Myth 3) Eating pizza is bad for you, because it has no nutrients. Although pizza toppings like pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ground beef and cheese have saturated fat and cholesterol, and should be kept to a minimum, pizza is loaded with nutrients.
The sauce has lycopene, the veggies have vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, the meats have high quality protein, the cheese has calcium and protein, and the crust has energy giving complex carbohydrates. Now I’m not suggesting you go out and order pizza everyday, but if you’re health and weight conscience and you have pizza occasionally, enjoy.
Myth 4)  Carrots are loaded with sugar. Did you know that a whole cup of chopped carrots contains just 52 calories and a mere 12g of carbohydrates? They also contain fiber and beta-carotene which help control blood sugar levels. Carrots are also packed with “falcarinol,” a phyto-chemical shown to protect against colon cancer.
Myth 5) Celery has no health benefits. Celery is loaded with a combination of disease-preventing vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. It contains “pthalides,” compounds that help lower blood pressure by relaxing artery walls. Celery also contains “apigenin, a phytochemical that helps protect against cancers.
Myth 6) Iceberg lettuce has no nutrients. While it’s true darker varieties have more, don’t give up on this lettuce. It’s good for your bones, because one cup contains 20 percent of your daily dose of vitamin K.
Iceberg lettuce is good for your eyes to, because one cup provides 15 percent of your daily dose of vitamin A. Remember, any lettuce that keeps you eating salads is great.
Exercise or diet question? Email me at dwcrocker77@gmail.com or visit fitness4yourlife.org. David Crocker of Landrum has been a nutritionist and personal trainer for 26 years. He served as strength director of the Spartanburg Y.M.C.A., head strength coach for the S.C. state champion girls gymnastic team, USC-Spartanburg baseball team, Converse college equestrian team, lead trainer to L.H. Fields modeling agency, and taught for semesters at USC-Union. David was also a regular guest of the Pam Stone radio show.