The truth behind 10 of the biggest health beliefs

‘Eight hours’ sleep! And you must eat breakfast!’ Should we really be aiming to walk 10,000 steps a day, or drink two litres of water? 

By Joel Snape 4 January, 2023 © Guardian News and Media 2023 First published in The Guardian, 4/1/2023

Here are some widely held dietary and healthbased beliefs:

1. ‘Lifting weights will give you big muscles’
2. ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’
3. ‘You should walk 10,000 steps a day’
4. ‘You need eight hours of sleep’
5. ‘You should aim to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day’
6. ‘You need to drink two litres of water a day’
7. ‘A daily glass of wine is better than abstinence’
8. ‘Abdominal exercises will give you a six-pack’
9. ‘Dieting will slow your metabolism’
10. ‘Red meat is bad for you’

Be ready to talk about these issues next Thursday with Giovanni in class. Try to find some evidence (medical scientific data) to support --or not-- some of the points mentioned. 

• Do you actually do any of the mentioned points? 
• How far do you agree with them?
• Can you think of any other health belief not mentioned here?

We'll be reading the answers the author of this article gives and what science says now about these statements in class! (You can read the article on the blog next Friday)