Beginning a weight loss journey is a difficult task, especially when you don’t know which changes to make to your diet. From the keto diet to Jennifer Lopez’s 10 day challenge, there are a number of options when it comes to weight loss. There are also a fair few diet myths out there, including ‘eating low-fat foods are better’ and ‘fruit is bad because it contains sugar’ – both of which are untrue. James Collier, Registered Nutritionist and co-founder of Huel, has debunked a number of weight loss myths, explaining why dieters shouldn’t opt for extreme methods.
Myth: Eating low-fat foods are better for you
James told Express.co.uk: “From the 1970s, we’ve been lead to believe that fat is ‘bad’ for our health and there have been campaigns targeted around getting us to consume less fat.
“This is still happening and the archaic food labelling guidelines focus on fat as a bad nutrient. Fat is not bad! We need fat and including a sensible amount of the right types of fat at each meal are paramount to a nutritious diet.”
Myth: You should add the latest superfoods to your normal diet
The nutritionist said: “‘Superfood’ is another marketing term with no actual meaning in nutrition.
“Some foods touted at being ‘superfoods’ do contain some vitamins and minerals, but not at any particularly amazing levels and, at no higher levels than a portion of regular fruit and veg.”
Myth: Fruit is bad for you because of the sugar
James continued: “No-one ever got fat from eating fruit! Sugar is only bad for you if you consume too much.
“Fruit does contain some sugar, but it’s fructose which is metabolised differently to glucose (table sugar).
“Fruit is also rich in fibre which will help slow down the digestion of foods and fruit is packed with a range of different vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.”
Myth: Cutting carbohydrates will help you lose weight
“Whilst cutting sugary or refined carbohydrate foods may help lose unwanted body fat, it’s only part of the picture and fibrous, starchy carbohydrate foods are important contributors to a wholesome diet and consumed regularly, help maintain an efficient metabolic rate.
“So, whilst you might need to moderate your portion sizes of carbohydrate foods, don’t cut them completely.”
Myth: Skipping meals will help you lose weight quicker
James explained: “If you don’t eat, your body enters ‘fasting mode’ and your metabolic rate may slow down to conserve energy. A slow metabolism means that you’re not burning energy as readily as you should and you’re more likely to store energy as fat and not burn current stores.
“If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s imperative to have three to four (depending on how active you are) small, regular meals a day including protein foods and fibrous carbohydrates at each.”