Pierrette Mulumba
There’s nothing wrong with living a healthy lifestyle. However, it’s possible to act in way where you think you’re doing right by your healthy but in reality you’re actually damaging it.
- We live for non-fat and fat free
When the fats are removed from your favourite foods, sugar takes their place-more so for taste and flavour. Our body needs fats. The good fats contain vitamins A, D, E K and these support heart and brain health. Although nuts, avocado and olive oil are high in kilojoules, we need their fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. In addition, the ‘good’ fats in these foods help move these nutrients around the body.
People will enjoy low-fat foods not realising they’re eating way more sugar than necessary. Appreciate good fats such as nuts, avocadoes, olive oil and salmon.
No added sugar is another misconception.
Sugar comes in many forms. It can be found naturally in some fruit and vegetables. Just because a food reads no added sugar, does not mean that it’s clear of free sugars like honey and fruit syrup.
- Turning cheat days into cheat weekends
Starving yourself during the week only to binge on weekends can seriously damage your healthy eating habits. Also, you can gain twice as much calories that you tried to avoid in one single night.
- No carb, high protein and vegetable diet
You. Need. Carbs.
Bread and pasta aren’t the only thing that has carbohydrates. Fruits, vegetables and dairy products also contain carbs.
Avoiding carbs can lead to low blood sugars and this comes with its own health complications. Try good carbs like brown rice and beans. These will fill you up much faster and they’re great for your health.
- Alcohol is not fat-free
Alcohol contains plenty of calories. There are calories in beer, wine and margaritas. It’s not called a beer belly for nothing.
- No desserts.
Deprivation leads to cravings and cravings leads to bingeing. We don’t need you bingeing. Learn to eat mindfully so you don’t end up gobbling the entire box of chocolates. Learn to appreciate dark chocolate and when you’re munching on it, give it your full attention.
- Vitamins and supplements
Pills are not a good enough replacement real food. Your body cannot properly absorb all the nutrients that some supplements provide.
