9 beauty myths you want to know

Myth 1: without milk you can't build strong bones

You've probably seen those ‘Got Milk' ads everywhere, the ones with all those celebrities telling you that you just have to have milk to be healthy and build strong bones. But studies clearly show that on a nation-by-nation basis, people who consume the most milk have the weakest bones and the highest rates of osteoporosis! So why is it that milk-drinkers tend to have more bone breaks than people who consume milk infrequently or not at all? The real answer is not how much calcium we eat in our diets, but how much calcium we prevent from leaving our bones. When we eat lots of protein, including milk of course, this increases the production of acid in the blood, which can be neutralised by calcium from our bones. While we may be getting lots of calcium, we're also flushing out lots too, so we're coming out way behind in the calcium equation. If you really want to get more calcium, the best place to find it is where grass-fed cows get it in the first place: green, leafy vegies.

Myth 2: diet soft drinks are good if you want to lose weight

Research shows that artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, found in low-kilojoule (low-calorie) soft drinks may act as appetite stimulants - making you eat more. These artificial sweeteners are also thought to be toxic to the human body. So, you are in a complete no-win situation if you drink them and want to lose weight.

Myth 3: skipping meals is a good way to lose weight

Skipping meals to lose weight is another bad idea. You're far more likely to overeat at the next meal because you're so hungry. And when you miss out on meals, your body believes you're going into starvation mode, and your metabolism slows down. Skipping breakfast is a bad idea too, because eating in the morning jump-starts your metabolism.

Myth 4: dieting works

Get-thin-quick schemes never work. Ninety-eight per cent of dieters gain back the weight. Eating healthy meals in smaller portions and adding regular exercise is the only weight-loss program that really works. Depriving yourself usually leads to bingeing and overeating anyway.

Myth 5: you have to start dieting young to be thin later

The more diets you've been on, the more likely you are to struggle with food and weight as an adult. Dieting can also lead to eating disorders. So skip it.

Myth 6: drinking water helps you lose weight

While heaps of water is good for you and vital for clear skin, it won't increase the rate at which your body burns kilojoules (calories). But you'll definitely be getting far fewer kilojoules (calories) during the day if you down water instead of soft drinks.

Myth 7: fasting is a great way to get thin

If you don't eat for a few days, you'll see a dramatic weight loss, but you'll lose mostly water weight (you're dehydrated). Also, your body can't tell the difference between total fasting (eating nothing) and starving. When you fast, your body starts trying to conserve its resources (i.e. kilojoules (calories)).

Starvation lowers your body's ability to burn fat efficiently and it lowers your metabolic rate. When starved you'll feel awful and move less, so you burn fewer kilojoules (calories) because you're more sluggish. Also, your body will crave twice as much after starving, and you'll gain what you lost and then some. Plus, it's dangerous. Fasting can result in deficiencies in a number of vital vitamins and minerals, which in turn can cause infections, skin conditions, poor wound healing, hair loss, exhaustion, and if it goes on for long enough, it can stunt your growth.

Myth 8: eggs are unhealthy because they bump up cholesterol

Don't be fooled, eggs don't bump up cholesterol. The only thing that eggs boost is healthy carotenoid antioxidants - lutein and zeaxanthin. These two weird-sounding antioxidants are fantastic for your skin and eyes. Plus eggs are an excellent source of protein.

Myth 9: osteoporosis is an old woman's disease

Women in their twenties and thirties can get osteoporosis. Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often. But if you don't get enough nutrients (especially calcium, magnesium and vitamin D) or if you've been cutting kilojoules (calories) for long enough, that's a recipe for an increased risk of osteoporosis.

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