Common myths related to wellness and the real truth
Every day we come across new information about what’s good and not good for our health. But how much of this is true? For every fact about health and wellness, there are at least a dozen myths.
Here are four common myths and the actual reality you should be aware of.
The myth: “I am hydrated if I drink eight glasses of water every day.”
It’s a common belief that eight glasses of water per day is needed to stay hydrated.
The truth: The amount of water a person needs will differ according to where they live, what they do, and what they eat. Water doesn’t come in a glass alone - it’s also present in fruits, vegetables, juices and cooked foods. If you’re eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, you don’t have to drink all that water. The body will let you know when it’s thirsty!
The myth: “I will lose weight if I eliminate fats.”
Since they are named ‘fats’, many people believe they will only make you gain weight and eventually become unhealthy.
The truth: Fat is not an enemy. It’s an important part of a healthy diet because it helps the body absorb nutrients and perform vital functions like metabolism and hormone production. If you are trying to improve your health or lose weight, you don’t have to avoid all fats. Instead, limit saturated fats like butter and choose foods with ‘good’ fats, like avocados, nuts, seeds and fish. Avoid products labelled as “diet foods” or “fat-free” - manufacturers often replace the fats with refined sugars or carbs to provide taste.
The myth: “I can lose fat from selected parts of my body.”
Termed as ‘spot training’, there is much to say about this myth in the world of fitness.
The truth: There are two sides to this myth, the first one is called ‘spot reduction’ which implies weight loss in certain body parts. Although most people would like to target only certain parts of their body to lose fat, the odds of this being true are fairly low. Working towards losing fat on a certain body part will mean that you will have to lose overall body fat. The other side to this myth is ‘spot toning’ which refers to strengthening of certain parts. This is more achievable, but only comes with sheer dedication and may fail to show results if not combined with weight loss.
The myth: “Weight training will make me bulky.”
A widely accepted myth which most women believe true is that lifting weights will cause their muscles to bulk up.
The truth: Lifting weights makes muscles stronger, not necessarily bigger. Muscles only get bulky if you follow a certain calorie intake and a dedicated weight training routine especially to achieve that. Weight training strengthens bones and also boosts your metabolism. A study suggests that older adults can fight anxiety, depression and fatigue within just 10 weeks of progressive weight training!