibre in their skins and core with vitamins and minerals making up about 4% of the fruit.
Nutritional therapist, Seki Tijani, says it's true that these nutrients help protect against illness: "Vitamin C does the most as it really boosts the immune system. A red apple will have more antioxidants stored in its colouring, so it has a 'double whammy' effect in protecting from free radical damage. Apples are rich in fibre that binds to toxins and carries them out of the body, which puts less of a burden on the immune system."
But will 'an apple a day' really put an end to GP visits? "It's an exaggeration – an apple a day will contribute, but the rest of the diet needs to be good as well!" adds Seki Tijani.
But we all know how important it is to get a lot of fruit in. And at one point per serving why not?
(2) Carrots can help you see in the dark
This root vegetable is full of beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, and is great for eyesight, bone growth and immunity. Carrots also contain vitamin C and fibre.
Although the vitamin A in carrots does help general eye health, claims that it promotes night vision may be slightly stretching the truth! Tijani explains: "The antioxidants in carrots protect the mucus membranes in the eyeballs and protect the eyes against UV light damage. Carrots are good for the eyes and protect vision, so they may indirectly help you see better in the dark."
Carrots are a great treat and I know my kids almost live on them. When I eat a lot of carrots my skin is less pale (not orange though).
(3) Chicken soup is good for the soul
Chicken soup has always been a comfort food for cold sufferers, and nutritionists say it is full of goodness. "It contains protein which is made up of amino acids that boost immunity. Most chicken soup contains vegetables which are full of antioxidants and minerals, plus its warmth helps digestion," agrees Tijani.
Is Grandma's recipe for this "feel good"-food good for the soul? "It is a comfort food, and when you feel comforted your brain produces seratonin, the 'happy' brain chemical," she adds.
(4) Eating cheese before bedtime gives you nightmares
Cheese is full of protein, vitamin A (good for eyesight and immunity), B12 (good for the red blood cells), vitamin D (keeps bones strong and healthy) and is full of calcium for strong teeth and bones. But does this bone-friendly food cause bad dreams? Even Dickens' character, Scrooge, blamed his ghostly dreams on crumbs of cheese.
The British Cheese Board undertook a study to investigate this claim. They gave 200 volunteers a 20g piece of cheese before bedtime for one week and most slept like babies, having 'colourful' rather than terrifying dreams. In fact they concluded that cheese may even help us sleep. "One of the amino acids in cheese – tryptophan – has been shown to reduce stress and induce sleep so cheese may actually help you have a good night's sleep," explains Dr Judith Bryans, Nutrition Scientist at The Dairy Council.
The only one that could believe this would be a cheese hater. Watch the point with the cheese though, we eat a lot of low fat and drained feta cheese around our house.
(5) Eating the crusts of bread makes your hair curl
Bread is a good source of starchy carbohydrate energy, particularly wholegrain, which is low glycaemic, releasing energy gradually. When it comes to healthy hair bread may have its benefits. "Wholemeal bread contains a B vitamin called biotin which the hair needs to form its pigment, and studies show this can prevent premature greying," says Tijani.
But if you have ditched the curling tongs in favour of crusts, you may be disappointed. "The browning effect makes bread more difficult to digest, so it is not the healthiest part of the slice," she says.
I am so glad that my six year old daughter has not heard this one. She never eats bread crust and is proud of her straight hair...wait a minute maybe this one is true!
(6) Only eat shellfish when there's an 'r' in the month
Tijani says there is no harm eating shellfish once or twice a week as part of a low fat diet unless you have an intolerance: "They are good sources of protein and zinc, which is good for immunity, fertility and healthy skin. Shellfish also contains selenium, which helps immunity and is a powerful antioxidant."
For more information:
Seki Tijani's website - thenutritionist.net
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