Diet Myth #3:

Eating Fat Makes You Fat

We have been brainwashed to believe that if we eat fat, we will get fat. There's one problem: Science does not support this myth. "In the last 40 years, our national fat consumption has decreased from 43 to 34 percent of our total calories," Hyman points out. Eating less fat than ever, we are growing fatter. The reason? Low-fat diets are often rich in starchy or sugary carbohydrates, which raise insulin levels and promote weight gain.

Diet Myth #4:

Eating No-Carb or Low-Carb Will Make You Thin

"Carbohydrates are actually the single most important food in your diet for long-term health," says Dr. Hyman. As with calories and fats, there are different types of carbs that interact with your genes leading to remarkably different effects. Human beings have not evolved to metabolize the highly processed and refined carbohydrates we eat that contribute to the major diseases diabetes, heart disease, dementia and cancer. So opt for the good carbs such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans instead, advises Hyman.