Skinny Myths http://www.skinnymyths.com 2009-01-07T06:02:57+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/images/M_images/skinny.png text/html 2008-06-17T13:23:34+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080617130/News/Latest/$32-per-Gallon-More-to-Put-Junk-in-Your-Trunk.html If you thought we had an energy crisis of $4 a gallon, think again. It may cost you $32.36 more per gallon when putting junk in your trunk vs. eating healthier, non-junk food. SkinnyMyths.com took a random sample of grocery items, divided them up into “junk vs. non-junk.” Putting junk in your trunk costs you the average consumer $49.12 vs. a basket of healthier food at $16.76. Message from SkinnyMyths.com: Eat healthy and save yourself $32 a gallon on energy of a different kind! Junk: Avg $49.12 per gallon Rock Star Coffee and Energy Drink, Roasted Latte – $22.96/gallon (5.74/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 22.96) General Mills Cocoa Puffs – $50.87/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 11.8 ounces of cereal = 10.847 x $4.69= 50.87) Kikkoman Soy Sauce = $28.01/gallon (7.01/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 28.01) Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing = $21.28/gallon (5.32/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 21.28) Cake Mate Decorations Chocolate Sprinkles = $149.94/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 1.75 ounces of sprinkles = 73.14 x $2.05 = 149.94) Annie’s Classic Macaroni and Cheese = $54.61/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 6 ounces of macaroni = 21.33 x 2.56 = 54.61) Jelly Belly Sour Jelly Beans = $58.33/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 7 ounces of jellybeans = 18.29 x 3.19 = 58.33) Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Batter Ice Cream = $28.00/gallon (7.00/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 28) Hellmann’s Big Squeeze Mayonnaise = $28.08/gallon (7.02/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 28.08) Not Junk: Avg $16.76 per gallon Aquafina Purified Bottled Water- $8.88/gallon (2.22/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 8.88) Cream of Wheat Hot Cereal - $43.93/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 12.5 ounces of cereal =10.24 x $4.29=43.93) Jif Creamy Peanut Butter = $18.24/gallon (128/28 = 4.57 x $3.99 = 18.24) Dannon Blueberry Fruit On The Bottom Yogurt = $14.93/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 6 ounces of yogurt = 21.33 x .70 = 14.93) Beatrice Egg Beaters = $25.16/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 32 ounces of yogurt = 4 x 6.29 = 25.16) Bush Brother Country Style Baked Beans = $10.01/gallon (128 ounces in a gallon / 28 ounces of beans = 4.57 x 2.19 = 10.01) Ocean Spray Cranberry Apple Juice = $5.00/gallon (1.25/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 5) Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk = $8.00/gallon (2.00/quart x 4 quarts in a gallon = 8) text/html 2008-06-06T14:40:31+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080606129/News/Latest/Celebu-Diet-Myth-o-Meter-May-2008.html Celebu-Diets – plus the myths and lies surrounding them – bounce around the Internet at lightning speed. SkinnyMyths.com, and its Celebu-Diet Myth-o-Meter brainchild, exposes the myths hitting the American digital radar in May. While Paris Hilton doesn’t endorse the Red Bull Diet, online buzzsmiths accuse her of lunching only on Red Bull and Water to lose weight. Young women devour the Internet for any celebrity news and become easy prey to these myths – the outcome entirely unhealthy. The Red Bull Diet tops May’s Myth-o-Meter with Paris Hilton being the celebrity most associated with the diet. Celebu-Diet Myth-o-Meter May, 2008 (worst-to-best) 1. Red Bull Diet (Paris Hilton) 2. Protein Separation Diet (Maria Carey) 3. Coffee Boost Diet (Olsen Twins) 4. British Facial Analysis Diet (Kate Winslet) 5. Adderall Diet (Britney Spears) 6. White Food Diet (John Cusack) 7. Martha’s Vineyard Detox (Robin Quivers) 8. Boiled Egg Diet (Renee Zellweger) 9. Tea Diet (Rachel Ray) 10. Master Cleanse Diet (Beyonce Knowles) May 2008 Google Media Share x Wellness Score indexed by average of MS x WS Is Britney Spears on an Adderall diet? What about John Cusack’s White Food Diet? The Olsen Twins have been accused of drinking loads of coffee to stay slim? SkinnyMyths.com doesn’t verify whether or not the celebrities actually use these tactics to stay razor thin on the red carpet, but celebrity popularized diets may inadvertently be keeping America overweight with mythical nutrition. About the Celebu-Diet Myth-o-Meter We thought it would be a fun way to help consumers dismiss many of these celebrity-associated diets. Each month, SkinnyMyths.com tracks online buzz about fad diets using online news data, blogosphere data, and a qualitative