More Nutrition Myths, Busted

And while we’re on the subject of things we think of as healthy but aren’t, The Washington Post has helpfully debunked five commonly held dietary beliefs.

Myth No. 1: Natural sweeteners, like date sugar, agave or evaporated cane juice, are healthier than regular sugar. They aren’t — what matters is how much you eat.

No. 2: Sea salt is healthier than regular table salt. Nope. It’s the same sodium either way.

No. 3: Quinoa is ultra-high in protein. The truth is, it’s a “complete” protein, but it’s not super high in it, and quinoa also has lots of carbs, so it is best considered a grain.

No. 4: Processed meats cause cancer. Actually, they can increase the relative risk of it, so limiting consumption is a good idea.

No. 5: Detox diets remove toxins. These diets are probably unnecessary, as our bodies remove toxins naturally when we sweat, pee and poop. “So, a good workout (to sweat), some water (to pee) and a high-fiber diet (to poop) will cleanse you naturally,” registered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom notes in the Post article. “And of course, you’ll have less to ‘cleanse’ if you don’t drink too much alcohol, smoke or rely on a diet filled with processed foods.”