Dietician Debunks Popular Food Myths

Halloween may not be the only thing scaring you these days. New discoveries about food and its dangers come out so often, many of us can't keep up. Althea Zanecosky, a registered dietitian, stopped by Talk Philly to debunk some of the popular myths behind some foods.

Here are a few common myths:

• Flavored milk. Fear factor: sugar. Children who consume flavored milk did not have higher intakes of added sugars or total fat in their overall diet in comparison with children who do not consume flavored milk. Research shows that children who drink flavored milk consume fewer nutrient-void soft drinks and fruit drinks (those containing less than 10 percent fruit juice) than children who don't drink flavored milk.

• Fish. Fear factor: pollution. If you don't fall into a high-risk category, eating fish twice a week is good for you. But don't eat the same fish twice in one week, and restrict highly polluted species you love (such as swordfish) to an occasional meal.

• Eggs. Fear factor: cholesterol. 30 years of research has never linked egg consumption to heart disease. Follow the American Heart Association's one-egg-a-day guideline (unless instructed otherwise by your doctor).

• Sugar-Substitutes. Fear factor: cancer-causing chemicals. Low calorie sweeteners do not increase the risk of cancer. Even though this point has been disputed, studies have shown that these sweeteners do not start or promote cancers, even among high intake users. And sugar substitutes do not increase the risk of other diseases. In fact, these sweeteners can be a useful tool in the management of calorie and carbohydrate intake, helping with weight control and diabetes management. All FDA approved sweeteners are safe for pregnant and nursing mothers.

• Cheese. Fear factor: fat. Cheese contains good amounts of protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and phosphorus. While cheese can be high in fat, when you choose the right type and eat it in moderation, cheese can easily fit into a healthy diet.