It's that time of year again when so many of us start thinking about diets to get ready for summer, so I thought it was super important to share with you some myths about diets and nutrition that are circulating (and that need to be revisited). I feel it's really important to dispel these myths and gain a more body-positive awareness without neglecting our well-being. Detox, yes, as much as possible, but without going to extremes and always cultivating a good relationship with food and our bodies. These are the 5 myths about detox and diets that I've been hearing most often. Let's debunk them?

1. DO NOT COUNT CALORIES

Some calories are addictive, some aid in recovery, some cause weight gain, and some help boost metabolism. This is because food contains not only calories, but also information.

Calories are misleading, basically because they are a metric for energy and not for nutrition . Many people count calories when they want to lose or maintain weight. But this is not safe, because the way we assimilate nutrients and absorb calories is different from person to person. It will also depend on the quality of the food and the bacterial population of our gut – the microbiome, which is essential to take care of, with probiotics, for example. In a study published by Dr. David Ludwig, professor in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and colleagues, it is suggested that a poor-quality diet can result in weight gain, even if it is theoretically low in calories.

2. Plant Protein

If you eat a variety of whole, plant-based ingredients (vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fruits) instead of refined foods, you are unlikely to have any protein deficiency.

One of the questions I hear most often is: "Will I be getting enough protein on a plant-based diet?" The answer is YES! In fact, you'll be consuming around 40% more than the recommended daily dose (42 grams) and you'll also be receiving all the other wonderful benefits that come when your diet is mostly plant-based: plenty of fiber (97% of the population is deficient in this key nutrient), phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and water.

In reality, 97% of the population consumes enough protein daily. Why the obsession? Well, protein plays a super important role in thousands of biological processes, such as giving blood vessels their structure, transporting and storing essential nutrients, repairing tissues (like bones, skin, hair, and muscles), and helping the body eliminate toxins and impurities. But that doesn't mean we have to eat massive amounts (nor that a plant-based diet won't give us the protein we need).

To simplify, getting the necessary dose of protein and fiber, plus a complete mix of nutrients and adaptogens, check out these plant-based proteins. You might also want to watch this video about protein intake in plant-based diets, to make it extra clear!

3. WATER IS ALSO EDITABLE

That's true. Drinking two liters of water a day isn't the only way to ensure we're well hydrated.

When we consume foods rich in water, we absorb it more slowly because it's "trapped" in the structure of those foods. To clarify, this doesn't mean you should chew the water. What I mean is to consume enough water-rich foods like cucumber, lettuce, berries, and melons—all with water levels above 90%. The water hidden in these fruits and vegetables is actually super rich in nutritional terms because it's literally enveloped in a network of vitamins, minerals, and fiber rich in phytonutrients, which help the body absorb water more slowly, meaning you'll stay hydrated for longer periods of time!

To complement this, take the Beauty Drops daily, rich in silica, 72 essential minerals, and rose water. These drops, mixed with water, help to deeply hydrate the cells. You will quickly feel more awake, hydrated, and with strong, luminous skin and hair.

4. Eat your greens

I love GREENS! Absolutely, the fascination never ends and I'm always discovering delicious and nutritious green vegetables, and new ways to prepare them. They are super potent, incredibly tasty, and essential for health, inside and out, and yet we don't consume enough of them.

Eating enough vegetables (4-6 cups!) every day is one of the secrets to becoming even more beautiful from the inside out! Very important: be imaginative and diversify. There's a whole world beyond lettuce... Remember leafy greens like chard, spinach, collard greens, kale... Therefore, consider that your plate should consist of at least 50% greens.

OurDetox Kit is wonderful for supporting this choice. Each recommended dose of 2 dessert spoons of Super Detox Powder provides a daily dose of greens. Therefore, in addition to all the other benefits (protein, collagen, fiber, digestive enzymes, etc.), the products in this kit will give your body the green boost it needs.

5. There are fats and fats (choose the good ones)

Fat has a terrible reputation, but it's actually one of the body's fundamental elements. On average, a person is composed of 15 to 30% fat!

For decades, it was thought that fat was interconnected with and caused many diseases, including obesity, heart problems, and high cholesterol. New scientific studies have questioned this idea and are teaching us that not all fat is bad! Consuming GOOD fats, the right ones (organic, cold-pressed, unprocessed vegetable fats), is essential for a healthy lifestyle.

This type of fat won't make you "fat." Healthy fatty acids, like those found in avocados, cold-pressed olive oil, and seeds, help nourish our fattiest organ – the brain! This is especially important for those obsessed with counting calories. If you count calories, you'll probably, and naturally, be afraid of fats. But if they're healthy, they're not harmful. After all, 1 gram of fat has more calories than 1 gram of carbohydrate or protein.

You can watch a video here and learn how to make ghee - a good fat to consume internally and to use on the skin (yes, it's true!).