score of the diet’s quality from our team of nutritional experts, producing the myth-o-meter index. For example, the Red Bull Diet may force somebody to lose weight, and received buzz in one month, but it receives a 1 because it is very unhealthy to build a well-rounded nutrition program around it. Others like the Boiled Egg Diet receive 8 out of 10 because of its more sensible ingredients. text/html 2008-05-20T13:07:44+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080520128/News/Latest/The-Black-Book-of-Hollywood-Diet-Secrets.html How do the stars get so thin? Kym Douglas and Cindy Pearlman are back with exercise tips and eating strategies from a Who’s Who of Hollywood beauties. The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets takes readers inside the fridges and out to the gyms of the stars, uncovering the daily regimens that keep celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, and Beyoncè Knowles in A-List shape. They’ll dish on stars’ daily diet plans and tell us how the stars bounce back after baby, stay slim after forty, drop a quick twenty pounds, outsmart a Fat Day, and see fast results from exercise. John Cusack on the 'No White Food Diet' avoiding everything white (flour, sugar, and wheat). Heidi Klum and Cindy Crawford take a few sips of vinegar before dinner because the vinegar kills your hunger pangs (Interesting - because the Ultimate New York Diet counts Heidi Klum as one of its success stories -- and vinegar-sipping is not a part of the plan). Oprah Winfrey uses wulong slimming tea. Apparently asparagus, parsley, and dried prunes are a celebrity staple due to their ability to repress hunger and reduce bloating . Carmen Electra and Jennifer Lopez carry around a vial of grapefruit oil. Apparently the aroma that affects your liver enzymes, which activates the nerves that cause fats to be broken down and burnt off. text/html 2008-05-16T12:41:19+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080516127/News/Latest/Reality-Check-What-s-the-Deal-With-Fergie-s-Vinegar-Shots.html In a recent Glamour interview, Fergie Ferg revealed that one of her diet tricks is shots of organic apple cider, unfiltered. She said: Two tablespoons. For some reason I've noticed a difference on my stomach. I just trusted [my trainer] on this one. I'm sharing. I'm all about sharing secrets. Does anyone else smell a magic bullet? Now, I have read that drinking apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help with many ailments, but never weight loss, so I decided to do a little investigation. To see what I found out just read more. Basically what I found out is that there is very little evidence in the ACV for weight loss category, with little scientific backing whatsoever. WebMD does speculate that white vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full, but this was the results of a test on only 12 people. Remembering a quote I love from Dr. Andrew Weil about ACV, I decided to see what his expert opinion is on the whole matter. He said: There is absolutely no scientific evidence showing that apple cider vinegar can aid in weight loss or that it contains any magic ingredients that help you to shed pounds. Back in the 1970s when this diet took its place among the many weight loss fads and scams, proponents claimed that somehow a combination of apple cider, kelp, vitamin B-6, and lecithin fooled the body's metabolism into burning fat faster than it would normally. These days the claims are far less elaborate — supposedly, all you need to do to lose weight is to take one, two, or three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before every meal, starting with one teaspoon and then working up to two or three. I understand that taking more than three teaspoons isn't supposed to lead to better results. The only dieting advice you get with this 'diet' is to eat moderate portions at meals, avoid snacking, and wait for the apple cider vinegar to reduce your hunger and food cravings. So there you have it. If you're looking to lose weight, I know it seems easy to say, Fergie looks great and all she does is take two tablespoons of ACV, but I'm willing to bet my left arm that she works out and eats right and did not get that body from ACV. The formula for weight loss, once again, is healthy eating and daily exercise. text/html 2008-05-15T13:56:04+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080515126/News/Latest/Celebrity-Diet-Myths-The-4-Fattest.html SKINNYMYTHS.COM BURSTS BUBBLE OF CELEBU-DIETS Some of the ‘favorite’ Diets of the Stars are fat with lies, myths, and misconceptions. SkinnyMyths.com, a website dedicated to exposing and communicating dieting myths to consumers, has identified the Four Fattest Celebrity Diet Myths. #1 The Martha's Vineyard Detox Diet: Howard Stern’s sidekick, Robin Quivers, has jumped on the bandwagon of