That's Fit

Goodness knows all the conflicting information out there can make healthy eating seem a lot harder than it truly is. So, just for fun, let's see if you can weed the facts from the myths.

• Body weight is a reliable indicator of a healthful diet. Fact or myth?
  
• Eating carbohydrates causes weight gain. Fact or myth?
  
• Eating just before bedtime is fattening. Fact or myth?
  
• Eating sugar causes diabetes. Fact or myth?
  

Do you ever check into the validity of nutrition factoids when you hear them? things like this: avoid eggs -- drink 8 glasses of water a day -- eating carbs will make you fat.

Is this stuff accurate. Well, there are a few general overall health rules that are right to be applied to everyone, but when does that line stop and where do other start?

It's always good to do your own research when reading a new "fact" about nutrition and its affect on health -- as you never know what agenda may be at work behind the message (trust me, there are plenty of them). Want a few examples? See this.

We all have ideas about what's good for us and what isn't -- based on everything from scientist research, to old wives' tales to urban legend. Subsequently, two nutrition experts decided to take on what they saw as the "Top 10 Nutrition Myths" and set the record straight.

Among the commonly held beliefs that get debunked are "eating carbohydrates makes you fat," and, the one I learned in school as if it were a commandment, "drink eight, 8-oz glasses of water per day." The former is only true if you're eating carbs to excess (your body uses them for energy in moderation), and the latter seems to be based on an arbitrary number, as, in fact, you only need to replace the water you're losing through breathing, sweating and excrement, which may or may not total 64-oz per day.

You also might be interested to know that not all alcohol isn't bad for you, vitamin supplements aren't necessary for everyone, and consuming extra protein does nothing to bulk up muscles.

Surprised? For more eye-openers, complete with explanations, check out the full article.