Mythbusters Busts Four Common Sports and Nutrition Myths
Four common sports and nutrition myths: why they're wrong, and how they can even be dangerous.
Amazingly, in these days of easy access to information, sports and nutrition myths continue to sway even experienced athletes. Part of the problem is that it's too easy to get information -- and much of it turns out to be wrong! Here are the four most commonly believed sports and nutrition myths, why they're wrong, and how they can hurt you.
1. Carbs are the devil incarnate.
The truth:
Your body needs carbohydrates. They give you energy and help your body to run smoothly. It is true, however, that refined carbs have almost no nutritional value whatsoever. Refined carbs are things like sugar, white bread, and white rice. Basically, the lighter the color, the more processing it's had to go through. That means all the nutrients have been milked out of the original product and replaced by things like preservatives and bleach (yes, bleach. Unless your flour specifies "unbleached," they used bleach to give it that nice white color).
Why it's dangerous:
The carb myth is one of the more dangerous sports and nutrition myths because it leads people to overconsume saturated fats in meat products. In addition, avoiding carbs means avoiding essential nutrients (such as B vitamins and fiber) which can lead to serious nutritional problems.
2. You get muscle cramps when you don't eat enough salt.
The truth:
This myth has its origin in the fact that salt helps you absorb water. You get cramps when you become very dehydrated. In exercise, this usually means that you're sweating and using up a lot of your water reserves. The best way to deal with cramps is to make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising.
Why it's dangerous:
Because salt causes your body to absorb water more quickly, taking salt tablets or eating salty foods can actually make your cramps worse. When you take in a lot of salt, your body needs more water, and you dehydrate faster. Many modern sports energy drinks come from sports and nutrition myths like this one.
3. Sugar gives you a quick energy boost.
The truth:
Sugar does cause your body's energy to spike (and crash just as quickly). However, food takes about four hours to digest. If you eat a chocolate bar right before a competition, it won't do you the least bit of good.
Why it's dangerous:
Sugar causes your blood sugar to spike, then crash, making you instantly crave more food. It's an addictive substance with no nutritional value.
4. You shouldn't drink water when you exercise.
The truth:
Like most sports and nutrition myths, this one has a small basis in fact. If you guzzle water, you'll get a belly ache whether you're exercising or not. Exercising does not make this situation worse.
Why it's dangerous:
Almost the opposite is true. Your body loses water during exercise, and it's essential to replace it.
As you can see, these myths aren't just untrue, they can be dangerous! Before you believe any sports and nutrition myths, take the time to learn the truth.
