5 Diet Myths That Make You Gain Weight (Page 5)

Myth #4: It’s Better to Eat Lots of Mini Meals Rather Than Eating Fewer, Larger Meals.

Truth: There’s a kernel of truth in this myth, as EatingWell contributing editor Joyce Hendley reported in The 13 Biggest Diet and Food Myths Busted. Our metabolisms rev up slightly each time we eat, as our bodies process what we’ve consumed. So by having many mini meals instead of fewer, larger ones, we shift our metabolism into a higher gear more often—and burn a few more calories. But “the calorie difference is so small it doesn’t add up to a hill of beans,” says Dr. John Foreyt, director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. And for some people, eating more often may mean eating more, period.

Myth #5: It’s Always a Good Idea to Go with the Salad »