dietitian Q&A
INTERNET DIET
MYTHS
There’s a lot of nutrition information
on social media—and it’s not always
accurate. Get the facts below.
minerals, curb cravings and
help maintain energy levels.
Avoid common snack foods like
chips, candy and other refined
items that have unnecessary
calories and sugar that may
leave you feeling sluggish.
Elisa Sloss, RD, LD
Vice President,
HealthMarket
Q: Do carbohydrates
make you gain
weight?
A: It depends on the type
of carbohydrate. Simple
carbohydrates in desserts,
snack foods, white bread, rice
and pasta are often higher in
calories and sugar, and they
have minimal nutritional value.
Consistently overindulging
in these items may lead
to weight gain. Complex
carbohydrates from whole
grain foods, beans and
vegetables are rich in vitamins,
minerals and especially fiber,
which helps you feel full for
longer periods of time.
Q: Is snacking
throughout the day
bad for my health?
A: Not necessarily! There
The key to weight loss is a
combination of consistent
exercise and a diet filled with
nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits,
whole grains and lean meats.
Q: Are fat-free or
low-fat versions of
foods healthier?
A: These foods may have less
fat or no fat, but it’s common
for manufacturers to replace
fat with other ingredients,
such as sugar. Because there’s
less fat, some people may
be inclined to eat more, but
these products may have
just as many or more calories
than the original products.
Q: Can certain foods
burn calories?
A: No single food will
help burn calories. Some
nutrients like caffeine and
capsaicin, a compound
in hot peppers, may
slightly increase
metabolism but
not enough for
significant
calorie burn or
weight loss.
78
PERCENT
OF RESPONDENTS IN A SURVEY FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD INFORMATION
COUNCIL SAY THEY ENCOUNTER
CONFLICTING INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT TO EAT.
are plenty of benefits to
snacking healthfully. Snacking
on nutrient-rich foods like
fruits and veggies will increase
your intake of vitamins and
Sources: medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19529.htm#:~:text=Complex%20carbohydrates%
20are%20found%20in,body%20and%20in%20the%20brain.
medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000893.htm
heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/healthy-snacking
health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/carbohydrates--good-or-bad-for-you
health.clevelandclinic.org/good-carb-bad-carb-dont-buy-into-4-myths/
foodinsight.org/survey-nutrition-information-abounds-but-many-doubt-food-choices/
Q: Does eating
at night lead to
weight gain?
A: Gaining or losing weight has
more to do with what you eat
than when you eat. Consistently
giving in to late-night cravings
for sweets may result in
weight gain. Instead, choose
something light and nutritious
like berries and Greek yogurt.
Q: Do detox diets rid
the body of toxins?
A: According to the Mayo
Clinic, there’s little evidence to
support that detox or cleansing
diets eliminate toxins. Organs
like the liver and kidneys act
as cleansing systems that
remove waste from the body.