this diet consuming juice, tea and soup and having regular colonics and spa treatments. This plan promises you'll lose 21 pounds in 21 days. “Diets that make ridiculous promises like losing 21 pounds in 21 days are relying on water weight loss for a lot of their claim,” said Lisa M. Davis, Ph.D., PA-C, C.N.S., L.D.N., Director of Research and Development, Medifast, Inc. “Unless you weigh over 300 pounds it’s simply not possible to lose true body fat at that pace nor nutritionally sound.” The Grapefruit/Cabbage Soup Diet myth (very similar to the Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet) ranks as the 3rd most watched diet myth on SkinnyMyths.com #2 Master Cleanse Diet: Beyonce Knowles and Jared Leto have tried to stick with this diet consisting of drinking nothing but a concoction of syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper for 10 or more days. #3 Protein Carb Separation Diet: An April 2008 issue of Us Weekly reported that Mariah Carey dropped 20 pounds by following a diet prescribed by her trainer/nutritionist. One key, the magazine reported, was a ban on eating carbohydrates and protein in the same meal, on the theory that these nutrients are absorbed differently in the gut--eating them separately is more efficient and promotes greater weight loss than eating a more balanced meal. Absolutely not—there is no scientific evidence to show this, says Suzanne Havala Hobbs, a registered dietitian and director of the doctoral program in health leadership at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health in Chapel Hill, N.C. #4 British Facial Analysis Diet Kate Winslet gained prior to delivering daughter Mia, but to lose it all, the five-time Oscar nominee relied on the popular British facial analysis diet, which prescribes a meal plan based on an individual's complexion and facial features. “She might need a new dietitian,” says Joni Rampolla RD, LDN and SkinnyMyths.com contributor. text/html 2008-05-26T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080526122/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/You-Will-Gain-Weight-When-You-Stop-Smoking.html SKINNY MYTH: “You always gain weight when you stop smoking.” Myth. Smoking cessation is one of the best things to do for your health! Not everyone gains weight after giving up cigarettes, but some do. This weight gain is due to a number of things: slower metabolism (nicotine slightly increases metabolism), improved smell and taste sensation, and substituting snacks for cigarettes. By making dietary and lifestyle changes, you can quit smoking and not gain weight. And if you have already put on some pounds after giving up cigarettes, a balanced, nutritional weight loss program can help. I know which one I’D choose. Source Reference: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/quit-smoking/AN01437 http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/smoking.htm text/html 2008-05-11T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080511120/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Flavored-Water-Is-Better-Than-Soda.html SKINNY MYTH: Flavored or “enhanced” water is better than soda. Myth. Plain bottled water is water and is calorie-free. But several flavored waters contain more calories than a typical soda, and a lot of these are marketed with sexy marketing ploys that make them sound good for you. Even tonic water, has 125 calories per serving. By substituting water for a can of soda or juice every day, you may lose as many as 15 pounds per year. Hmmm, I’m thinking of someone who just came out with water infused with thermogenics that actually burn calories… now THAT’s a real enhancement for water! Always read the Nutrition Facts label. text/html 2008-05-04T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080504119/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/If-You-Have-Diabetes-You-Must-Avoid-All-Sugar.html SKINNY MYTH: “If you have diabetes, you must avoid all sugar.” Myth. Blood glucose levels are affected by all types of carbohydrate, not just “sugar”. Look at the total carbohydrate content of items, and remember the best way to control blood sugar levels is to eat a consistent amount of carbohydrate throughout the day. Eating small, frequent meals also helps to maintain blood sugar levels. And there’s one company that came out with a multi-year clinical study showing that diabetics on ITS diet lost twice as much weight as diabetics on the recommended diet form the American Diabetes Association! Hmmm, I wonder which company that is… Source Reference: 2006-2007 American Diabetes Association Nutrition Recommendations: Issues for Practice Translation Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ann A. Albright, Caroline Apovian, Nathaniel G. Clark, Linda Delahanty, Marion J. Franz, Byron Hoogwerf, Karmeen Kulkarni, Alice