5 of the Biggest Diet Myths That You Probably Believe

1. Fruit has too much sugar.

You may have heard that you should limit your fruit intake because of all of the sugar, but have you ever met someone who is unhealthy on account of eating "too much fruit"? Have you ever met anyone who got fat from eating too many strawberries? Fruit is nutrient dense, low calorie food. While fruit can be high in sugar, it's simple sugar and is easily absorbed when paired with necessary fiber that you only find in plant foods.

2. Carbs makes you fat.

I cannot refute this enough. Everyone has this idea that carbs are the enemy. Carbs are absolutely essential for your health. Your brain runs on glucose. Your body's number one source of energy is glucose. Guess where your body gets glucose from? Carbohydrates. When you cut back on carbs, you'll likely feel sluggish and unfocused. Do not be afraid of carbs! Complex carbs like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains will keep you full and energized. Carb up!

(help too fat from all the carbs)

3. You need meat for protein. 

Have you ever heard of someone who eats enough calories of whole foods, and yet suffers from protein deficiency? It's nearly unheard of. Most Americans are massively OVER eating protein, which can lead to health issues itself. Protein is in almost everything. It is in vegetables and legumes and beans and seeds and even fruit. Not only do you not need meat for protein, you don't really need it for anything. Today's meat comes along with antibiotics, growth hormones, and feces. Yum. Plant based protein is all you need.

(what protein deficiency?)

4. More dairy equals stronger bones.

Quite the contrary. The countries with the highest consumption of dairy also have the highest occurrence of osteoporosis. There is no evidence that dairy provides stronger bones. In fact dairy products have been shown to leech calcium from bones. Do you know who is paying for the ads that tell you otherwise? The dairy industry. Yes, calcium aids in bone health, and there are plenty of non-dairy foods that provide it. Oranges, almonds, and greens like kale and broccoli contain high amounts of calcium along with heaps of other vitamins and nutrients, minus the chemicals and pus you'll find in dairy products.

5. Healthy food is expensive.

This is one thing I hate to hear. Healthy food is not expensive. My diet (plant-based) consists mostly of fruits, vegetables (potatoes!!!), rice, beans, pasta, and oats. I buy fruit that is on sale. I can get a bundle of bananas for under $1, and apples for $1 a pound. Look for specials on vegetables. Potatoes are cheap! A huge tin of spinach is about 3 bucks. A bag of carrots is a couple bucks. Rice, beans, and pasta are some of the cheapest foods you can buy, period. A $4 container of oats will last me nearly a month. It is not expensive to eat this way, and it's certainly cheaper than hospital bills later in life when all of the saturated fat and cholesterol catches up to you.