True or False?

• Carbs are bad for you.

  • ​FALSE: Carbohydrates are one of the five main food groups.  You need carbs to provide energy for your body.  Carbohydrates can come from vegetables (potatoes, green peas, corn, etc.), fruits (pears, bananas, grapefruit, etc.), grains (whole wheat bread, rice, oatmeal, etc.), and dairy products (milk, chocolate milk, yogurt, etc.).
     

• ​Skipping meals is the key to weight loss.

  • ​FALSE: Skipping meals is not the answer to weight loss. It may seem like a good idea (eat fewer meals, lose more weight), but if your body does not get enough food it will think you are starving and start to shut down. Once this happens, you will stop losing fat (which is probably the goal) and your body will start to break down other tissues. Eventually, your body will not be able to function.
     

• ​The more protein I eat, the more muscle I will build.

  • ​FALSE: Many people think that eating more protein is super healthy for them and it will help them build muscle. Yes, protein is healthy in moderation. Yes, protein can help in building muscle. No, eating protein will not just create more muscle by itself. If you are going to eat more protein because you want bigger muscles, you also have to increase your strength training. Without proper exercise, extra protein will be made into fat -- not muscle.