Good Eating Habits -- Seven Myths to Avoid

Think of your body as a precision machine. It has countless intricate parts that work together to perform amazing functions. And like any machine, it needs to be regularly maintained and properly fueled.

Your body needs to be fueled with the right nutrients in order to run at its maximum capacity. Following good eating habits is important to your overall health, but you also need to be able to sift through the layers of poor information.

Below, you'll find some myth busters on good eating habits:

1. "Working out on an empty stomach is best." Myth. Your stomach is rumbling for a reason: it wants a bit more fuel before you go to the gym. Ignoring the message will force your main engine to run on empty. So have a small snack, such as a piece of fruit, before undertaking physical exercise.

2. "Energy drinks and bars make good meal replacements." Ooops, another myth. In a pinch, or when you are traveling, they might help, but meal replacement bars or drinks are nowhere near equivalent to proper food. You need antioxidants, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and so much more, so grab some fruit and vegetables for the boost you need.

3. "Breakfast isn't important." Of course, your mother was right about this one. Breakfast is and will always be the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the supercharge it needs to meet the challenges of the day. Skipping breakfast robs your body of precious fuel, and will leave you feeling tired and hungry all day long.

4. "Low-carb diets offer all the nutrients you need." While low-carb diets can be beneficial for weight loss, they are not great for all-around good health. Your body needs carbohydrates to store energy and develop muscle tissue.

5. "Eat what you want, when you want." If only life were that easy. Just because you're making some good food choices and exercising regularly, doesn't necessarily give you license to eat everything you want. Balance is the key. You can't eat only cheese and no fruit or vegetables and expect to lead a healthy life.

6. "Reduce calories as much as possible." Losing weight involves both exercise and cutting calories, but if you cut too many, you run the risk of doing more harm to yourself than good. Chop calories gently, targeting one or two pounds per week. If you are losing weight too quickly, add some more fruits and veggies to slow things down.

7. "Skip alcohol and soda." Yes! Not a myth. Good drinking habits are part of good eating. Soda pop really is just colored sugar water with chemical flavor. Why add to the profits of those companies, when you can drink tap water, juice, or milk? Drink regularly throughout the day. (Though it should be noted that the eight glass a day "rule" is not actually based on scientific research, but is itself a frequently repeated myth.) Don't let yourself get dehydrated.

A solid understanding of a healthy diet will lead you to make good eating habit choices. It is not that complicated, and when you change what you eat, you will have made a big step toward overall wellness enhancement. Fuel up with good food, and keep that motor running for smooth performance down the road.

Article Source: http://www.articles.ask-me-about.com

Sheila Ffloyd is a columnist for several popular online magazines, on health education and alternative health care themes.
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