Healthy fats are essential for hormone production, effective brain functioning, and satiety.

 

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Top 3 Common Health Myths Debunked: What You Need to Know

Industry-fed health myths like “sun is bad and sunscreen is good” and necessity of “fat-free diets” impacted your health in a negative way over the years.

Renu Baliyan

The industry circulated the myth that fat leads to body fat gain and fat-free or low-fat foods are healthier alternatives. Many low-fat processed foods reportedly contain sugar, refined starches, and sodium to compensate flavours that can lead to weight gain. Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda highlighted the top 3 myths that actually impacted your health negatively.

Industry-fed health myths like “sun is bad and sunscreen is good” and necessity of “fat-free diets” impacted your health in a negative way over the years. The industry circulated the myth that fat leads to body fat gain and fat-free or low-fat foods are healthier alternatives. Many low-fat processed foods reportedly contain sugar, refined starches, and sodium to compensate flavours that can lead to weight gain.

On the contrary, healthy fats are essential for hormone production, effective brain functioning, and satiety. Meanwhile, sun exposure is also significant for vitamin D. In fact, sun exposure is the most natural way to enhance vitamin D levels as the body synthesizes it when ultraviolet B (UVB) rays interact with cholesterol in the skin cell.  It is necessary to spend at least 5 to 30 minutes in sun.

Recently, leading Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda took to her Instagram account and highlighted the top 3 myths that actually impacted your health negatively. She said, “Top 3 myths that the industry has been feeding you which has actually impacted your health in a negative way.” 1

3 Myths That Are Harming Your Health

Myth 1: Sun Is Bad And Sunscreen Is Good

She called it a , “Big Mistake.” Sun is essential for survival. It not only gives us vitamin D, it helps in improving bone density. It is great for our skin because our skin releases nitric oxide. It also controls the circadian rhythm, which is our sleeping and waking cycle. It controls the serotonin and dopamine release in our body and the melatonin hormone that allows us to fall asleep.

“With the position of the sun, your metabolic fire and digestive fire also starts shifting. When the sun rises, your metabolic fire is rising. When the sun is the at the peak, your metabolic fire is at the peak. And, when the sun sets, your metabolic fire sets. Your body is diurnal. It responds to the position of the sun. And, sun exposure is great for babies, for pregnant women, for senior citizens, and even for you,” said Dimple Jangda.

You can do an oil massage and sit in indirect sunlight to improve the absorption of vitamin D. What is bad is excess exposure during the afternoons. You must use an umbrella. Make sure that you have short intervals of exposure and go back in shade.

Myth 2: Fat Makes Us Fat

She said, a lot of women and men when went on crash diets and started cutting out fat from their diet, which in fact led to vata imbalance, constipation, and gut health issues. What made you fat was sugar. The excess sugar that comes in packaged, processed foods, your alcohols, your drinks, carbonated drinks, and sugary health drinks. These were the culprits that led to insulin spike, belly fat, fat accumulation, and other issues.

“Instead, switch to whole foods and healthy fats, which you get from pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, avocados, olive oil, and omega 3 that you get from walnuts. These are good fats that are essential for building tissues, muscles, nerves, lubricating your GI tract, and preventing gut health issues and constipation," emphasized Dimple Jangda.

Myth 3: We Need Fluoride To Fight Cavities

The Ayurvedic expert said, “this is one of the biggest myths that the toothpaste industry has sold us. You don’t need fluoride. You can simply do oil pulling with sesame oil to make sure you do not get cavities and caries. You can do, gargling, tongue scraping, brushing with a bitter astringent pungent toothpaste that have herbs in it, like neem which helps in preventing accumulation of bacteria. If anything fluoride has led to calcification of the pineal gland in animals and there are limited studies of its effect on humans as well. Instead, you want to switch to a safe toothpaste that is herbal in nature.”

FAQs

Is sun exposure beneficial or harmful to my health?

Sun exposure is beneficial when done in moderation. It helps the body synthesize vitamin D, improves bone density, regulates circadian rhythm, and supports hormone release like serotonin and melatonin. Short intervals of sunlight, especially in the morning or late afternoon, are beneficial, while excessive exposure during peak afternoon hours should be avoided.

Does eating fat cause weight gain?

No, healthy fats do not cause weight gain. The real cause of fat accumulation is excess sugar intake from processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol. Healthy fats from sources like pumpkin seeds, avocados, olive oil, and walnuts are essential for hormone production, tissue building, and gut health.

Do I need fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities?

Fluoride is not absolutely necessary for cavity prevention. Ayurvedic practices suggest alternatives like oil pulling with sesame oil, gargling, tongue scraping, and using herbal toothpastes containing neem, which can effectively reduce bacteria and prevent cavities without fluoride risks.

How can I safely get enough vitamin D from the sun?

To safely get vitamin D, spend about 5 to 30 minutes in indirect sunlight daily, preferably during morning or late afternoon hours. Avoid excessive direct sun exposure during peak hours and use shade or umbrellas to prevent sunburn, especially for sensitive groups like babies, pregnant women, and seniors.

What are the risks of using fluoride in dental care?

Some studies suggest fluoride may contribute to pineal gland calcification in animals, with limited evidence in humans. Thus, some prefer herbal alternatives for dental care to avoid potential fluoride risks. Using natural methods like sesame oil pulling and herbal toothpaste can reduce bacterial buildup safely.

References

  1. Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda|Top 3 myths that is impacting your health

Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.

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