'Not all fats are bad' among food myths discussed

IRONWOOD - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Anna Mooi from Aspirus Grand View debunked popular food myths Tuesday afternoon at the Ironwood Carnegie Library.

In front of about 10 area residents, Mooi said there are eight food myths that impact people's diets.

Not all fats are bad, Mooi said. She said 20 to 35 percent of people's daily calorie intake should come from fats.

She said saturated fats are solid at room temperature and include meats and full-fat dairy products, such as butter and cream. Saturated fats can clog arteries, Mooi said.

She called unsaturated fats "healthy fats" because they're heart-healthy and can help lower cholesterol. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and include coconut oil and palm oils.

Potatoes "aren't evil," she said. Mooi said potatoes are high in potassium and are a good source of fiber and magnesium. She said potatoes are the third most important crop across the world, behind rice and wheat.

Gluten should not be avoided, Mooi said. Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and related grains, including barley, rye and oat.

She said gluten-free products are usually high in calories and sugar.

Mooi said vegetarians are not typically healthier than non-vegetarians. Mooi said she recommends vegetarians try the Mediterranean diet, characterized by a high consumption of vegetables and olive oil and a moderate consumption of protein.

Organic food is not supreme, she said. She said organic food isn't necessarily more nutritious than conventional food.

Mooi said organic foods are produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. She said traditional pesticides are regulated. Mooi encouraged people to wash their food thoroughly before consumption if they're concerned about pesticides.

Mooi said artificial sweeteners don't cause bladder cancer. She said artificial sweeteners are safe to consume at low amounts, but can lead to sugar cravings.

Fresh foods are best when they're in season and grown close by, Mooi said. She said foods lose nutrition from the time they're picked to the time they're eaten. Mooi said frozen foods are usually flash frozen at the peak of ripeness when their nutrition value is the highest. She said canned food is less nutritious, but convenient because of shelf-life.

Mooi said fasting will cause weight loss initially, but causes metabolism problems because the metabolism needs to be processing foods to be effective. She said fasting also causes energy loss and fatigue.

Mooi is manager of nutrition and an educator at Aspirus Grand View Hospital. She said she's happy that more people are becoming increasingly concerned about what they're eating. She encouraged people to exercise more, too.