Myth Busters

There are a lot of health claims out there today. Here are some common ones. Find out which claim might work for you.  

 “Although weight is an important measure of health and can help you prevent and control many diseases, it’s not the only thing to consider.”

Myth: You can’t be healthy if you are overweight. 

Fact: “Although weight is an important measure of health and can help you prevent and control many diseases, it’s not the only thing to consider,” said Sarah Brauning, R.D., L.D., C.D.C.E.S., Genesis Diabetes & Nutrition Education. Instead, we should focus on positive health behaviors. In fact, the stigma of being overweight may cause more mental health concerns than being overweight. 

Myth: Get 10,000 steps daily to be healthy. 

Fact: The “10,000” as the magic number for daily tracking steps is arbitrary. In a recent study, it was found that you may able to reap health benefits by taking half that number of steps each day. For older women, researchers found taking as few as 4,400 steps per day was associated with a 41% lower risk of dying. Also, it doesn’t seem to matter if you take those steps power walking, cleaning your house or running errands to get the benefits. 

Myth: Drink eight glasses of water a day or you will get dehydrated. 

Fact: Drinking eight glasses of water a day is not necessarily true. If your urine is dark yellow, make sure you are getting enough fluid. Eight is not the miracle number. Even if you’re not thirsty, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Plus, beverages other than water and the foods you eat also help you get the fluids you need. 

Myth: If you want to lose weight, be sure to eat breakfast. 

Fact: Eating breakfast is a successful strategy for some, because it can help prevent you from eating more later in the day. However, a Cornell University study found that the non-breakfast eaters didn’t overeat at lunch and dinner, and instead they ended up eating about 400 fewer calories a day.