Do you also have one or the other phrase in your head and don’t know whether it’s true? Time to dispel these five nutritional myths.
1. Coffee is good for your health
Experts have long been arguing about coffee and its effects. Some say coffee is unhealthy. Others say coffee is good for your health. In fact, coffee consumption in moderation is healthy! Science is finding more and more evidence that the Americans’ favourite drink detoxifies the body and keeps our cells fit.
Even if coffee is diuretic – a cup of coffee in the morning will not immediately put our water balance in a bad state. But what we should pay attention to is the stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. Too much coffee makes us jump around like a Duracel bunny. Therefore: Drink mineral water or juice spritzers to quench your thirst.
2. Spinach is healthy but it doesn’t make you strong
For those of you who have suffered through mommy’s spinach terror, we have great news: The myth “Spinach makes you strong like Popeye” is just a legend.
The vegetables are actually full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. That it is the number one supplier of iron, however, is a long-held nutritional myth. 100 grams of spinach contain just under four milligrams of iron. Sorry, dear mothers!
3. Cabbage against cancer
Yes, cabbage is actually healthy. Cabbage, for example, is a good source of vitamin C. New research shows that cabbage contains so-called phytochemicals. These stimulate our immune system and are even said to reduce the risk of cancer.
4. Apple juice? Natural cloudy
“An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.” There’s actually something to that line. Scientists have found that apple juice protects against colon cancer. But not every! It has to be naturally cloudy.
5. Cherries & water
Another beautiful myth is the popular belief that we shouldn’t drink water on cherries. “That gives you a stomach ache,” Grandma would say. In fact, this saying comes from a time when drinking water was taken from wells and was therefore contaminated with germs.
Today’s drinking water is free of these germs and can therefore be drunk with fresh cherries.