There is no doubt that a healthy diet is essential to a healthy lifestyle and body, but there are so many myths and lies about what constitutes a “healthy diet.” These lies and myths make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle – and can thwart healthy bodies.

1. “Saturated Fat Causes Heart Disease”

Yes, fat is healthy.

Actually, adults should aim for 50-70% from animal and vegetable sources with very little carbohydrates for good health. Saturated fats from animal and vegetables are the building block for cell membranes and a variety of hormones. They also act as carriers for fat-soluble essential vitamins A, D, E and K.

2. “Eating Fat Makes You Gain Weight”

To be clear: Eating fat does not make you fat!

This belief has led to greater consumption of trans-fats, one of the leading contributors to risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Weight gain is actually largely due to the high sugar intake of fructose and grains that quickly convert to sugar in the body.

3. “Artificial Sweeteners are Safe Sugar-Replacements for Diabetics”

Ironically, using artificial sweeteners for weight loss or as a sugar replacement as a diabetic have been shown to help you gain more weight than caloric sweeteners and are worse for diabetics than real sugar. A 25-year long San Antonio Heart Study revealed that drinking diet soda increased the risk of becoming overweight by 65% in 7-8 years and 41% more likely to become obese.

4. “Your Body Cannot Tell the Difference Between Sugar & Fructose”

There are numerous studies showing that fructose is metabolically more harmful than regular sugar, sucrose. However, the corn industry vehemently denies this evidence. It is important to limit the number of processed foods that list high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient. It is suggested to keep fructose consumption between 15-25 grams or less a day versus the average person diet of 150 grams of sugar, 300% more than the amount that would cause serious health risks.

5. “Soy is a Healthy Food”

Despite the popular misconception, unfermented soy products have been linked to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, infertility, cancer, and heart disease, in thousands of studies.