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Five nutrition myths that Registered Dietitians wish you knew!

March 27, 2018

In honor of National Nutrition Month, UHS Nutrition Services will be bringing you tips throughout the month of March. This week's tips are five nutrition myths that Registered Dietitions wish you knew.

  1. Coconut Oil is a health food- Coconut oil has been very popular the past couple of years, however, coconut oil is high in saturated fat. To reduce cardiovascular disease risk, it is recommended that you swap saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats. Try cooking with olive oil, which has polyunsaturated fats, instead of coconut oil.
  2. Fruit should be avoided due to its sugar content- Fruit naturally contains sugar, which is why they are sweet, but this does not mean you must avoid them. Fruit contains fiber, vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. It is added sugars in your diet that you should be more mindful of. 
  3. Fat-burning foods- There is no evidence that certain foods burn fat more than others. If weight loss is desired, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, with whole grains and lean protein is recommended. 
  4. Gluten-free diets are healthier- Unless you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, there are no health benefits of consuming a gluten-free diet. 
  5. Nutritionists are experts- When seeking nutrition advice, look for someone who is a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN). RDs are required to complete 4 years of a nutrition or dietetics undergraduate degree and have completed a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised practice. The label 'nutritionist' is not regulated, meaning any one could be a nutritionist.

Article by: Kelly Read, MS, RDN- Clinical Dietitian, UHS Wilson Medical Center.