H. Lichtenstein, Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, Arshag D. Mooradian, Madelyn Wheeler Journal of the American Dietetic Association August 2007 (Vol. 107, Issue 8, Pages 1296-1304) text/html 2008-04-27T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080427117/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Exercise-Turns-Fat-Into-Muscle.html SKINNY MYTH: “Exercise turns fat into muscle.” Myth. Fat and muscle are two totally different kinds of tissue and cannot be converted into one another. Nothing turns fat into muscle, just like nothing turns teeth into toenails. You can, however, burn calories when you increase your metabolism through aerobic exercise and build up muscles with strength training.. Source Reference: Human Anatomy and Physiology 7th edition, Elaine N. Marieb and Katja N. Hoehn 2006. text/html 2008-03-19T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080319116/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/You-Need-To-Eat-Meat-To-Get-Enough-Protein.html SKINNY MYTH: “You need to eat meat to get enough protein.” Myth. Vegetable proteins are abundant in many forms, the most popular being soy. Soy protein is complete, and is the only vegetable protein equivalent to the high quality protein found in animal foods. Plus, soy protein is lower in fat than meat, and offers a number of health benefits, including lowering your risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels. Source References: Soy Nutrition Basics: Composition, Processing, and Soy Foods written by EC Henley PhD, RD, LD. 2007. text/html 2008-04-20T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080420115/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Chocolate-Is-Bad-For-You.html SKINNY MYTH: “Chocolate is bad for you.” Depending on you, it could be a myth or a truth. Chocolate can be healthy. Cocoa and dark chocolate are actually good for you in the form of flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and are believed to help the body's cells resist damage caused by free radicals, which are formed by normal bodily processes such as breathing, as well as by environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. But the truth is, lighter milk chocolate is a calorie adder, and if you eat more than one serving of chocolate per day, you’re overdoing it. You can get all the healthy benefits of dark chocolate with just one serving. Source Reference: Cocoa and Chocolate: Sweet News! American Dietetic Association, 2007. text/html 2008-06-01T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080601114/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Most-Dieters-Regain-Their-Weight-Due-To-Genes-and-Hormones.html SKINNY MYTH: “Over 95% of dieters regain their weight due to genes and hormones…it’s a glandular thing!” Myth. Although hormones and genetics play a role in weight and weight maintenance, they’re not solely responsible for weight regain after an individual has lost weight. Returning to old eating habits is a more likely culprit. The keys to successful maintaining are a consistent exercise program, self monitoring techniques and connecting with a sound support system, with people going through it, struggling and succeeding together, whether they live around the corner, or across the country. Internet support groups, message boards and weight loss networking sites can be powerful resources in keeping healthier habits going. Always consult your doctor on issues of dieting, and stay strong. Source References: “Stopping That Rebound In Weight.” Aetna Intelihealth 12/29/2005. text/html 2008-03-12T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080312111/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Lifting-Weights-Will-Make-You-Bulky.html SKINNY MYTH: “Lifting weights will make you bulky.” Myth. Women do not usually have the genetic potential to develop large bulky muscles because they possess a lower amount of testosterone. Resistance training helps not only to burn calories, but also protect against the risk of osteoporosis. Use a greater number of repetitions with lower amounts of weight to increase strength and flexibility. More muscle will result in an overall increase in your metabolism, and a higher metabolism means you’ll lose more weight. Source Reference: Chek, Paul. Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite: The Science and Myths of Training Women. Accessed 12/07/07. Available: http://www.ptonthenet.com/displayarticle.aspx?ArticleID=60 text/html 2008-04-10T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080410109/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Jump-Start-Your-Metabolism-By-Fasting.html SKINNY MYTH: “To jump-start your metabolism, you should fast first.” Myth. Fasting can sabotage your weight loss efforts in the long term by slowing down your metabolism and in the short-term by increasing your temptation to eat. Severely restricting foods may result in feelings of deprivation and may lead to binging behaviors in some. So, in fact, the more you don't eat, the more likely you are to overeat in the end, and when you do give in and inhale that donut, most of the calories you over-consume are quickly stored as fat. text/html 2008-04-09T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080409107/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/After-Losing-Weight-You-Can-Eat-Whatever-You-Want.html SKINNY MYTH: “After weight loss, you can eat whatever foods you want and still maintain your weight loss” Myth. 90 to 95% of dieters regain their weight once they “finish” their diet plan…why? If you resume eating what you were before starting the diet plan, you will certainly gain the weight back, plus you’ll gain additional pounds. Gain additional pounds? Your metabolism slows after weight loss because when your body has less weight to carry around, it needs fewer calories. Dieting that does not include adequate protein can result in the loss of muscle mass, in addition to the fat that is lost. Since muscle burns more calories than fat, losing muscle lowers your metabolism even more. Lower metabolism plus going back to your old excess calorie habits will result in weight gain. Remembering not to return to old eating habits is truly the key in keeping the weight off. Maintaining healthy eating behaviors is a lifelong commitment and takes persistence. text/html 2008-03-13T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080313106/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Eating-Less-Will-Shrink-Your-Stomach.html SKINNY MYTH: “Eating less will shrink your stomach” Myth. You cannot physically shrink your stomach unless you have surgery like gastric bypass, or if you have an atrophic medical condition. Your stomach is a muscular organ and, like any muscle, it expands and contracts according to usage. It stretches when it's full and returns to its initial size when empty. Research shows that following a reduced-calorie diet can help shrink your sensation of hunger. Source Reference: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/2/170?maxtoshow= HITS=10 hits=10 RESULTFORMAT= fulltext=shrinking+stomach searchid=1 FIRSTINDEX=0 sortspec=relevance resourcetype=HWCIT http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed Cmd=ShowDetailView TermToSearch=8139794 ordinalpos=4 itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum text/html 2008-05-18T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080518105/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Exercise-On-An-Empty-Stomach-Is-Best.html SKINNY MYTH: “Exercising on an empty stomach is best” Myth. It makes no difference when it comes to weight loss. For weight control, you need to look at the whole day's calorie balance - not just at what you burn during exercise. Eating some fiber like a banana 30 minutes before you exercise is fine. But exercising on an empty stomach burns no more or no less calories than on half-full, ¾ full, even 1/3 full. If, over a 24 hour period you burn off more calories than you eat, you'll lose weight no matter when you ate the calories. Burn more than you consume in 24 hours and you’ll lose weight. text/html 2008-04-07T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080407104/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Drinking-Lots-Of-Water-Will-Help-You-Lose-Weight.html SKINNY MYTH: Drinking lots of water will help you lose lots of weight Myth. If you drink sweetened teas, juice, soda, and fancier coffee drinks, then switching to water will result in consuming fewer calories, but drinking lots of water won’t in itself help you shed pounds. Your body needs nutrients in food, so filling up on water won't satisfy you for long. Staying hydrated throughout the day is paramount for maintaining your overall energy and body functioning, but contrary to popular belief, drinking it in excess won't boost your metabolism or flush away fat. Source Reference: J Clin Endocrinol Metab.2006: 5 text/html 2008-04-06T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080406103/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Thinner-People-Are-Healthier-Than-Heavier-People.html SKINNY MYTH: “People who are thinner are always healthier” Myth. Being thin does not make one immune to risk for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Medical professionals now think that internal fat surrounding vital organs could be as dangerous as the more obvious external fat that bulges underneath the skin. Source Reference: “Thin People Might Be fat on the Inside” - The Associated Press. May 11, 2007. text/html 2008-03-20T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080320102/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/The-More-You-Cut-Calories-The-More-Weight-You-Will-Lose.html