Diet Myths Put to the Test

No other topic is shrouded in so many myths and opinions as diet advice. Much of this is based on longstanding knowledge, but is this knowledge always right? Just because our grandparents told us so, doesn't mean that these tips are correct. Let's look at a few of these statements together and see if we agree with them.

Vitamins are healthy, so we should take more of them

Basically, vitamins are healthy, there is no denying that. Should you overdo it however, too many vitamins can be poisonous.

Vitamin overdoses can cause serious problems. This especially applies to the group of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Studies have found that a constant overdose of these vitamins can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Spinach should not be reheated

This depends on how the spinach is stored. If you place the food in the fridge right after eating, and make sure that it is heated to a minimum of  70 ° C later, you can enjoy the same dish without any problems again.

The problem in reheating spinach comes from the nitrate contained in the vegetable. If spinach is stored at room temperature (whether raw, chopped or cooked) over a long time, bacteria can convert the nitrate to nitrite. This results in creating nitrosamines in the stomach, which are considered carcinogenic.

If the spinach stored properly and then heated properly, there is no health hazard and you can enjoy spinach again. Otherwise: no warming up again.

Green tomatoes are poisonous

That's true. Unripe tomatoes contain the toxic substance solanine. If you have too much of this, you'll have to deal with unwanted symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and headaches. However, green tomatoes must be consumed very large quantities for these reactions to occur.

Alcohol or shots help with digestion

Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. Spirits do not stimulate digestion. In fact, it even slows it down. The body is then more concerned with reducing the alcohol before it can digest the food.

Why does it still feel good to have an alcoholic drink after a meal? The reason is that the alcohol dilates the blood vessels and has a relaxing effect on muscles. The stomach is a muscle, so it is also effected.