14 Foods That Are Hyped But Are Actually Useless

Protein powder: Healthy people don’t need it at all

In recent years, there are more and more fat people, while at the same time, thin people can never gain weight. He was so thin that his bones were visible, and there was no trace of blood on his face. So, some businesses said that protein should be supplemented. Then, I started buying protein powder.

In fact:

A 400-gram can of protein powder costs two to three hundred yuan. Healthy adults need 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, and this amount of protein can be fully met through a normal diet. Therefore, healthy people with a normal diet do not need to take additional protein powder.

Grape seeds: Merchants steal the concept

The grape seeds that are usually spit out are also widely promoted by merchants as having anti-cancer, anti-oxidation and anti-aging effects. Various types of "grape seed oil" and "grape seed powder" are also selling well.

In fact:

There is a lot of experimental data on the inhibition of cancer cells by grape seed extract, but the premise of the conclusion is clearly written - "in vitro experiments can inhibit cancer cells." "In vitro experiments" can only mean that further research can be carried out on specific cancer cells. There is currently no evidence that grape seed extract can inhibit cancer cells in the body.

Organic food: just psychological comfort

Whenever you go to the supermarket, there are always people selling you all kinds of "green vegetables" and "organic rice". They sound very high-end and healthy, and with the words "natural and pesticide-free" on the packaging, they are simply super attractive. But in fact, "expensive" does not necessarily mean "good".

In fact:

Earlier, a consumer association had conducted random inspections on organic food and green vegetables on the market, testing pesticide residues, heavy metal pollutant limits, and physical and chemical indicators. The test results are shocking. Although the prices of these so-called "organic foods" and "green vegetables" are much higher than those of ordinary vegetables, the test results of these indicators still exceed the national standards...

High-calcium milk: no more effective than regular milk

When people buy milk, they often see high-calcium milk, which costs much more than ordinary milk. Nutritionists explain that so-called high-calcium milk is simply milk that has some extra calcium artificially added during production, which makes the calcium content in the milk higher.

In fact:

The calcium in ordinary milk is calcium lactate, which has a higher absorption rate, while the calcium in high-calcium milk is artificially added calcium carbonate, which has a lower absorption rate. Drinking high-calcium milk does not mean that you can fully absorb the calcium it contains. In fact, ordinary milk is enough!

Fish oil: Just eat fish

In all major health product counters, fish oil is always the most popular product. Is it really that good?

In fact:

Since fish oil comes from fish and purified fish oil is not stable, isn’t it more direct and effective to eat fish? The answer is yes. In addition to fish oil, fish also provides high-quality protein and trace elements such as vitamins and minerals. The saturated fatty acid content in fish is very low, which is also excellent for cardiovascular health.

Sea cucumber: not as good as eggs

As long as you sit in a restaurant and open the menu, there will always be a sea cucumber cooked in various ways to tempt you. More importantly, the boss said that this stuff has a very high protein content. I wanted to eat well and eat healthily, so I couldn't help but order it. But it’s so expensive.

In fact:

The value of sea cucumbers lies in their protein, but although their protein content is high, their quality is not high. Protein can be divided into high-quality and low-quality, and its quality is mainly judged by the human body's absorption rate of the amino acids in the protein.

Eggs are the food that best matches the human body's amino acid pattern, so they are a perfect source of protein. It is better for people to eat two eggs a day, and then pair them with some soy products and vegetables, than to eat sea cucumbers. The protein intake from the latter is far superior to that of sea cucumbers in terms of quality and quantity.

Alcohol detoxification drugs: They cannot reduce the harm of drunkenness

China has always had the habit of urging people to drink, especially businessmen, who have constant social engagements and drinking. As a result, various hangover-relieving drugs are selling like hot cakes in pharmacies, and they are claimed to be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.

In fact:

Hangover pills are just a gimmick. Their batch numbers are not medicines, but health foods. Their ingredients are just some liver-protecting ingredients and cannot reduce the harm of drunkenness. The most fundamental way to sober up is to drink in moderation. Drink no more than 2 taels of liquor and no more than two bottles of beer a day.

Enzymes: Inactivated once in the mouth

Enzymes have been extremely popular in the past two years. Many businesses have claimed that this product can help with detoxification, beautification and weight loss, and it has squeezed into the health care product rankings at a magical speed.

In fact:

"Enzyme weight loss" is a complete scam. "Enzyme" is actually the Japanese name, which is the "enzyme" we are familiar with.

But the stomach is very acidic, and enzymes generally have a hard time surviving in such an environment. In addition, there is pepsin in the stomach that is specially produced for the acidic environment. It can cut up other enzymes. When it reaches the small intestine, the protease is more aggressive. No matter whether it is food protein or enzyme, it will be cut into pieces and it will no longer be active. It is equivalent to eating it in vain.