SKINNY MYTHS: “The more you cut calories, the more weight you’ll lose” True, but… Too low of a calorie level can actually slow your weight loss. If calorie intake is way too low, your body enters starvation mode. Your body wants to maintain its weight when it thinks it is starving, so metabolism slows and weight loss stops. And instead of burning fat stores, it uses lean tissue or muscle to provide some of the calories needed to keep functioning. This leads to loss of muscle, which slows your metabolic rate, resulting in fewer pounds lost. So be careful out there…consult your doctor before you diet. Source Reference: Kellow J. (2007, March 15) Dieting and Metabolism. Weight Loss Resources Ltd. Retrieved December 3, 2007 from http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/lostart.htm text/html 2008-04-22T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080422101/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Artificial-Sweeteners-Are-Safe.html SKINNY MYTH: Artificial sweeteners are safe True. Research has shown artificial sweeteners are safe and do not 1) cause disease, 2) cause cancer, or 3) cause increased appetite and cravings for sweet foods. The fact is artificial sweeteners can be part of effective weight management and research shows that those who use foods and beverages with artificial sweeteners consume fewer calories than those who do not. Source Reference: National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet: Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer: Questions and Answers, 2006. (http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/artificial-sweeteners#2) Kroger M, Meister K, Kava R. Low-calorie Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes: A Review of Safety Issues. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 2006 5:35-47. (http://members.ift.org/NR/rdonlyres/DA941122-00F5-49AA-8BC3-27E32F80B746/0/crfsfsv5n2p3547.pdf) http://www.ific.org/publications/reviews/upload/Low-Calorie-Sweeteners-and-Health.pdf text/html 2008-03-16T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/20080316100/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Ab-Exercises-Help-Trim-Up-Belly-Fat.html SKINNY MYTH: “Abdominal exercises help trim up belly fat” Myth. Exercises such as crunches, improve the tone and endurance of the muscles, but they don't burn fat. When you do exercises that elevate the heart rate, such as bicycling, walking or aerobic dance, the body will draw upon its fat stores for energy. Eating a low-fat diet and following an exercise program that combines aerobic activity and strength training is the key to changing the shape of your body. If you work out 4 times a week, and are tempted to choose between aerobic and strength training…don’t. Split 2 workouts on aerobics and 2 workouts on strength training. Less muscle will result in an overall decrease in your metabolism, and a lower metabolism means you won’t lose as much weight. Source Reference: www.acefitness.org text/html 2008-04-03T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/2008040399/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Salad-Is-Always-The-Best-Choice-When-Eating-Out.html SKINNY MYTH: Salad is always the best food choice when eating out. Depending on what you get, it could be a myth. Although full of vitamins and minerals, what’s added to your salad can kill the healthiness. For example, a hand-tossed Caesar salad can be as many as 1010 calories and 76 grams of fat. That’s more fat than 7 Twinkies! Source Reference: www.calorieking.com text/html 2008-03-18T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/2008031898/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/The-More-You-Sweat-The-More-Fat-You-Will-Lose.html SKINNY MYTH: The more you sweat, the more fat you’ll lose Myth. Sweating is the way your body regulates its body temperature. Sweating can be a byproduct of exercise, but when you sweat, you’re losing water, not fat. Have a glass of water after your workout, and it all comes back. Source Reference: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sweat.html text/html 2008-04-02T23:00:23+01:00 http://www.skinnymyths.com http://www.skinnymyths.com/2008040297/News/Weight-Loss-Myths/Grapefruit-Diet-Burns-Fat.html SKINNY MYTH: A diet consisting mostly of grapefruit, celery, or cabbage burns fat Myth. No foods can burn fat. Eating grapefruits to help you lose weight is one of the most persistent among the diet myths. There is NO fat-burning food that magically melts fat from your body. Food does not burn fat—exercise does. Foods like grapefruit, tomatoes, and watermelon are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, and as part of a well-rounded diet, are great… but don’t count on it to burn your fat. And P.S. that cabbage diet can have some nasty side affects…gas!