5 Common Nutrition Myths

There's a lot of nutrition information out there.  Some is good and true and some is not so true.  It can be overwhelming and frustrating to try to sift through all the information to figure out what's correct.  So I'm breaking down some of the most common nutrition myths today. 

5 Common Nutrition myths

1. You only need to worry about calories in vs. calories out

Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain weight, improve digestion, gain energy or simply eat better, the quality of the food that you eat is more important than how much you eat. Unfortunately, too many people focus on calories instead of the quality of the food making up those calories. The truth is, eating 1,600 calories in the form of processed food will not provide the same nutritional benefit as whole foods.  This is because not all calories are created equally.   The food that you eat whether it's a bit salad or a candy bar affects ALL aspects of your health.  Your stress level, sleep habits, skin, hair, digestive health, hormones and more!  Everything that you eat affects all aspects of your physical and mental health; from your stress level to your sleep habits to the state of your skin to your digestive health and so much more.  This is why it's so crucial to focus NOT just on calories but also on the quality of your food intake.  Another reason why tracking macros is king to counting calories!

2. Not prioritizing protein

Protein is not just essential for people looking to build muscle but for EVERYONE.  In fact, our bodies CANNOT survive without protein.  Protein helps to build and repair tissue, regenerate cells, transport substances through the body, and is the most satiating macro so helps to balance blood sugar and keep us full longer.  The amount of protein each individual needs is different based on their goals, body type and exercise routine.  In general it's good to aim to get .6-1.0g per pound of bodyweight.  If you're interested in learning to calculate your protein, fat and carbs specific to you, check out my self-paced program, Macros Made Simple!

3.  Avoiding carbs

Carbs are NOT bad for you and will NOT make you gain fat.  You gain fat from eating too many calories.  Carbs actually play very important roles in our bodies.

A few things they do are,

• Supply energy to your body
• Help fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system
• Aid in digestion
• Help keep you full
• Support hormone health
• Keep blood cholesterol levels in check

Eating low carb is not sustainable.  You're going to more than likely have days, weekends, or weeks where you eat more carbs than your body is used to.  This will cause you to store excess energy as fat so you will end up gaining.  Don't fear carbs!

4.  Over-consuming "healthy" foods

All natural, gluten-free, sugar-free, low fat, keto, low carb, paleo...  just because a food has one of these labels does not mean it's a "free" food.  Oftentimes people will go all in on "healthy" foods because they think if they're healthy they won't cause weight gain.  Wrong!  Sure you might get more nutrient density from something like an acai bowl than something like a snickers bar.  BUT, the truth is the calories in that acai bowl add up and can push you over you daily calorie intake.   Just because it's a "healthy" food doesn't mean it's a free food.  Remember, even too much of a good thing can be a bad thing,  when it comes to weight loss. Although a diet rich in whole foods is good for you, if you are not monitoring how much you are eating you can slow down your progress. 

5. Having an all or Nothing Mindset

One meal or one weekend of indulgence isn't going to ruin everything.   Yet that thought often comes into our minds after we over-do it.  "I ruined everything might as well start over tomorrow."  That all or nothing mindset leads us to more negative choices and a feeling of failure.  Let me  ask you this, if you got a flat tire would you slash the other three?  Probably not!  The key to a healthy balanced life is consistency not perfection.  Focus on making small, healthy changes on a day to day basis for long term healthy habits.    

Like this and want more?  Join the waitlist for my group coaching program, The Macro Way!