Soy sauce for children: beneficial and harmless

Advertisements for children's soy sauce claim that it is "a low-salt, light-tasting soy sauce specially developed for children's health" and is suitable for mixing with rice, steaming food, etc. It can both stimulate the appetite and provide nutritional supplements. It also takes into full consideration the taste characteristics of children in their developmental period and is rich in 18 kinds of amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates and other nutrients needed by children.

In fact:

Experts remind that children's diet does not need to be seasoned with additional soy sauce. The sodium contained in a normal diet is sufficient to meet the physiological needs of children, and any added salt is redundant. Moreover, the more "heavy" your taste buds are when you are young, the more difficult it will be to control your salt intake when you grow up, and the higher your risk of high blood pressure will be.

Stomach-nourishing biscuits: Not as good as soda crackers

As the saying that "Monkey mushroom biscuits are good for the stomach" becomes more and more popular, more and more Monkey mushroom-related foods are on the market. I also bought a big box when I was shopping in the supermarket. It was really expensive! Just eat it. It’s not that delicious, but it’s good for the stomach as they said on TV.

In fact:

According to experts, from the perspective of medicine, its effective dosage, main effects, side effects, whether there are adverse reactions, applicable population, contraindications, preparation forms, etc. are all regulated. Only when the medication meets the requirements can the purpose of treatment be achieved. The so-called "stomach-nourishing biscuits" are unlikely to achieve the stomach-nourishing effects they claim.

Moreover, soda crackers themselves are a good helper for nourishing the stomach. Instead of spending a lot of money to buy so-called stomach-nourishing biscuits, it is better to buy a bag of soda crackers for a few yuan.

First-laid eggs: precious but not more nutritious

They are called "first-laid eggs" (that is, eggs laid within one month of the first month of a chicken's laying) and are considered by many to be the concentrated essence of eggs, and they are willing to pay a high price to buy them. Some businesses also claim that first-laid eggs can promote brain development and enhance physical fitness, have high nutritional value, and are especially suitable for consumption by postpartum women, students and the elderly.

In fact:

"First-laid eggs" refer to the first batch of eggs produced by a hen within 110 to 130 days. Although "precious", their nutritional value is not much higher than other ordinary eggs. Moreover, the claim that first-laid eggs are good for the brain is not reliable. The nutrients that are beneficial to brain health are mainly n-3 fatty acids, lecithin, etc. There is no data showing that the content of these substances in first-laid eggs is higher than that in ordinary eggs.

Brown sugar: just looks black

The problem of menstruation has always been a major problem that has troubled women, especially in the past two years as young women's lifestyles have become increasingly irregular. As a result, brown sugar products began to become a favorite snack for many people and have been touted as natural and healthy foods with beauty and health benefits. Of course, the price is also higher than brown sugar.

In fact:

Experts say, "In fact, brown sugar is what we call red sugar, and its effects are the same as ordinary brown sugar." Many people believe that brown sugar is more effective than other sugars. In fact, brown sugar and red sugar are both sucrose. There is no essential difference between the two, and they have the same nutritional value and edible effects.

Black wolfberry: It’s better to eat eggplant

When I went traveling last year, I was recommended a handful of black wolfberries. Black wolfberry was once called "soft gold". According to merchants, it has universal efficacy and its price can be as high as several thousand yuan per kilogram, which even led to thousands of people stealing wild black wolfberry.

In fact:

Experts explain that the anthocyanin content of black wolfberry is just slightly higher than that of red wolfberry. In fact, everyday purple and black foods, such as grapes, eggplants, purple sweet potatoes, and mulberries, all contain anthocyanins. If you want to supplement them with black wolfberries, the cost-effectiveness is very low.

Propolis: No scientific evidence yet

Propolis is a colloid made by bees from resin collected from plant spores and their own secretions. Propolis can also block external invasions such as bacteria. Ancient people in Greece, Rome, Egypt and other places used it to heal wounds, reduce inflammation, and make mummies. So powerful? Is it also effective for the human body?

In fact:

Businessmen see room for bragging in propolis - since it can block foreign bacterial invasion, then "antibacterial", "antiviral", "immune regulation" and "anti-tumor" should also be possible. But in fact, the research on the efficacy of propolis is mostly focused on animals or cells, and the scale of experiments on humans is not large, which is not considered sufficient to draw conclusions in medicine.

Therefore, there is no need to blindly believe in some "health recommendations" that sound great. Reasonable diet and balanced nutrition in daily diet are the best ways to maintain health!