Debunking the myths

In recent years the drive to lead a long and healthy lifestyle has been pushed through advertising and government campaigns in a bid to urge everyone to exercise regularly and consume 5 fruits or vegetables a day.

The benefits of adding fruit and veggies into any diet are extremely positive to your health as the high fibre content helps control blood glucose levels, may reduce cholesterol and probably reduces the risk of colon cancer and other cancers.

When growing up you probably heard myths from your parents when you sat down at the dinner table, refusing to eat your greens; a carrot helps you see in the dark, sweet-corn makes you grow taller and broccoli makes your hair go curly.  There are many myths that glamorise fruit and vegetable eating, and that’s all they are – myths.

Top 5 Myths

Myth 1: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Well, the word apple in Old English was used to describe any type of fruit that grew on trees. These types of fruit share common properties that are beneficial for your health. They contain good sources of dietary fibre, high levels of Vitamin C and powerful antioxidants. These aspects may indeed help keep the doctor away.

Myth 2: Eating Celery Burns Calories

The average celery stick contains six calories. The process of eating, as an isolated activity, will not burn more calories than the celery stick itself. A brilliant myth, but it should not take away from the fact that celery is an excellent source of fibre that will make you feel fuller for longer.

Myth 3: Eat Spinach for Strength

Popularised by the iconic Popeye, spinach gained a reputation for being the ultimate strength food. And who wouldn’t want Popeye strength? Well, spinach contains a similar amount of iron as other green vegetables such as broccoli, peas and kale. In short, spinach will not make you superhuman, but it will, along with other green vegetables, help keep your strength up.

Myth 4: Carrots help you see In the Dark

Our penultimate myth is a case of wishful thinking. It has been proven that night blindness originates from a lack of Vitamin A. The logic therefore is that Carrots, which contain Vitamin A, may help maintain good eyesight. However, it will not give you night vision.

Most of the myths explored all attempt to glamourize fruit and vegetables to make them more appealing. So why would we glamorise fruit and vegetables? This question leads us to our final myth.

Myth 5: Fruit and Vegetables Don’t Taste as Good as Junk Food

Humans are biologically programmed to hunt out foods with high sugar and fat content. Once upon a time, when such foods were scarce, this primordial behaviour helped us survive. Nowadays, with a supermarket around every corner, this instinctive appetite encourages unhealthy eating. Debunk this last myth by going shopping after you’ve just finished eating. You may find yourself coming home with more fruit and vegetables.

The content was created by Karl Young on behalf of Powerhouse Fitness a leading supplier of fitness equipment and sports nutrition

Photo credit: delish.com