Don’t believe the illusions about nutrition! Discover the real science behind your favorite meals, from coffee hydration to the truth about egg yolks.
Separating Food Facts from Internet Fiction
Online nutrition advice has been abundant since the outbreak. Even though it’s simple to accept any influencer who advises you to “clear your pantry,” a lot of these well-known health claims aren’t true.
Masala Lab author and scientist Krish Ashok is attempting to dispel these myths. Here are the facts behind five of the most widespread food tales, which he claims are merely “partial truths taken out of context.”
1. Coffee Does Not Dehydrate You
Caffeine is a “diuretic,” which means it causes you to urinate more, as you may have heard. Although that is technically accurate, we frequently overlook the fact that coffee is primarily made of water.
About 99 percent of black coffee is water.
Water makes up about 90% of milk coffee.
The conclusion is that while you are consuming a lot of liquid along with the coffee, you are actually remaining hydrated rather than drying out.
2. Egg Yolks and Your Heart
People shunned egg yolks for years because they thought the cholesterol would clog their arteries. But for the majority of us, the cholesterol in our blood is not directly influenced by the cholesterol we consume.
The majority of the cholesterol in your body is really produced by your liver, which also modifies its production in response to your diet. Whole eggs continue to be one of the most reasonably priced and comprehensive protein sources available, unless your physician specifically advises you to avoid them.
3. The Truth About Dal and Protein
A bowl of dal (lentils) is often thought of as a high-protein meal. Dal isn’t “protein-rich” by itself, even if it’s a fantastic source of nutritious carbohydrates.
Food Item’s Protein Content (100g)
6–9 g of cooked Dal
25 g+ of chicken, eggs, and paneer
Dal should be combined with rice or wheat to provide a “complete” protein, or additional sources like paneer can be added to the dish to ensure that a vegetarian meal has enough protein.
4. MSG is safe to eat.
Not a scientific study, but a single letter published in 1968 was the catalyst for the fear of monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Since then, Harvard researchers have come to the conclusion that MSG is safe for most people.
It’s interesting to note that foods we love, like tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, naturally contain glutamate and salt, the two ingredients of MSG. Even though the chemistry is the same, we frequently applaud the “natural” MSG in Italian cuisine while dreading the kind utilized in Asian cooking, as Ashok quips.
5. Supermarket Eggs Won’t Hatch
The idea that retail eggs could someday develop into chicks is a prevalent yet false concept. Unfertilized eggs are sold commercially. No matter how long they are kept warm, these eggs will never hatch because a chicken lays eggs whether or not it has mated.
The Takeaway
Too much information and insufficient context are common causes of food anxiety. Your body is robust enough to withstand an egg, a cup of coffee, and a small amount of MSG since it has evolved over millions of years. Don’t worry about the little myths; instead, concentrate on the larger picture.
