Here, today – I share my 6 Favorite Food Myths. They’re my favorites, because I actually believed them before I began to dig a bit deeper and question their validity.
What is a Food Myth?
Somewhere between here and there, someone came up with a thought that seemed somewhat reasonable and a good many of us bought into it, hook, line and sinker. A food myth is something that is based on an old wives’ tale, urban legend, wishful thinking or outdated science. It is something that is not true!
Every so often (like right now), one might question their food and diet beliefs and ask, “How do I know that it is true?”
1. The Negative Calorie Food Myth:
The act of chewing certain low calorie foods, such as celery or cucumbers, burns more calories than the food itself.
Truth: Chewing burns approximately 11 calories per hour. The reason celery and cucumbers appear on most healthy living plans is because they are low calorie, high nutrient foods; not because you will lose weight merely by eating them.
2. The Decaf Myth:
Decaf coffee has no caffeine.
Truth: Your regular 8-oz. Cup a Joe contains approximately 100-150 milligrams of caffeine; your regular Cup a Decaf Joe contains 8 to 32 milligrams per 8 ounces. For you caffeine sensitive folk, this is important info!
3. The Salt the Water Myth:
Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.
Truth: Not only does salt not make it boil faster, science tells us that it raises the water’s boiling point, thereby increasing the length of time to boil by a millisecond or two. Not long enough to matter, but still, it’s mind blowing, no? Salt does add flavor.
4. The Add Oil to Pasta Water Myth:
When you add oil to pasta water, the spaghetti strands will not stick to each other.
Truth: Try using a large pot with plenty of water (five to six quarts), bring it to a fast boil, then add all the pasta at once and stirring often with a wooden spoon or fork. (Wood doesn’t hold the heat from the boiling water, keeping you safe.)
5. The Cooking Alcohol Myth:
All alcohol burns off during cooking.
Truth: If you heat your ‘dish’ for a few hours, the alcohol level will significantly lessen, but a quite bake or simmer or a flambé, will only remove about 50% of the alcohol. If you are cooking with alcohol, you might want to let those who don’t drink know.
6. The Mama Cass and the Ham Sandwich Myth:
Mama Cass died from choking on a ham sandwich.
Truth: After Mama Case died in London on July 29, 1974, an autopsy was performed. While her doctor guessed that she may have choked to death on a sandwich, no food was found in her trachea, nor any drugs in her body. The death, ultimately, was blamed on a massive heart attack stemming from long-term obesity.
Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice
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