Some of the most common myths about food that so many people still think are true, come from what can only be termed as ‘old wives tales’; they have withstood the test of time and many people, even to this day, still believe them to be the absolute truth.

With advances in science and technology, along with a desire from people who want to know as much as they can about the origins and impacts of the foods they consume; we wanted to put together a quick post that reveals all about some of the most popular food myths that still catch people out today.

Popular Food Myths That Are Just Not True

Here are our top five myths about food, we know there’s bound to be at least one on this list that is going to resonate with you!

#1 Using a Microwave is bad for your health and your food

Is Microwaving your food bad? Absolutely not. In fact, it is actually one of the best ways you can cook food in order to retain its nutritional values. Because microwaves expel non-ionising radiation, and this isn’t harmful at all. When compared with other forms of cooking, using a microwave has proven to be best at retaining antioxidants in vegetables, which is great news.

#2 You shouldn’t eat food after 7 at night

The time of day you eat your last meal isn’t actually that important; how a person’s body stores and uses the nutrients is something that is completely personal to them. While eating a specific type of food later in the day could prevent you from getting a good night’s slight (sugar), the calories that go into your body first thing are treated in the same way as those you put in during the night.

#3 Take More Vitamin C to Fight Off a Cold

We’ve all been there before. You’ve caught a cold and then upped your intake of Vitamin C, in the hope, it will help the cold pass quicker. Whether you choose to supplement Vitamin C or simply have it in within your daily regime; there is proof that for the average person, it will neither reduce the likelihood or length of a cold.

While it may help with your short-term energy levels; research proves that it offers little or no benefit for curing the common cold.

#4 Salt isn’t bad for you

Many of us have been led to believe over the years that eating salt is bad. It’s not. Salt is essential for regulating our blood pressure, managing blood volume, and for the maintenance of muscle and nerve functions.
In what can only be described as a super-study into the impacts of salt on a person’s health; there was no evidence to support that the intake of salt caused higher blood pressure or a risk of heart disease.

FACT: Speak to any dentist, and they will also confirm that using salt water for rinsing is great as it can help to alkalize the mouth, soothe inflammation, and they can help with mouth sores or swollen gums.

If you eat an excess of salt, as with most things, this is when you can land yourself in hot waters. Keep within the recommended daily salt dose of 2,300 mg per day, and you can still reap the benefits of salt, without having to worry about any negative health effects.

#5 Gluten Free Food Is Healthier 

While a diet that is low in gluten is not a bad thing, completely cutting all gluten out of your diet without first consulting a nutritional professional might not be the best move where your health is concerned. If you are one of the many parents who has decided to give your child a completely gluten-free diet, you might want to reconsider.

Medical research suggests that those who follow a gluten-free diet without any medical need to do so could, in fact, are putting themselves at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, mostly because they are omitting heart-healthy grains from their diet.

This list was carefully collated by the team @Revv – If you have any other food myths to expel, please feel free to drop a comment below to add it to the list!