We’ve already learned that there are many weight loss myths which people tend to follow when dieting. So how do you tell the truth from the myth? Well educating yourself is the best start.

We talked about the myth of high protein and low carb diets along with the silliness of fad diets. So let’s look a little further at other common weight loss myths.

Another myth is a popular one - Low-fat or no fat food is always a good choice.

In fact, always choosing the low-fat versions of your favorite foods not only deprives you of your favorite tastes but they are also low in calories.

Excluding fruits, the huge low-fat or non-fat group are not a safe choice if you are dieting. These products may have added sugar, starch or flour to make them taste better, which means extra calories that do not belong into your diet.

So make sure you check the list of ingredients on packages whenever you decide to buy low-fat.

The next common myth is that switching to vegetarian food will help you lose weight and stay healthy.

Well actually, I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but no food plan will work for you unless you take charge of your eating and make sure that everything that goes past your lips is the right kind of food.

The key here is to be absolutely sure that the vegetarian diet will give your body all the nutrients and calories it needs. Eating heaps of foods that do nothing for you might be filling up your stomach, but it can bring you a lot of trouble in the future.

Since plants tend to have a lower concentration of nutrients than meat, you will have to eat more food than before to make up for this difference. Not to mention that a strictly vegetarian diet will not get you enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and zinc. These substances are taken mostly from dairy products and eggs in a regular diet, but true vegetarians can’t touch those. You’ll have to rely on the few and uncommon vegetables that can provide these substances.

The final false myth we will discuss here is that dairy products cause heart problems and make you fat. Well, thanks to modern medicine everybody knows that eating a lot of dairy products is a surefire path to high blood pressure and stroke, although a large group of people from France refuse to die despite the large quantities of cheese and wine they consume.

Dairy products are the main source of calcium that keeps your bones strong and healthy. It is absolutely essential for children, and can be in no way overlooked by adults.

Dairy products also contain vitamin D, which is crucial to maintaining the normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream.

If you don’t want to gain weight from dairy products, then choose low-fat or non-fat brands. There are enough of those around. If you are lactose-intolerant, drink soy or rice milk. It does not taste exactly the same as true milk, but it’s still good and nutritious so deal with it.

Butter and margarine are the only dairy products you should worry about. They do contain big levels of fat. Still, if you can’t do without them, (despite contrary beliefs) at least eat butter. Margarine is an over-processed fat that is not particularly good for you. Butter may be a bit fatter, but it definitely is the healthier of these two.

So I hope you’ve learned all about popular myths which deceive thousands of people each and every day. They think they are following the rules and on the path to a healthier ‘self’ but in reality, they can be doing more harm than help.

Common weight loss myths are fooling, but you don’t have to be tricked as long as you know the difference between fact and fiction.