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Home › Articles › Nutrition News › Myth Busters

Myth Busters

8 Nutrition "Theories" Debunked

By Teri Brown

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8. Myth: You Can Get All the Vitamins and Minerals You Need by Eating the Four Basic Food Groups
Dr. David Heber, director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, Los Angeles, Calif., debunks this myth in his book, What Color Is Your Diet? (Regan Books, 2001). "Americans eat three servings a day of fruits and vegetables, and if their one fruit is ketchup and their vegetables are iceberg lettuce and French fries, they are missing the vitamins and minerals found in the many different colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

Dr. Heber suggests that while you should try to get your vitamins and minerals from your diet first, it is a good idea to take a multivitamin every day to back up your best efforts.

You're Nuts!

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) want you to know that nuts don't have to be cut out of your diet if you're trying to eat healthy or lose weight.

Although it is true that most nuts are high in calories and fat, a majority of them have low amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat is the bad kind of fat, which can lead to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.

Nuts are also a good source of fiber and protein. They don't have any cholesterol either. So nuts won't derail your plans to a better body and a healthier lifestyle, according to the NIH. Just eat them in small amounts. A 1-ounce serving of mixed nuts about one half cup has 170 calories.

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