Meat Myths

You are an avid meat eater whose meals are incomplete without the addition of meat. You firmly believe that eating meat is necessary for a healthy life as it is the richest source of proteins and good quality amino acid. No other food can provide you with the same quality nutrition. Vegetarians are losing out on vital nutrients because they don't eat meat.

If you believe in any of the above, then it's time for you to do a reality check. It's true that meat is an excellent source of protein, but it's not the only food rich in proteins. In fact, vegetarian foods compare very well with meats. Many of us continue to eat meat out of ignorance because we don't know any better. This article aims at dispelling certain myths regarding meats.

* You need to eat meat to be healthy. This is totally baseless. You think you need meat because of its proteins but many other non-meat foods like cheese, beans and groundnuts have more proteins per ounce than a burger stuffed with ham. Do you believe that you need to consume a lot of proteins? That is a misconception. The truth is that the pulses, cereals, milk, vegetables and nuts that you eat provide you with sufficient proteins to meet your body's requirements. Moreover, these proteins are easier for your body to assimilate as well as free of any micro- organisms that can invade your health and that are found in meat. At the same time vegetarian foods are cholesterol free and hence healthy for heart as compared to meats.
* Your meal is incomplete without meats. How does meat get its typical taste? It is because of the seasonings and condiments that you add to the meat while cooking. Substitute the meat with some vegetarian products using the same flavourings and you will get the same meat-like taste. Try veggie burgers with the same seasoning as meat or cook soy nuggets the same way and you will find your meal as tasty, if not more than if you had included meat.
* It is okay to consume fish and eggs. Most of us believe that red meat can be harmful, but it is perfectly fine to consume fish and eggs. But all fish do not have the same properties. Do you know which fish is rich in fat and cholesterol and which is not? For all you know, you may be just loading yourself with cholesterol out of ignorance. Egg yolk is also a very rich source of cholesterol. Hence it can also be equally unhealthy.
* It is difficult to start a vegetarian diet. Turning vegetarian is not difficult, but the only thing is to avoid the temptation of giving in to eating meat. Think about the health benefits of eating a vegetarian diet and you'll never want to eat meat again. They not only have a longer shelf life but are also easier to prepare requiring relatively little oil and spices. The health benefits of a vegetarian diet far outnumber that of a non-vegetarian diet.
* Vegetarians are weaker than non-vegetarians. This is a complete myth. There is absolutely no evidence to support this. Vegetarian food gives you sufficient calories, proteins and other vitamins and minerals that are able to meet the requirements of your body. At the same time, a vegetarian diet provides you with various nutrients and non-nutrients that protect you from diseases. This is lacking in non-vegetarian foods, thus making you more prone to heart diseases. Hence it is a fallacy that vegetarians are weaker.

So the next time you eat meat, remember that all the nutrients that you need come from plants and cereals and not meat. Thus meat is not a necessary food for life. This does not imply that you stop consuming it, but do get rid of all the myths that you believed in. Vegetarian food is equally healthy. So if you have been chomping on that juicy red steak because of health compulsions, it's time to bite into something else.

Demystifying Weight Loss Myths

The moment you decide to implement your weight loss plan you are flooded with lot of fly-by-night information, most of which is unfortunately incorrect. These false notions or beliefs are myths and can put your plan into disarray. If you are overweight then losing weight is no doubt a great idea but before that you must get rid of the dead weight of myths and beliefs. Here are some popular myths exposed:

Myth 1: You can't lose weight.
The truth is that you can lose weight. However, the process is slow and time-consuming, probably slower than what you expected. If you strive for it constantly you will surely succeed in the end.

Myth 2: Sweat loss equals weight loss.
Sweat loss means loss of water, not weight. However, when you sweat heavily and step on the weighing scale it shows a pound or two less. Don't confuse this with loss in weight as it is actually loss of water, which you will regain the moment you are properly hydrated. Always remember that you cannot permanently lose weight unless you are able to cut calories.

Myth 3: You can effectively lose weight by dieting.
You cannot lose weight by dieting or depriving yourself of basic nutrients. Losing weight involves building permanent healthy eating habits throughout life and combining the same with moderate exercise. Weight loss by dieting is gained back in 90 per cent of those who blindly diet.

Myth 4: Weight training hampers the weight loss process.
According to this myth if you start weight training before you have lost weight, it will stop the weight loss. Weight training can, in fact, speed up your weight loss process for two reasons: Although muscles weigh more than fat, muscles are denser thus taking up less place in the body (what is called toned muscles). More muscles (what is known as lean percentage in the body) equals more calories burnt, even when the body is at rest.

Myth 5: Jogging a mile burns more calories than walking a mile.
This is not true. The caloric expenditure is 62 calories per 100 pounds body weight per mile travelled, irrespective of whether you are walking or jogging. What is true is that although while jogging you will spend more overall calories because of higher effort involved, brisk walking will in fact burn calories from the fat stores in the body.

Myth 6: Exercise on an empty stomach to burn more calories.
This myth is baseless. In fact, the body requires energy to exercise properly and exercising on an empty stomach may be harmful. So, if you are exercising in the morning take a glass of juice or a fruit instead of getting swayed by this myth.

Myth 7: Heavy people have a harder time burning calories
Remember the law of physics to crack this myth. Move a greater mass and you will get more work done. Keeping this in mind, the more you weigh, the more calories per minute you're guaranteed to burn while you're doing weight bearing exercises.

Myth 8: Exercise is a sure shot way to lose weight
No doubt exercise is one of the most important components of a weight loss program but if you think exercise alone can do all the magic then you are mistaken. Weight gain or loss is affected by many other factors like dietary intake and genetics.

Myth 9: Exercising for 30 minutes two to three times per week is sufficient for weight loss
Although exercising 2-3 times per week is better than doing nothing but clearly it is not enough to achieve maximum weight loss. In fact, exercising regularly everyday is ideal for weight loss and maintaining general fitness.

So if you want to lose weight then get moving but remember to steer clear of myths and half-truths.