Some individuals will swear by old home remedies, whereas others will praise medical science and the wonders of medication.
Everyone has an opinion about what’s healthy and what’s not and even given our technologically-advanced society, science has yet to prove, and debunk certain health theories.
Since health is often a controversial topic, it’s important that you educate yourself as much as possible to avoid making decisions that could compromise your personal health and weight-loss goals.
Here are four health tips you should steer clear of at all costs if you want to lead a healthy life free of illness and complications.
1. “Cut all fats out of your diet to lose weight”
To know how to handle this piece of advice, you need to learn the difference between healthy fats versus unhealthy fats. Healthy fats, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, will nourish your brain and fuel your nervous system. Healthy fats will also allow your body to better absorb fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. While healthy fats may have developed a negative reputation over the years, the fact is that they are filling, which could prevent you from overeating or bingeing on sugary snacks, sweets, and junk food — which are the fats you really need to cut out of your diet.
2. “Keep track of calories in everything you eat”
You don’t necessarily need to keep track of calories to lose weight. As long as you’re eating high-quality food and exercising regularly, the task of tracking calories can go to the wayside. Doesn’t it seem silly to track calories for foods such as lettuce, celery, carrots, and apples? Of course, it does, and that’s because it is. 300 calories of vegetables will benefit your body far more than 300 calories of brownies. As long as you focus on eating whole foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, fish, chicken), you won’t have to worry as much about calorie intake.
3. “No pain, no gain”
Everyone’s favorite go-to mantra when it comes to discipline, “no pain, no gain” probably doesn’t mean what you think it does. To lose weight and become healthier, you need to maintain a healthy life balance that doesn’t put stress on your mind or body. Exercising until you feel like passing out, or limiting portion sizes until you’re starving won’t help you in the long run — they’ll only hurt you. Stay dedicated to your weight-loss routine, and be as consistent as possible to get the results you want. You shouldn’t have to experience intense, uncomfortable, hard-core pain to become healthier.
4. “Everything is okay in moderation”
There are many people out there who will use the phrase, “everything in moderation” as an excuse to exercise less, cheat on their diets more often, and engage in other unhealthy behaviors. Your friend may try to pressure you into going through a fast-food drive-thru, to which you reply that you’re on a diet. Their response? “Everything is okay in moderation!”
Avoid giving in to this phrase at all costs when it comes to your eating habits and nutrition. For example, a common food preservative known as monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been linked to migraines, nausea, and heart palpitations. Would you consider that ingredient healthy for you in moderation? Definitely not. When it comes to this popular phrase, be the smarter person and do what’s best for your health.