Your body can be thought of as a precision machine. It comes with thousands of intricate parts that combine to make an amazingly functional team. Like any machine, your body needs regular maintenance and fuel.

Your body needs to be fueled with the right nutrients in order to run at its maximum capacity. Following good eating habits is important to your overall health, but you also need to be able to sift through the layers of poor information.

Here are seven myths -- busted -- about good eating habits:

1. "You should work out on an empty stomach." This is definitely a myth. The rumbling in your stomach is trying to tell you something, and it's not that you need to dash to the gym. Ignore those tummy rumbles and you're forcing your body's engine to run on empty. Always be sure that you have a light snack, such as a piece of fruit, before any physical activity.

2. "Meal replacement bars and drinks are good for you." Sorry, another myth. Meal replacement bars and drinks can offer a small benefit if you are traveling or in a real pinch, but they are nowhere near the same as eating real food. Vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and plenty more is available in fruit and vegetables, and is much better than bars.

3. "Breakfast isn't important." Of course, your mother was right about this one. Breakfast is and will always be the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the supercharge it needs to meet the challenges of the day. Skipping breakfast robs your body of precious fuel, and will leave you feeling tired and hungry all day long.

4. "Low-carb diets provide all the nutrients we need." Another myth. For temporary weight loss, low-carb diets may work, but in terms of overall good health, they come up short. We need carbohydrates for our very survival, and they start by developing muscle tissue, and storing energy for later use.

5. "Eat what you want, when you want." If only life were that easy. Just because you're making some good food choices and exercising regularly, doesn't necessarily give you license to eat everything you want. Balance is the key. You can't eat only cheese and no fruit or vegetables and expect to lead a healthy life.

6. "Chop as many calories as you can." Cutting calories is part of losing weight, but running too low on fuel can harm you, too. Trim those calories gently, aiming for a weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week. Much more loss than that means you should add some more food to your diet.

7. "Forget soda pop and alcohol." This one's true! Good drinking is a big part of good overall eating. Why add to the profits of companies selling sugar water with artificial flavor and color added? Tap water is healthy, and juice and milk are also great choices. Drink small amounts all day and evening long, as much as you can comfortably ingest. (But note that the "rule" of 8 glasses a day is not really based on scientific research, but is another myth that has been repeated millions of times.) Avoid dehydration by sipping frequently.

Good eating habits begin with a solid understanding of proper diet. When you change what you eat, you'll be taking an important step toward improving your overall wellness. Fuel up and keep your motor running for optimum performance today, and down the road.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory/

About The Author:  Author Sheila Ffloyd writes for several well-known web sites, on health and wellness and health product subjects.

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