Food is the fuel of the body, it provides our body the nutrients that are essential for our growth and smooth functioning of our organs which makes it easier for us to lead healthy lives.

Like it or not, since the beginning of time, it is human nature to have opinions about each and everything and this makes a big difference because following superstitious beliefs, myths and half truths about food can be injurious to health.

Here are some common myths about food and nutrition that are believed across the world:

A) It is very common to find food products marketed by food manufacturing companies as low fat food such as low fat milk, butter, yoghurt, unsweetened soft drinks like zero calories coca cola and diet pepsi, what is not known is these kinds of food  and drinks actually contains more sugar or salt as compared to the regular food that we eat.

B) Another common belief is that we need to reduce the carbohydrates that we eat in order to stay in shape. This is partially correct because we get carbohydrates from two different categories of food like rice, biscuits, cookies and other types of processed food as well as whole wheat, brown rice, brown bread and fruits. It is healthy to eat food from the second category and it is best to avoid the first in order to keep your weight in check and remain healthy.

C) Since brown rice and brown bread are good for health, it is believed that brown sugar is better than white sugar, research has shown that this is not true, it has been found that brown sugar contains similar amount of carbohydrates and calories when compared to white sugar which does not make it a better alternative to white sugar.

D) Some people think that eating rock salt is better than white salt, the fact is that rock salt contains too little additional minerals for it to be a healthier option to white salt.

E) It is thought that following a diet without gluten containing food is good for health, the reality is eating gluten free food is required for those who get health problems due to eating such food, others who are normal do not need to avoid food containing gluten.

F) A common misconception among most people is that eating at different times of the day can cause weight gain, studies have shown that it is not about the time of day but the type of diet that you follow, eating food that is rich in fats and cholesterol will lead to weight gain regardless of the time of day when you eat your food.

G) Some people think that taking dietary supplements are good enough in order to stay healthy, this is not true because there is no substitute for eating a balanced diet that includes rice, vegetables, fruits and poultry products, the only time we should take supplements is when it is recommended by a medical expert due to a deficiency in our diet.

The best way to avoid such false beliefs is to stay informed and check with a doctor before following false information that could prove to be dangerous to your wellbeing.