Myths You Learned in Health Class

Remember learning about the food pyramid in health class? As it turns out, it was based on a lot of misinformation about nutrition. In this episode, we explore the source of some of the lasting myths about healthy foods and fitness and the new science shaping health class today.

[ricebowlasmr]

“some 19 years olds are as sedentary as 60 year olds”


i just got roasted

[happyrose]

In our gym/health class, we're graded on our *abilities*
That means even if you try your hardest but still can't do the activity, you FAIL in that section. I could never build up the upper body strength to do the pull up bar, and when I had the test I couldn't lift myself. So I failed basically. It also really discourages people in my class. All of the inactive kids who don't do sports don't do as well. And they watch as the athletic kids ace everything. So what's the point of them trying when they'll never be that good. Nobody's the same on the fitness level. Some things don't help them, and some things do. But we're all forced to do the same thing.

As for health class we don't really learn anything. We go over bullying and how to basically be nice. Nothing about our bodies or anything. It's such an easy class.

[Malak-ftju]

ironic enough my school rarely teaches anything regarding health

[dungeonmama]

My sophomore year of high school, I had a weight training coach in gym class who really pushed physical strength, and would make us max out our lifts, which isn't so good for young highschoolers. As a 15 year old girl, I was maxing out my deadlifts at an impressive 210 pounds... And now I'm a college student whose lower back regularly goes out. Diet isn't the only thing health classes get painfully wrong

[snorlacroix]

all I learned from health class is that baby boomers have really big egos

once my 65 year old teacher was reading from the book and he added a lovely quote "we should strive to be like the best generation, the baby boomers, because of their hard work and dedication" and he just read it like it was fact and straight out of the book. it was not in the book. we called him mr pasta because his name sounded like some sort of noodle but other than that he only taught the normal shit: don't drink or do drugs (especially not the devils lettuce oh god not that its worse than heroin and cocain put together) sex is bad abstinence is good and exercise at least 4 days a week

[megangore]

The food pyramid was produced my the meat and dairy industry

[_ghost.house_]

I do a lot of weight lifting, so I tend to eat a lot, and I get judged for that and I think it’s hilarious to say “How else do you think I can lift 200 pounds? By drinking water?” And that shuts people right up.

[turnip]

You know I’ll just eat my mom’s food and if something happens to me it ain’t my fault

[audreyeck]

At my elementary school they pushed dairy so hard. We had got milk posters all over and we were told we should have dairy with every single meal because ya know 'it makes your bones strong' or some nonsense

[Jewels]

There's no "perfect" way to eat. You have to find the right diet for you.

[nm]

Y'all remember when the Canadian Food Guide was telling 12 year olds to eat like 4-6 cups of veggies a day, among other stuff

[nl]

Two plus two is four minus three is one. Quick myths

[madara-fcki]

I used to go to school in north eastern Europe and in about 2015 they still thought us about the food pyramid and how that was the healthiest way to eat. This just shows how inaccurate school systems can be and that we should radically rethink what we're teaching our youth and that most school systems are outdated and don't prepare youth for the 21st century

[happykermit]

My old gym teacher yelled at us if we weren’t getting into shape good enough but he never taught us about eating healthy food

[eve]

*The food industry's sway* on FDA nutrition guidelines doesn't just affect health class lessons; they also affect calculations for *food stamps & school lunches.*

[smurf]

"Eating right and staying fit"

I'm sitting in front of my computer eating frosting out of the can...

[NoahTheElk]

"90s kids" Oh come on really? Everyone is STILL taught these things don't act like 90s kids are so special about everything. Also it's weird to brag about fake information like that.

[blah]

At my school you are graded on tests. Here are the stats

Mile:
12:00Fail
10:00 D
9:00 C
8:00 B
7:00- A
Most kids are between 9-12.

Pacer (now banned for cruelty, athletic kids do like 100 and pass out) each lap is 50m approximately (might be wrong
0-10F
10-14D
15-20C
20-25B
25+ A
Pacer test is reasonable. I suck at running and I have managed a 35 before.

Flexibility, sit and reach by inches past your toes, one leg at a time.
0 or less F
0-5 D
6-10C
11-15B
16+A

This varies but I’m very very flexible so I don’t care as much.

Pushups, as many as you can in a minute
0-5 F
6-10 D
11-15 C
16-20 B
21+ A

Situps are the same as pushups but double every number

Honestly the mile is what kills everyone. Average moderately athletic kid does between 8-10, and the non athletic kids are worse. The rest aren’t terrible standards.

[keepdancingmaria]

When I was in school, we still had the 4 Food Groups. The pyramids and the plate hadn't been invented yet.
Milk
Meat
Bread
Fruits/Vegetables (one group)

That last group included SO much, like beans and potatoes.

I remember, back then, Margarine was called butter, and was considered good for us.
Fats were just part of all the groups, and sugar was just considered a seasoning, so it didn't really count anywhere.

A healthy well rounded meal could be pork chop, biscuits or cornbread with margarine, baked potato with margarine and sour cream, and a glass of kool-ade because it had extra vitamin C. Chocolate milk was fine and did not count as extra sugar, because sugar did not count anywhere.

As confusing as the pyramids could be, I do think they were a step in the right direction.

[debasd]

What about the rest of the misconceptions taught at school? What informs that?