Top Myths Around Being ‘Healthy’

16 August 2017

We get it. Being healthy isn’t always a piece of cake (literally); especially when we are faced with conflicting messages around what ‘healthy’ really means when it comes to our food. In a time when people are more conscious than ever to what they are putting in their bodies, it’s time to take a step back and consider what the term how we’re approaching healthy.

If we exercise, we can eat what we want

Whilst we might always be told the dos and don’ts, we wanted to explore the most common myths when it comes to being ‘healthy’ and find out what the experts have to say about it .

If we exercise, we can eat what we want

It’s a common misconception that if we regularly exercise then it doesn’t matter what we put in our bodies after. Whilst yes, you can consume a higher calorie diet when exercising, just because you went for a jog does not mean you should indulge in a man v food situation afterwards,

Low calorie/low fat products are the healthiest way forward

If you look at a food product in the 90s, lots of health claims were being made, with the focus on claims such as this is ‘low fat’ or ‘low calorie’. But what we are seeing today is that ingredients are speaking for themselves. For example, ingredients like almonds, blueberries and cranberries are ‘naturally functional’ foods which connote health in our minds. It’s important to consider the whole food, looking at what the ingredients are and whether or not they’re giving you any nutritional benefits.

Social media is the best source for health tips

Yes there are some amazing health and fitness influencers on social media, but that doesn’t mean we should use our Insta crushes as the be all and end all source for information on how to be healthy. Today people are getting a lot of their information from their social channels but we need to be wary and keep in mind that just because someone has 100K followers, doesn’t mean they have the credentials to give health tips or advice.

There is a ‘one size fits all’ approach to health

While diets such as gluten-free, paleo and vegan have really taken off in the past few years, being healthy and feeling good is a personal journey,

At a recent KIND Snacks event, – Dr. Rupy Aujla MBBS, BSc, MRCGP (The Doctor’s Kitchen) advised that ’Every aspect of your health is personal to you. Whether that’s sleep, nutrition or exercise, it’s important to understand what your body needs and more importantly knowing exactly is on your plate. Despite that there are a lot of myths and fads around how we should eat; I always recommended that following a diet of whole foods is the way forward.’

We need to be strict on ourselves 24/7 to achieve results

While we should always be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies, that doesn’t mean we have to be hung up on everything we eat around the clock. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself because let’s face it, no one is perfect.

Healthy snack brand KIND Snacks UK believe that ‘Being healthy shouldn't mean depriving yourself of delicious foods; you shouldn't have to compromise on health AND taste and with KIND you don't have to. It’s about eating the right balance of real foods, enjoying an active lifestyle and making better-for-you choices.’

While KIND isn’t about following trends, they do believe consumers need to have a healthy well-balanced diet, consuming whole foods with plenty of nutrients, and eating as closely to nature as possible.

Being ‘healthy’ means instant results

As much as we would love for this to be true, health is a journey. Make sure you can connect and balance all facets of your health (food, fitness etc.); balance is a give and take approach which we’re always working at building; it’s important we come to the realisation that it’s never perfect

Yoga instructor and influencer Cat Meffan believes that perseverance is key - ‘For me, a balanced diet isn’t about instant results; it’s about a ‘give and take approach’ and learning to respond to your own body. My absolute favourite mantra is you can’t rush something you want to last forever – so when it’s your lifestyle; it’s very much about trial and error. We’ve been brought up in a modern western world of wanting to see change right away, however we need to create a foundation and then build on top of that to see what works best for us on a personal level.’

About KIND Snacks

With a constantly changing ideal of how we should be eating, KIND Snacks, one of the US’ number one snack bar brands, has opened up the conversation around what it means to be ‘healthy’.

Last month KIND invited industry experts Cat Meffan and Dr. Rupy Aujla (The Doctor’s Kitchen) to help them break down the barriers; the discussion panel answered questions around how we can lead healthy, balanced lifestyles, without following any crazy fads.

KIND is a brand of delicious and wholesome snack bars made with high quality, nutrient rich ingredients like whole nuts, fruits and spices. Not only do their unique flavour combinations taste great, they’re also gluten-free, high in fibre, and contain no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Since its founding in 2004, KIND has been on a mission to make the world a little kinder, one snack and one act at a time. Through its social mission – known as the KIND Movement – KIND, together with its community, is committed to celebrating and inspiring kindness through acts big and small.

Learn more about KIND by visiting www.kindsnacks.co.uk | @kindsnacksuk.

THE KIND SNACKS RANGE

KIND® Nuts & Spices

KIND® Nuts & Spices bars are whole nuts flavoured with delicious spices. With just 1 tsp of total sugar per bar, each has on average over 50% less sugar (per 100g) compared to similar snack bars.