Debunking Health Myths

Where to look for reliable health advice

The NHS is always a safe bet if you're looking for accurate and reliable health information, they offer advice and information on everything health-related in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

Another place to find helpful health advice is your local pharmacy. If something concerns you, simply pop in and ask your pharmacist. They are well-qualified and will give you both reliable and tailored advice and guidance. Many pharmacies offer services and walk-in consultations, a handy alternative to your GP.

If you need immediate help, dialling 111 will connect you straight to a health expert who will help in any way they can.

You need to cut out carbs to be healthy

There’s always been a bit of a debate around carbs and whether you should or shouldn’t include them in your diet. The truth is, just like every food type, carbs are part of a balanced diet. They give your body energy, vitamins, and fibre, which helps your digestive system. Without carbs, you’re more likely to suffer from constipation, feel tired, and feel weaker, due to the lack of iron and calcium.

The problem with carbs is many of them also contain saturated fats, which leads people to avoid them completely. You can still enjoy carbs like potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, and wholegrain bread and rice, without the concern of higher saturated fat intake.

You need to cut out snacks completely

One of life’s simple pleasures is a little snack, so when people tell you that you need to cut them out to be healthy, it can be demotivating, and make eating healthy much less appealing.

The reality is a snack here and there is fine if you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight on a balanced diet by keeping you fuller for longer. Healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, and veg with dip, can help prevent cravings for sugary snacks – which you can save for more special occasions!

Exercise Myths

Exercise is more important than dieting

If we make the brave decision to lose weight, build muscle, or get leaner, many people will put all of their efforts into getting more active, and when things don’t seem to be changing the way they expect, they give up. This is because they are prioritising exercise over their diet. What you eat and how you exercise and equally as important when it comes to reaching your health goals. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are both important for a healthy lifestyle.

No pain, no gain 

We’ve all heard this saying. It implies that you won’t get to your goal without suffering first. Bit brutal, right? This is a very misleading phrase. If you feel pain, stop! No exercise should hurt, if it hurts, you’re doing more damage than good. Effective exercise pushes you to your limits, if you feel like it’s pushing past that line, you need to find another strategy before something breaks, tears, or pops!

The flu vaccine gives you the flu

Many people believe that the flu vaccine works by giving you the flu so that when you recover, you’re immune. This is a myth. The flu vaccination contains inactive pathogens that cannot give you the flu but do make your body react the same way it would if it were protecting you against the virus. This is why some of us feel flu-like symptoms when shortly after receiving the vaccination.

Your pharmacist may offer a flu vaccination service to keep you and your family protected during the winter!

Pregnant women should not get the flu vaccine

There are no safety risks when it comes to pregnant women getting vaccinated. In fact, it is encouraged that pregnant women should be vaccinated, as their immune system is weaker than usual, which means that they’re more likely to experience more severe symptoms, and also risk harming their baby.

Pregnancy and vaccination can be a delicate subject, you can learn more about vaccinations in pregnancy from the NHS.