Myth 1: During office hours cups of sweetened tea and coffee provide instant energy.

Fact: This is not true. Refined sugar in stimulants such as tea and coffee cause a rise in blood sugar and then a slump. How? As sugar rushes into the blood stream, the pancreas produces insulin to get rid of the sugar. This causes the pendulum to swing the other way causing low sugar levels in the blood stream, leading to fatigue. The constant surge and depletion of sugar levels in the blood can lead to faulty metabolic conditions.

Myth 2: High protein diets are great for losing weight.

Fact: Not true. An active adult requires 0.8 to 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Athletes might require a higher intake, between 1.2 to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Excess protein is stored as fat causing weight gain and places undue stress on the kidney and liver. Got a fitness query? Mail it to us at bawarchieditor@sify.com

Myth 3: Eating at restaurants means gaining weight

Fact: Eating at restaurants need not sabotage your diet. Make better food choices when you place your order. For example, you can request for foods to be steamed, baked or grilled - you can order baked potatoes instead of buttered or fried potatoes, honey and lemon dressing instead of mayonnaise, mustard instead of butter, salsa instead of creamy sauces, tandoori food instead of rich gravy dishes, roti instead of buttery naan, low fat cheese instead of regular cheese.

Myth 4: Skipping meals a good way to lose weight

Fact: You must eat regularly. Skipping meals will result in developing unhealthy dietary patterns, irregular eating habits and slow down the body`s metabolism.

Myth 5: The most important step in weight loss is to eliminate fat from your diet.

Fact: The truth is that a high-fat diet is as harmful as a no-fat diet. Fat consumption should be reduced if your goal is to lose weight. Why are fats essential? They provide the body with energy and are needed to maintain healthy skin and hair. They are also responsible for transportation of crucial fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. In addition, some essential fatty acids are required for manufacturing certain hormones.

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