Harianjogja.com, JAKARTA – Many people are increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining health. However, the prevalence of misinformation and nutrition-related myths is a major barrier preventing consumers from obtaining accurate nutritional knowledge.
To find out the various myths about nutrition, Herbalife created a survey titled Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Nutrition Myths Survey 2020 involving 5,500 respondents from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Herbalife Nutrition Indonesia Senior Director & Country General Manager, Andam Dewi said from the survey it was found that there were still many respondents whose level of understanding was not good about nutrition.
Less than a quarter (23%) of respondents answered half or more of the questions correctly. In addition, only four out of 10 (38%) consumers expressed strong confidence in their knowledge of nutrition.
“With so many sources of nutritional information and the prevalence of myths about nutrition, consumers will find it difficult to get accurate information and distinguish facts or myths about nutrition,” he said, Friday (23/10/2020).
To open people’s minds about myths and facts about nutrition and health, here are 8 myths that most frequently circulate in Asia Pacific:
Myth 1: Carbohydrates add weight
Fact: Consuming carbohydrates alone does not lead to weight gain, but also increases calories. The Herbalife Nutrition philosophy recommends that carbohydrates meet only 40% of your daily calorie needs. Healthy carbohydrate sources such as vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds also provide essential nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins.
Myth 2: The older you are, the less protein you need
Fact: Entering the age of 40, we tend to experience a gradual decline in function and muscle mass known as sarcopenia. This process can be reduced by increasing protein intake and undertaking age-appropriate resistance training.
Myth 3: Caffeine causes dehydration
Fact: Although caffeine has diuretic properties (causes increased frequency of urination), consuming two to three cups of coffee will not dehydrate you. A study by the Institute for Scientific Information on coffee states that coffee is also hydrated with its water content.
Myth 4: Bone mass at all ages can be optimized with adequate calcium intake
Fact: Our peak bone mass levels (maximum bone size and strength) depend on calcium intake and will peak at age 30. However, adequate calcium intake throughout life can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium supplementation can protect against bone loss in old age, especially for postmenopausal women who have higher calcium requirements.
Myth 5: The ketogenic diet is a healthy way to lose weight
Fact: Very low carbohydrate consumption, moderate protein intake and high fat intake encourage the body to use fat as fuel, which results in weight loss.
However, healthy carbohydrates are good for the body, because they supply energy, vitamins and minerals. To lose weight in a sustainable manner, adopting a balanced diet combined with regular exercise is the best way.
Myth 6: A very low fat diet is the best way to lose weight
Fact: Studies show that a low-fat diet will lose some weight in the first year. This renders this pattern ineffective. Our bodies need fat because it helps build cell membranes and aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Myth 7: The Glycemic Index is a good measure of choosing the healthiest carbs
Fact: The Glycemic Index is a measure used to measure the level of carbohydrates in food which can have an impact on blood sugar levels in the body, but not to choose a healthy and appropriate diet. The choice of carbohydrates in food is carried out with various other considerations.
Myth 8: Protein powders are not a healthy food source compared to protein from natural foods
Fact: Protein powders can be as good a source of protein as foods from natural ingredients if they come from quality sources and are processed according to science. For example, protein derived from soybeans contains complete protein and 9 types of complete essential amino acids for the body’s nutritional needs.
Source: JIBI / Bisnis Indonesia
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