Diet Myths?

March 11, 2008

Low-fat! Low-carb! Eat all day! Don't eat after 8! Finally, the honest-to-goodness truth about how to keep your weight under control. Take another look at these false claims.

1. "Coffee can help you lose weight": The theory goes that caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant and a metabolism booster. But while it may temporarily squelch your appetite, drinking a couple of cups a day won't have enough of an effect to help you lose weight.
So enjoy a cup or two of coffee (or tea) every day, if you please. Just be sure that if you add anything to the brew -- like cream, sugar or cocoa powder -- you take those calories into account. For example, a 16-ounce Starbucks cafe mocha can contain a whopping 330 calories.

2. "Don't eat after 8 p.m.": The idea is that you burn up the food you eat earlier in the day, while late-night calories sit in your system and turn into fat. But calories can't tell time, says Mary Flynn, Ph.D., a research dietitian at the Miriam Hospital in Providence.
"Your body digests and uses calories the same way morning, noon and night," says Flynn.
The best advice? Pace your eating, and don't go longer than about five hours without a bite. Being so hungry that you grab whatever is at hand means you're more likely to make poor choices.

3. "Diet foods help you diet": Low-fat, low-carb and artificially sweetened packaged foods supposedly make losing weight painless. But low-fat and low-carb don't always mean low-cal, and if you're trying to lose weight, stocking up on these treats could undermine your efforts.
When you're tempted by a snack food that's labeled "light" or "low-fat," check the nutrition label. Look at how many calories are in a serving, then compare that number with the calories in a comparable product that's not making a label claim.

4. "Pasta makes you fat": We've all heard it: When you eat carbohydrates, your body turns them into sugars, which are then stored as fat. But carbohydrates per se don't make you fat -- extra calories do, whether you eat them in the form of carbs, fats or protein.
Pasta in moderation is fine. Dietitians recommend 2 or 3 ounces of uncooked noodles per person -- or half of a 1-pound box to serve a family of 4.

-- Real Simple via IndyStar.com