As you read through my blogs, my objective is to shed light on the issues of obesity that we have in our society today. The best way to change this upward trending issue is to provide good diets and exercise activities to do. This week I am going to debunk some myths that is associated with different diets and exercises. By reading this blog, hopefully you will get a better understanding of what diets and exercises to plan to do in the near future.
Myth 1: Ketogenic diet is the best and healthy way to lose weight
False: Many celebrities and activist for this ketogenic diet say this is the best way. But in reality, it is not a sustainable diet a person can do for a very long time. It will help them lose weight quickly, but there is some concerns a person should know that comes along with this diet. From the Harvard Medical School, there are serious risk that come with this diet. People on this diet eat no carbohydrates as possible and eat high amounts of fat and protein. You are limited to eating certain fruits and vegetables because some are high in carbohydrates. Some risk includes, nutrient deficiencies, liver, kidney problems, and mood swings. This is definitely not the best diet to change a lifestyle for a person to become healthy.
Myth 2: Eating tons and high amounts of protein while on the Paleolithic diet
False: There is a big misconception of this diet to eat high amounts of protein like red meats, chicken, and seafood with little vegetables and fruits. The truth to this diet is to have a balanced plate of meat, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. There are many benefits for this diet like lowered triglycerides, lowered blood pressure, and lowered risk for heart disease.
Myth 3: Intermittent fasting will make you hungry all day long
False: There is research that displays that hunger is decreased on the days of fasting and people that are trying to become healthier experienced less hunger by the following weeks of intermittent fasting.
Myth 4: Cannot get enough protein if a person is on a vegan or vegetarian diet
False: There are many plant-based foods that have plenty of protein to help achieve the amount a person is trying to have daily. Some foods that are high in protein and that are not from meat are tofu, lentils, nuts, beans, and whole grains. By eating these foods can help lead to attain the protein amount needed for different people.
Myth 5: Diets that are plant-based are expensive
False: Many foods that a person buys on this diet are fresh vegetables, fruits, and beans. During a fruit and vegetable seasons you can buy them for cheaper. Also, beans that are high in protein are really cheap and come in large quantities. If you go to the grocery store and compare the prices of meats to those of the fresh produce, there is a substantial difference in pricing and more than not the fresh produce will be cheaper.
Myth 6: Plant-based diet is bad because you do not get Vitamin B-12
False: Vitamin B-12 is critical for brain function and the making of red blood cells. It is only natural through meats. Being deficient can lead to neurological disorders. When on this diet a person can take Vitamin B-12 supplements just like a multivitamin, which is easy and not difficult at all.
Myth 7: There is a higher prevalence of injuries while doing Crossfit
False: The outcome from research shows that Crossfit has similar prevalence of injury in Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and gymnastics. A person should stop doing the exercise if the person’s form is compromised and take a break before continuing. Crossfit over the years have taken a beating for all the injuries that occur. The coaches and instructors need to implement the idea of doing the workouts safely and effectively.
Myth 8: HIIT is the better than a steady state cardio exercise
False: Adding a low impact steady state aerobic exercise will help not only aerobic fitness, but also can be used as a recovery exercise to give the muscles the ability to build and become stronger. Diversifying the training exercises through the week will improve different aspects of the body.
As you can see, these are some myths that are false and can have an impact on someone pursuing a diet or exercise that can benefit them to become healthier and having a better quality of life. It is important to get information that is evidence based and can affect someone’s life. Some credible sources to look for information on diets and exercises are CDC, WebMD, and health websites from universities.
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