Common Food Misconceptions

These days, many people buy into misconceptions particularly when it comes to their health.

Misconceptions float around in the kitchen but we should be able to separate fact from fiction: While some myths are just silly, others can be detrimental to your health. Here are some persistent fallacies you might still believe.

1. White Meat Is Healthier Than Dark Meat

While it’s true that dark meat has more calories than white meat, the difference is only about 30 calories per serving, so it shouldn’t affect your food choices on a daily basis. Meats like chicken are darker thanks to a compound called myoglobin that helps muscles store the oxygen necessary for prolonged activity. Flightless birds use their legs to get around, so the muscles they use for running contain more myoglobin, making the leg meat darker than the breast meat. Although slightly higher in calories, dark meat has more iron, zinc, and other vitamins than white meat.

2. Eating Late at Night Leads to Weight Gain

The myth that you should eat less as the day goes on has persisted for a long time; “don’t eat after eight,” is common advice given to people trying to lose weight. Today, contemporary nutritionists say that calories cannot tell time and it does not matter when you consume them. The misconception probably arose because midnight snacking leads to calories you wouldn’t have otherwise consumed.

3. Avoiding Gluten Has Health Benefits