Myths about Food
In today’s world there are many urban legends concerning food, from the idea that discolored fruits are unhealthy to the fact that microwaving a meal is in no way harmful to the food itself or the organism consuming it. Many of the myths that exist out there seem completely realistic but in reality most are just misconceptions and falsifiable ideas. However is it really possible to say that every single myth out there is false? The answer is no. Although many of the legends out there may be wrong, there must be some which are true. The question is which of the myths are true and which are false? How can we tell which myths to blow off and which ones should we pay attention to?
The number of food myths out there today is unimaginable. We are going to shed some light on a few of the myths and hopefully clear up any misconceptions about any of the ones we cover. From vegetarianism all the way to the belief that certain foods keep cancer away, there are many myths out there that have failed the test of science.
There are many misconceptions regarding avoiding cancer by eating healthy. For the most part these myths are not true. The article “10 Myths that won’t Quit” by B. Liebman, states that there is no correlation between soy foods and low rates of breast cancer in women. A case monitoring thirteen Chinese and Japanese women found that contrary to many people’s beliefs, the amount of soy in one’s diet has nothing to do with the chance of falling victim to breast cancer.
Speaking of cancer is it really true that un-caged microwave rays can lead to cancer later in life? The answer to this question is simply no. Food is cooked by the wave moving through the food and heating the particles. There is no danger from microwaves. Many people also believe that cooking food in a microwave create carcinogens, officials in Europe have even gone so far as to ban microwaves completely. However the article “Microwave Myths: Fact vs. Fiction” by D. Schardt states that there is absolutely no evidence showing a link between microwaving foods and cancer. On the other hand, some people believe that microwaving food isn’t so detrimental; they believe that ‘zapping’ food is destructive to the nutrients within the food. This myth is also completely wrong. Scientist Barry Swanson has found results that show microwaving food actually retains more nutrients than other forms of cooking. In one experiment performed by European scientists in 2003, results found that microwaving broccoli destroys the flavonoids (plant compounds that may help protect against cancer and certain kinds of heart disease). The experiment was heavily biased because too much water was added and the broccoli was cooked for much too long. Basically microwaves pose no problem to the people who use them or the food that is cooked inside.
On a less serious note, why does Chinese food seem to fill you up so well at the time you eat it but an hour later it seems as if the meal just disappeared from your stomach. Well when looked at in depth researchers found that traditional Chinese meals consist of white rice covered by a pile of veggies. A meal like this has a small amount of calories that get burnt quickly after consumption. The American-style Chinese meals consist of higher amounts of calories and therefore seem to be more filling for longer periods of time.
Calories equal fat right? Wrong. Calories are necessary for energy. The human body breaks food down and uses the calories for energy to complete everyday tasks. A well known myth says that eating late at night, before bed, causes weight gain. Many diet plans advise people not to eat after eight o’clock p.m. However people get off work and come home to relax and as a side effect overeat. When consumed in high amounts, with 
calories can actually turn into fat, especially when a lack of physical activity occurs after consuming the calories. As long as you put some restriction on the amount of calories you consume and with regular physical activity, weight should not be a problem. Having a small meal before bed will not effect your weight.
Pasta is one such meal that should probably be avoided right before bed. Pasta has a lot of carbohydrates and a lot of calories that will turn into fat if not used up quickly. One myth says that by adding salt to water it actually makes your pasta taste better and is healthier. This is an incorrect assumption. Salt is added to raise the boiling point of the water, therefore speeding up the process of cooking the noodles
When it comes to food there are too many myths to count. Many of these urban legends are a bit overdone and blown way out of proportion. Steering clear of some myths is definitely a good idea but that’s not to say every time you hear about a myth you should dismiss it. Sometimes urban legends can be true and beneficial. Making sure to look for research and other information is the best way to stay well informed about the many myths floating around out there.