Source: thesun.co.uk
In particular, food has become a topic of serious contention and everyone seems to have an opinion on which diets are the best.
However, with the decade coming to an end – top dietitian Paula Norris thought it was about time some of the biggest diet myths of 2019 were debunked.
Here, she reveals the six biggest diet myths of this year – and tells us which ones we should be ignoring all together.
1. Egg yolks are bad for you
Eggs are a great source of protein and nutrients – however, egg yolks have been demonised in the health-food industry this year as causing blood cholesterol levels to rocket.
However, Paula has now debunked this myth and said that eggs have a nutritional benefits – and we shouldn’t completely cut them from our diets.
“This one is understandably confusing because in the past it was advised that eggs should be limited,” she wrote on her Instagram.
“The Australian Heart Foundation did an extensive review on the current evidence and made new recommendations that stated that there is no limit of eggs for most people.
“The exception is for those who have heart disease or type 2 diabetes who should limit intake to seven eggs per week.”
2. Keto is the best way to go
From Kim Kardashian to Gwyneth Paltrow – droves of celebrities this year have hailed the keto diet for their trim physiques.
However, Paula is not convinced by the restrictive diet plan, which involves swapping out carbs for fats and proteins.
She says: “There are easier ways to lose weight. Sustaining keto long term is extremely challenging.
“The high saturated fat and exclusion of wholegrains, most fruits and some vegetables may have negative impacts.”
She adds: “In fact keto can leave you devoid of nutrients, gut loving fibre and is VERY hard to sustain long term.”
3. Dairy is the devil
A dairy backlash this year caused droves of people to swear off milk and cheese for good.
In particular, some claim that because it is high in saturated fat it can trigger heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Despite this, Paula stresses the importance of incorporating dairy-rich foods in your diet.
She says: “For those who can tolerate it, it is an extremely nutrient rich option to include in your diet.”
It comes after a recent study revealed that eating dairy makes people happier – as it increase pleasure levels by 25 per cent.
4. Vegan is the best way of eating
Many people have chosen to go vegan this year as a way of eating more healthily and helping the environment.
It involving eating only plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits.
Paula says you need to be particularly careful if you have a vegan diet – and ensure you are getting the nutrients you need from eating a varied and balanced vegan diet.
Paula says: “If you follow a vegan diet then careful planning is needed to ensure your nutrient intake is adequate.
“Nutritional deficiencies can have both short and long term complications.”
5. Carbs are bad
It’s a common belief that munching on anything carb-heavy can ruin an otherwise good diet.
However, Paula has debunked this myth – and claimed eating carby foods are important in our diet – as long as you don’t go overboard.
She says: “Carbs always cop unfair criticism.
“If you’re smart with how you eat them, I.e. limit processed, choose mostly whole grain and don’t go overboard with the portions then our bodies love us for eating them.
“Our body actually prefers to use them as energy over any other macronutrient.”
6. Detoxes are beneficial
Everyone this year has been encouraged to steam, juice and starve the unhealthy food they’ve eaten out of their systems with a detox diet.
It is all about expelling poisons and toxins from the body – like a sort of reset button.
You stop eating and drinking anything that isn’t just pure fruit and veg (and nuts in some cases), which then kickstarts a healthier regime.
Despite this, Paula says this diet myth is possibly the worst of all – largely as it can have a detrimental effect on the nutrients in your body.
“Detoxing. Don’t bother with it”, she urges.
“Our kidneys and liver do the detoxing for us. Detoxes leave you hungry, cranky, poor and devoid of nutrients.”