The 5 Biggest Nutrition Myths, Busted
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about nutrition - what’s healthy, what’s not, and what exactly makes for a balanced diet. Here, we break down five big nutrition myths to give you the facts you need to eat healthier - for real.
Myth #1 - Carbohydrates are bad
Low-carb diets may help you lose weight quickly, but some people may also lose energy. Carbohydrates are your body and brain’s main energy source, so by cutting carbs the body is forced to substitute with energy from fat, which results in a state called ketosis.
In ketosis, your body becomes very efficient at burning stored fat for energy instead of blood sugar. While some people are able to stay in a state of ketosis with huge benefits (like weight loss, or better insulin regulation for those who are diabetic), others may experience headaches, low energy, or poor athletic performance.
Instead of avoiding carbohydrates all together, try to eat carbs in balance with fat, protein and fibre. Search out balanced sources of carbs (like Rumble, which has a 1:1 ratio of protein to carbs) and whole foods to stay energized throughout your day.
Myth #2 - Food Should be Low-Fat
Fat sounds like a bad word, but it’s an essential macronutrient! When fat is reduced in packaged foods, it usually means something else (like sugar or sodium) has been added for flavour or texture to make up for it.
Healthy fats are essential for your body and brain, not to mention they make food taste good and help you feel satisfied. As with carbohydrates, it’s all about balance and moderation.
To learn more about the amazing benefits of healthy fats, check out our post on Omega 3s.
Myth #3 - You need vitamin and mineral supplements to be healthy
Most people get all the vitamins and minerals they need from eating a healthy, balanced diet. Unless directed by health professionals, you don’t need additional supplements.
Exceptions to keep in mind are Vitamin D in the autumn and winter months for people who don’t live in very sunny places (like the wet west coast!), and Folic acid for pregnant women and women expecting to conceive.
For this reason, we chose not to fortify Rumble - the vitamins and minerals you find in Rumble are those that naturally occur in our ingredients.
Myth #4 - Late-night snacking makes you gain weight
What matters isn’t when you eat, but what you eat and how much. Late-night snacking gets a bad rap, but you’re no more likely to put on weight if you snack before bed than if you snack at any other time of the day.
Healthy, nutritious snacks (like Rumble!) can keep your blood sugar stable and energy up throughout the day. Just listen to your body - snack when you need to, and stop when you’re full!
Myth #5 - You should eat protein right after working out
This myth needed its own blog post! As with snacking, what’s important is the amount of protein you eat over the course of the day, not when.
So if you’re hoping to build strength or muscle mass, increase your overall protein intake, don’t just focus on your post-workout snack or meal.
Instead, eat what you love.
In these uncertain and stressful times, we hope you snack happy! Look for food with healthy fats, protein, and carbs (like Rumble!) to fill you up and give you energy for whatever the day throws at you. But also go easy on yourself - eat what brings you and your body joy. That’s how we #feedthegood.