People say that they don’t eat carrots because they are high in sugar. They don’t eat potatoes because they are “all” sugar. They don’t eat fruit because they are high in sugar. Avoiding these plant foods because of their sugar content is among the more ridiculous statements I have heard. Why? Because naturally occurring sugar just isn’t the same as added sugars in food.

This is the first in a series about sugar and all things sugar. Sugar in the form of glucose is THE fuel for the brain, the fuel for all our cells, and the fuel for our muscles. So, when people make a blanket statement such as “sugar feeds cancer cells,” that is true, but only because sugar feeds ALL cells in the body.

For years now, people tell me that they don’t eat carbs – bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes. – I must wonder why specifically these four foods considering that rice isn’t a nutritional zero or significant contributor of excess calories in the typical American diet either.

Growing up, too much coffee was not a good thing. At least that is what the commercials on television told me. Not that I drank coffee as a kid. Seeing those commercials made me think that this was not a good thing to consume. And what was too much coffee? In some cases, having only half a cup was an acceptable amount in any more than that was not. Only half a cup because my doctor said so.

Over the years, I have gotten many questions about what a good post-exercise recovery meal or drink is. While there are many protein drinks and recovery options, I come to the table with a budget-friendly option: chocolate milk. Many years ago, when my husband asked about a post-exercise recovery option, I suggested chocolate milk, and he said, “no I mean something with protein in it that can help with my recovery.” So, I said, “chocolate milk!”

Have you heard of IV therapy? IV therapy is getting intravenous fluids outside a medical or hospital setting for therapeutic use and not for medical "need." Anyone who's ever been to the hospital, emergency department, or urgent care (or even seen this sort of thing on television) knows that an IV is a common way for the medical staff to deliver medications and assist with overall hydration. IV therapy is available outside of this setting for apparently healthy people at medical spas, wellness centers, and even in your own home (not self-administered, but someone coming to your home to administer it). Is this something you should consider?

People will often refer to “vitamin B” which is not an accurate statement. There are eight B vitamins all with different names, roles, and recommendations. And, most don’t need supplementing if you have a varied diet. Learn more about the different ones and which might need supplementing.

There are many foods people think of as healthy that really aren’t. What are they? I list five here.

Can you guess what they are?

So does turkey make us sleepy? Of course, it does. Doesn’t it? Why else would we be so sleepy after our thanksgiving dinner?

Not so fast. The truth is that tryptophan isn’t likely the reason why you are sleepy.

A common misperception is that organic food is more nutritious than conventionally-grown food. If you prefer organic foods, and they fit in your budget, then buy them. But, to date, there is no evidence that organic foods have different nutritional values. Regardless of the type of fruits and vegetables you buy, always wash them with water before slicing, peeling, or eating.

Have you ever heard of any of these statements about potatoes?

Potatoes are the same as just eating sugar.

Potatoes are full of sugar.

Potatoes turn to sugar.

All are saying the same thing – and I tend to roll my eyes when I hear this. Like many things regarding nutrition, there is a little bit of truth to this, but not really.

One of the more common nutrition questions I get is, “how much water should I drink?”

Along with that question is what “counts” as water and what doesn’t?

First thing: that adage of eight glasses of water a day? No one can find the origin of it. So ignore that.

Most adults need anywhere from 1450 ml – 2,800 ml of fluid per day for body function. That is roughly 48-96 ounces. BUT we do not need to get that from drinking water only. About half of that can come from food, and about 15% comes from body processes, including metabolism.

If you have been to the back of the grocery store lately, you surely have seen the explosion of dairy alternatives alongside the dairy options.

However, something that many people don’t realize is that these are not healthier options. They are not nutritionally equivalent, and most are nothing more than flavored sugar water with thickeners, added fat, sugar, salt, and vitamins in mineral blends to make it close to milk. And protein is virtually non-existent in many of these.

While many of these are called “milk,” let’s clarify that milk is a nutrient-rich liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. And most people know that nuts, legumes, and hemp do not fall into the category of mammals.

Does muscle weigh more than fat?

No, it does not.

You have probably heard this and may have even said it. In your life: "muscle weighs more than fat."

NOT true.

People will argue with me about this, I get push-back on this, and you may have already given up reading this because I am wrong. But I am not.

With warmer weather coming and lifting many restrictions from the past year, some people may realize that they may want to drop some weight before venturing outside and socializing again.

But before embarking on this, consider that many of the drastic measures to lose weight or quick fixes are temporary and often result in weight regain when old habits return. What can help with weight loss? Here are the top five myths regarding weight loss.