There are very many myths that have crept in health and fitness, mainly by unscrupulous websites, authors and editors. That is what this article is for. You will be discovering what these myths are, what the science really says, and the origin of the myth itself.
The following are some of the myths that you definitely need to break.
1. High Protein intake is harmful to your kidneys
This myth originated from scientists who were studying the relationship between glomerular filtration rate and protein intake. The glomerular filtration rate or GFR is a measurement of the amount of blood your kidneys filter in a minute. They observed that the GFR increased as protein intake increased, and so jumped to the conclusion that GFR is a measure of how stressed your kidneys are.
But Dutch researchers made an important discovery around 20 years ago, wherein even when GFR rate increased, it did not necessarily mean that the kidneys where unhappy or stressed about it.
A general rule is to eat in grams of protein a day, your desired weight. For example, if you want to be 170 pounds, take in 170 grams of protein a day.
2. Blueberries are better than bananas
Numerous studies have shown that the antioxidant content of blueberries is virtually the highest in the fruits category. So they have been portrayed as being better than every other fruit, including bananas.
The reality is that both serve you well in different areas. For example, bananas contain as much as four times the potassium and magnesium content of blueberries, calorie for calorie. And research has shown that those who eat a variety of fruits and vegetables do more than those who eat as much but only of a few kinds, so it is not really necessary trying to determine which one is better.
3. Red meat causes cancer
The origin of this myth is from a 1986, Japanese study which discovered that rats who had been fed heterocyclic amines, which are also generated when meat is overcooked is at a high temperature, had cancer. This conclusion seemed to have been confirmed by a few subsequent studies on large populations that seemed to imply a relationship between cancer and meat.
But in all the studies conducted, no concrete evidence was provided, which showed a cause, a pathway, and an effect. They were anything but conclusive, delivering the guilty verdict by association and not real observation.
Just make sure your cooking methods are safe, and if you are still worried, just cut off the fatty and overcooked sections of the meat, and enjoy your meal.
