Sometime back I came across a small write-up about a few food "facts" which we have taken for granted but which on closer inspection aren’t what they seemed to be. Called Know your food facts the piece is written by an Indian mother-daughter pair of nutritionists and is well worth a read if only to get a different perspective.
For example look at what they have to say about a common misconception that we need to drink as much water as we can possibly get our hands on:
The water required by your body comes only from the food that you eat,” informs Dr Vijaya. Consumption of water sufficient foods such as fruits and raw vegetables are thus far more important than the prescribed 8, 10, 12 glasses of water in a day. [Know your food facts]
In fact another point about drinking water is not mentioned in the article,but which I think is worth considering. Many people I know consume 1-2 tall glasses of water immediately after a meal under the misconception that this will aid in digestion. But let’s think about this for a second: You have just consumed a hearty meal and your stomach, in anticipation of the food has just secreted a good quantity of acid to begin the process of digestion. But before it has had a chance to begin, what have you done? Consumed 2 glasses of water and diluted the acid!
Absolutely do drink water during a meal if you feel the need – maybe a few sips. But it is not at all necessary to drink water by the gallons, especially if you already consume healthy servings of fruits and vegetables. Of course this does not apply during the summer months when dehydration needs to be countered with an increase in water consumption, but you get the idea: in moderation – only if you need it!
Read the article, Know your food facts, for a couple of more myths. Got any more food "facts" you would like to debunk? Comment away!
