Common Misconceptions About Weight-loss Methods

Myth 1 : Sleeping less helps in losing weight because more calories are burnt by staying up through the night.
Fact : Sleep more - to weigh less. If you do not get a full night's rest, the body's fat cell secrete up to 18% less of the hormone leptin, the chemical that tells your brain you have sufficient energy reserves and do not need food. Also, if you have had, say only about four hours sleep, you are less likely to exercise and more apt to reach for that box of doughnuts to get through the day.

Myth 2 : Green tea will boost metabolism rate.
Fact : There is no one single food that burns fat. Green tea contains the chemical polyphenol, commonly known as catechins, which may speed up metabolism for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss. However, drinking green tea (unsweetened) may displace other high-fat or high sugar beverages in you diet, hence cutting down on calories.

Myth 3 : Liquid meals contain the necessary nutrients so they can be substitutes for normal meals.
Fact : Meal replacements exert their effect on reducing portion size and consequently, energy intake. They should not replace the act of eating a full meal. Check that commercial meal replacements are from a reputable source and meet these criteria : they have at least 200 calories, 12g of protein and 25% of the recommended daily intake of 16 vitamins and minerals.

Myth 4 : Drinking milk will make us fat.
Fact : Dairy products have many nutrients your body needs. They provide protein to build muscles and to help organs work properly, as well as calcium to strengthen bones. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products : these are as nutritious as whole milk products but are lower in fat and calories. A 250ml cup of low-fat milk has about 130 calories compared to 370 calories from a typical 400ml cup of bubble tea. Do your maths.