Myth: Juicing is a path to heart health.
Fact: The heart health benefits of fruits and vegetables is well established. Most Americans don’t consume enough dietary fiber and should increase their consumption of whole fruits and vegetables to help meet their fiber needs. But since juicing fruits and vegetables can sometimes remove some of the fiber, it is not clear what the relationship is between juicing and health. Also, the process of juicing concentrates calories making it easier to get more calories than anticipated. If you choose to juice, avoid adding extra sugars such as honey and try adding the leftover pulp from your juice to soups or muffins to help add fiber into your diet.
Myth: Everyone should go gluten free.
Fact: If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity it is essential for you to avoid gluten. However, there is no evidence that avoidance of gluten by healthy individuals will result in decreased heart disease risk or any other health benefits. In contrast, a recent study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2017 Scientific Session shows eating more gluten may be associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.