by Riccardo Zambon | Doctor of Sport and Physical Performance Science
The Internet is a great medium for researching information in real time, but be careful not to misinterpret certain statements or the many baseless ‘rumours’ circulating on the web.
Let’s shed some light and debunk some false myths about physical activity, what you have always heard but which have never had any scientific basis.
Muscle pain the day after a workout is caused by lactic acid.
No kidding. Lactic acid is a waste product of the working muscle and is removed within a few minutes or a few hours at most by our body. The pain felt days after resuming training or an intense workout is called DOMS and is due to the micro-lesions that muscle fibres undergo during the stretching and contractions typical of exercise.
Weight training for children is dangerous and stunts growth.
In the 1970s, it was believed that training in the gym stunted children’s growth. 50 years later, the time has come to dispel this absurd myth. Overload training performed in a controlled, correct manner and with loads appropriate to the child/young person is an excellent stimulus that improves coordination and prevents injuries. In addition, the body reacts to the load by stimulating the production of bone cells, thus bringing great benefits to the child’s healthy and correct physical development.
If I want to lose weight, I have to eliminate pasta and bread from my diet.
Demonising certain foods is always a mistake in principle. Even more so if we are talking about two foods that can provide us with the main fuel our body uses to live: carbohydrates. Bread and pasta should be eaten daily and several times a day, all the more so if you perform regular physical activity, even if your goal is to lose weight. The distinction that needs to be made is the raw material: refined cereals are not suitable for our bodies, it is always better to prefer ancient grains or whole grains. When combined with constant exercise, eating quality bread and pasta will help you gradually eliminate excess fat and replace it with lean mass.
Published by: Editor on 24/05/2023
