Can Eating Banana Peels Really Help You Lose Five Pounds in a Week?

Today is April Fool's Day, and we visited with Brenda Duby with United Supermarkets to talk about nutrition facts and myths to discern the true from the false.

For instance, is it true that eating banana peels can help you lost five pounds a week because of the phytolutens?

Duby says of course this is false. Phytolutens is even a made up word that sounds like it's out of a Dr. Seuss book. But this accentuates the fact that there are many myths and misconceptions out there about diet and nutrition.

Another myth is that drinking nothing but coffee for two days will jump start weight loss and shrink your stomach. FALSE! You miss all the nutrients your body requires to function properly and it shuts your metabolism down. So really all you lose is a little water weight, which you will put right back on.

Another commonly shared belief is If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you should eat more beans. This can actually be true. Beans are loaded with magnesium, which helps some types of headaches.

Last one: Brown eggs have twice the nutrition as white eggs. False! Brenda said that the only difference between the two is that brown eggs come from brown hens, and white eggs come from white hens. The nutritional value is exactly the same.

So there you go. A great lesson on not believing everything you hear or read, but fact-finding for yourself to know for sure the nutrition you are or aren't getting.

Pro-tip: If you're ever unsure about a nutritional question, ask a doctor or nutritional specialist, not Google.

About the sponsor

The United Supermarket Family is making healthy shopping easier by helping you build a better basket. Find out more at United Supermarkets’ official website.