The following article by author Sabine Fisch provides interesting information and insights into nutrition myths that have stubbornly lingered in the minds of many women for many years. The article “Nutrition Myths” is an original excerpt from the book *Das große Frauengesundheitsbuch* (The Big Book of Women’s Health), published by Loewenzahn Verlag:
“To conclude this chapter, I’d like to introduce you to a few so-called nutrition myths. Much of what is commonly believed to be particularly healthy or harmful is actually based solely on made-up stories. One of the best-known of these stories is the one about spinach and iron.
//
Spinach and Iron
For decades, it was widely claimed—even by nutrition experts—that spinach is particularly rich in iron. Millions of children around the world were forced to force down their weekly serving of spinach. And all because a Swiss physiologist had simply miscalculated: He determined the iron content in 100 grams of dried spinach and arrived at a whopping 35 mg of iron in that amount. Unfortunately, however, spinach consists mainly of water. Therefore, 100 grams of fresh or cooked spinach actually contains only 2.2 mg of iron. So: Don’t force yourself or your children to eat spinach anymore—other vegetables serve the same purpose just as well. But if you do like spinach, then I hope you continue to “enjoy your meal,” because even though the iron content was misrepresented for a long time, spinach is still a vegetable that provides many vitamins and minerals.
Eating late makes you fat!
For years, the message has been out there: If you eat too much in the evening, you’ll gain weight. Some experts even recommend skipping dinner altogether. This so-called “dinner skipping” is said to be the perfect fountain of youth. Well, I can’t imagine my body being happy if it doesn’t get anything to eat in the evening. If you’re someone who eats your main meal in the evening, then keep doing so, because it’s not dinner itself—rather, it’s the total calories consumed throughout the day that ultimately lead to weight gain if you consume too many of them overall. It’s still said that a woman should eat like a queen in the morning, like a peasant at noon, and like a beggar in the evening, but please just go with what your body wants. If your body is screaming in protest in the morning because it really can’t handle any food yet, then skip it; and if it’s easy for you to skip dinner, then do that too—but make sure you maintain a balanced diet overall and don’t let your calorie intake get too high.
"Light" products help you lose weight!
Many people believe that eating “light” products helps them lose weight. In most cases, however, the opposite is true. For one thing, many consumers eat more when they consume “light” products. For another, these products often contain artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners cause our bodies to produce insulin because they think they’re receiving sugar. The result is that blood sugar levels drop sharply, and we get hungry again.
Bottom line: Nutrition is important, and eating healthy is actually quite simple. Chocolate and other sweets aren’t off-limits, but—just like meat and fat—they should be enjoyed only in moderation. Make sure to drink enough—preferably water—but don’t overdo it. Reach for water when you’re thirsty. Diets are usually ineffective; the only sensible way to lose weight in the long term is to change your eating habits—but you’ll need to stick to those changes over the long term.”
Tip from the frauentipps.at editorial team:
THE COMPREHENSIVEGUIDE TO WOMEN'S HEALTH | Sabine Fisch | 344 pages | €24.95
provides medically sound information presented in an engaging and easy-to-read format. In it, you'll learn everything about your body and its fascinating interplay with your mind and soul.
How can we lead a healthy daily life without getting overwhelmed by overly ambitious goals? Sabine Fisch offers valuable tips and suggestions for becoming more mindful of our own health. She also explains what it means to be sick and how we can cope with it.
The Complete Guide to Women's Health – Buy it online now!
