Page 12 - Testify 15 Oct 2020

12 15 - 30 October 2020

Debunking food and

health myths – PART 2

Food
for purpose foods since they contain small report that it helps their stomach relax.
However, to claim that it promotes weight
amounts of ingredients derived
from gluten-containing grains. loss is wrong. On the positive side, lemon
By Shola Oladipo Most people with coeliac dis- water is better than sugary drinks, which
Registered Dietitian ease can eat oats, but they are can affect dental health and cause weight
BSc.RD, MBDA often contaminated with wheat gain. Imagine for a minute that lemon water
in growing and/or processing, so could really promote weight loss – then
only oats that are certified glu- surely there would be no obesity pandemic
ten-free are acceptable on a glu- in the world as we know it.
ten-free diet. It is known that a
few people are actually sensitive 3. Myth: Eating pineapple during pregnan-
In response to the tsunami-like surge of
online self-acclaimed food and exercise to these certified oats and need to avoid cy causes miscarriage.
them too. Even tiny amounts of gluten can
experts, there seems to be an increase damage the intestinal cells of a person with FACT: This is false! There has been a
in people doing the weird, wonderful, and coeliac disease, even if there are no obvi- longstanding belief that pregnant women Shola Oladipo loves living a full-time
somewhat subliminal to get healthy! ous immediate symptoms. Tiny amounts of should avoid pineapples because it can life. She is a Registered Dietiian with
over 20 years of experience in several
gluten can be problematic for people with cause uterine contractions. This is essen- clinical areas working in the NHS, and
Last month, we shared part 1 of this series gluten sensitivity too. Coeliac disease and tially false, but let’s examine where the tale
on debunking food myths in our community. gluten sensitives are serious conditions that stems from. in the food industry. Shola runs ‘Food
The series is designed as a ‘life jacket’ to require consultation from your physician or for Purpose’ which is an exciting initi-
help some of you swim without drowning in health care provider. Gluten-free diets are Pineapples contain a substance called ative aimed at empowering people to
the oceans of health and wellness informa- eat, live and serve purposefully. She
tion! To be honest, amongst the errors are not about weight loss at all! Bromelain. Bromelain is a mixture of en- serves in a pastoral role alongside her
zymes that are found naturally in pineap-

nuggets of truth we know that the general 2. Myth: Drinking lemon water first thing in ples. Bromelain helps with digestion and husband Tim, they also minister inter-
public may still be somewhat perplexed! nationally on relationships and mar-
the morning helps you lose weight. also helps reduce inflammation that occurs riage via their ministry called ‘Before
during swelling and bruising. It has been and After I do’ (BAID). Shola is an avid
I hope part 2 is also helpful to you. If you
haven’t read part 1, please do. It tackles FACT: This is a popular myth – it’s abso- thought that Bromelain is unsafe because it writer, seasoned speaker and lover of
can provoke contractions and lead to early
lutely false!
some common food and exercise myths labour. There is no evidence to support this, words. She is mum to four incredibly
around eggs and cholesterol, muscle and I am sure you have heard it before – peo- and pineapple is safe for pregnant women. wonderful children.
fat. As well as the eating of snails! ple often swear that when you drink warm It is also a great source of vitamin C. It is food myths you have heard and would want
water with lemon on an empty stomach worth noting that Bromelain is destroyed by to be substantiated. Our team of experts will
Food & Health Myths
(usually first thing in the morning) you heat and canned or cooked pineapple con- do our best to debunk the myths and extract
will lose weight. Unfortunately, this claim tains no Bromelain. If you are concerned the truth. Remember, your health is your re-
The Bible in Proverbs chapter 4 encourages doesn’t have any scientific support. It is only about eating pineapple during pregnancy, it
us to acquire wisdom and understanding as a myth that lemon water supports metabo- is worth contacting your midwife or health sponsibility. Get wisdom, get understanding!
principle components for living. I think there
is a dire need for us to shift from myths to lism or balances pH in the body. Our bodies care provider. Contact us on www.foodforpurpose.org, or
are made up of about 60% water, so it is
accurate, relevant, and sound information important that we drink adequate amounts Bottom line: There’s no scientific evidence email admin@foodforpurpose.org for more
for holistic, healthy living. One huge issue daily. As adults, the recommendation in to support that pineapple is dangerous dur- information.
is the growing presence of myths amongst the UK is about 1.5-2.0 litres daily. Adding ing pregnancy. The rumours about pineap-
based facts. References:
lemon to water can make the taste more ple are purely anecdotal.
interesting and can provide a little vitamin 1. https://www.coeliac.org.uk/home/
As a healthcare professional, I am used to C as well. Some people find it refreshing Hopefully, this second and final instalment
hearing people share their knowledge and and first thing in the morning, many people has been helpful. Please let us know of any 2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy
feedback about health and nutrition. Some- -and-baby/foods-to-avoid-pregnant/
times it is laced with myths that have been
passed on from personal experiences,
family stories, and even the church pulpit.

This month’s instalment will address some
food myths:

1. Myth: “Gluten-free diets are essential
for good health and weight loss”.

FACT: This is false, except for people who
have coeliac disease, gluten sensitivity,
or other gluten-related disorders. It is
important to note that for those who don’t
have any of the aforementioned condi-
tions, excluding gluten from your diet is not
necessarily healthier at all.

I guess this is an opportunity to have a
quick ‘gluten 101 class’ - so here it goes!
Gluten refers to the proteins found in
wheat, rye, and barley which cause an
adverse reaction in people with gluten-re-
lated disorders – as mentioned earlier. On
a gluten-free diet, these grains and any
foods or ingredients derived from them
must be removed from the diet. Failure
to remove them from the diet can cause
serious illness. This means removing the
obvious sources of gluten such as bread,
pasta and baked goods made with glu-
ten-containing flours but may also include
less obvious foods such as sauces, salad
dressings, soups, and other processed