5 Food Myths Debunked, Part 2
There are plenty of food myths that are complete nonsense. In the previous edition, we investigated whether chocolate really gives you pimples and whether digesting chewing gum actually takes years. In this second edition, we continue debunking myths and investigate the truth behind these five well-known food myths. Are they true, or are they complete nonsense?
Oysters make you horny
The idea that oysters contribute to an exciting sex life has been a popular tale for years—one that almost everyone has heard at some point. And apparently, this is because of the zinc in oysters. Men need zinc to produce sperm and testosterone, so if you slurp down a few oysters, you quickly reach your daily amount. But zinc is found in much more than oysters, which, by the way, are less healthy than you might think. Cheese, nuts and meat also contain plenty of zinc. Eating an extra oyster to increase your testosterone is of little use, so this really is a myth. But they are delicious, so feel free to make oysters with gin and tonic or other special toppings.
Most of the vitamins in vegetables and fruit are just beneath the skin
Another piece of advice you often hear: don’t peel your apple, because most of the vitamins are just beneath the skin. But this isn’t true either. If you peel an apple, 80 percent of the vitamins remain, so it’s not the case that you throw nearly as many vitamins into the food-waste bin as you may have always thought.
Bananas help you sleep well
True! Bananas contain tryptophan, a substance that stimulates the production of serotonin. Serotonin, in turn, has a calming effect and promotes sleep. Just like cheese, by the way. That’s right: a cheese board also contributes to a better night’s sleep.
Skipping breakfast makes you fat
For years, breakfast has been called the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast is supposed to kick-start your metabolism and prevent the pounds from piling on. But nutrition expert James Bett from the University of Bath recently researched this and had several people eat a breakfast of approximately 700 kcal. Others skipped breakfast and ate the same number of calories for the first time around noon. These people did not gain more weight—and neither did those who dutifully ate breakfast every day.
Your stomach shrinks when you eat less
Eating less is supposedly meant to make your stomach shrink, and if you start eating more and more, you supposedly train yourself to have a larger stomach. Both are myths. Your stomach has a fixed size. However, it is expandable because it is an elastic organ. This means that if you eat a lot, your stomach will stretch somewhat, but once all your food has been digested, it shrinks back to its normal size.
Also read:
- You’re better off having pizza for breakfast than muesli
- Healthy start: take part in our vitamin quiz
- Is a toasted sandwich just as healthy as a cheese sandwich?
