The Weird Series # 2 - 3 Food Myths That Are Marketing Tactics To Make You Buy Their Products!

in #food7 years ago (edited)

I'm sure that you're aware of the fact that marketing field involves some kind of black-hat techniques. I mean, in every field, you'll see some people using black-hat techniques to deceive you or to trick you so that you do what they want you to do. Although it must be noted that there are some great marketers all around the world who truly believe in white-hat techniques like our great marketing in-charge @zurvanic who works every day and night for the betterment of this platform.

But the point is, you can't trust every single marketer because their main goal is to trick you. Maybe you want me to give you the reasons why you shouldn't trust them? Sure! I am fully loaded with evidence. When you'll get to know that "Orange juices in breakfast are good for health" is just a myth and lie by marketers, you will surely wonder at the height of those myths!

Well, my series is all about weird stuff, and that is one of my latest discoveries, and be assured that I have enough information to surprise you. Orange juice myth is not the only one, there are many. Since I had to spend most of my time studying if that's really true and later I found my research correct, then I decided to share it with my Steemit family, so here we go!

Myth # 1: Orange Juice In Breakfast - Good For Health?

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Image Credits: HealthEatingFood

In 1908, The farmers in California had a load of oranges and they didn't want to lose all their oranges (i.e their invested money), and as a result, they made a clever plan. The plan's main point was to spread to people that fresh orange juices are good for their health. At that time, Americans were not used to fresh orange juice.

They made their advertisements and hired a group of marketing specialists who then paid the doctors to tell the patients (and whole nation) that orange juice is good for their health, especially for the health of kids. Then guess what happened? Their plan turned out to be successful and now here we are! People consider it a necessity in breakfast for good health.

Remember, we're not talking about fresh juices made at home. We're referring to brand fresh orange juices which are filled with sugar and heavily processed, and I hope you know that heavily processed juices with the high quantity of mixed sugar are dangerous for health.

Orange Juices are beneficial, but not the way they tell you. They just want to sell their brand juices and make money out of it. Actually, brand juices can be very dangerous for the reasons mentioned above. Try to drink juices made at home only.

Source: TheGuardian

Myth # 2: Chocolate is an Aphrodisiac - OMG! Really?

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Image Credits: Ghyslain

This myth is very old and guess what? it is exploited by the famous chocolate manufacturer "Cadbury". The claim of "Cadbury" was that Chocolate is an aphrodisiac and therefore, people should take more chocolates on Valentine's Day to enjoy their relationships. Their strategy of selling more of their chocolate became successful and as a result, New York Time's post endorsed their myth by giving their credibility.

Then what happened? There were some famous people such as Micheal R Liebowitz who suggested in one of his books that "PEA is a substance produced inside the brain when someone is in love". His readers took his words to heart and that way, the myth got more success. (if you don't know what is PEA, then it is one of those things which are found in chocolate)

Although I must say that the myth has a little weight (better than nothing) because chocolate may stimulate the brain into releasing a few substances but the amount is low to nothing which means, no real effect. Based on that, we still cannot justify its use. It is proven through research that chocolate doesn't increase libido

Sources: NPR and NCBI

Myth # 3: Banana - A Treatment For Celiac Disease?

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Image Credits: Hesca

We cannot ignore the advantages of Banana, but here we're specifically discussing its advantages (or disadvantages) for Celiac Disease as it is widespread by people nowadays. This myth has some nice background story!

In 1901, The United Fruit Co increased its capacity to grow and import Bananas as such they became huge in their stock. The next problem was, how they could sell those Bananas to consumers. They had to think and finally, they made a clever plan. They paid a pervasive marketing campaign to spread among people that bananas were a super-food that could save people and help them against Celiac Disease.

Long story short, they were endorsed by American Medical Association that allegedly demonstrated the banana's effectiveness to treat Celiac Disease children. But what made me think that it was a myth? It's not me, it's the group of scientists who proved it.

Some scientists found that bananas didn't help children affected by CD, but the simple fact that they substituted bread with bananas, as a result, they stopped eating gluten which is found in bread. Doctors keep recommending bananas to innocent newborns as a safe and healthy food for weaning, although unripe bananas can cause constipation and ripe bananas can cause gas which may lead to Colics. Really safe for toddlers? be my guest!

Sources: Slate and HealthLine


Some Explanation:

Actually, all of those myths were exploited and spread so that they could sell their stuff to you. They had high stock but considering that there was a low demand for their stock, they had to play their dirty marketing tricks and here we are! Thanks to scientists who are proving the myths wrong with their hard work.

It must be noted that Orange and Bananas have great advantages. Therefore, you should include them in your daily meal. If you're a patient, then consult a good doctor first. But please take a note that anything which you consume in an excessive way can cause great harm to your health. Be careful!

Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed my post. If you seriously liked the efforts, then please upvote, comment, and resteem. Thanks to people like @zurvanic @donkeypong @andrarchy @gavvet and others. Because of them, I get motivation to continue my activity.

Follow me at @princewahaj for more updates!

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i so loved banana's. thanks for sharing! <3

Very good

Those are amazing facts. You showed quite effectively how hard they work to perpetuate those ideas. There was a time when the American Medical Association recommended smoking cigarettes also.

Thanks man!

What! Smoking cigarettes were recommended? That's one of the greatest conspiracy then. Almost every single person know how harmful smoking is!

Good that you inform about, though most people dont want to hear the truth

Your article is very interesting. Did you know there is also a big myth concerning milk's vertue set up by industrials. Indeed, milk would be not only unnecessary in our alimentation but it seems to be quite unhealthy and related to many problems ( joints, digestion, arthritis ). I advice you "Lait, mensonges et propagande" by thierry souccar or Whitewash by Joseph Keon if you want to learn more about that.

Companies will do anything to make money. Sadly they have to lie about stuff to make that money.

Its the rich want to get richer

Interesting article. Oranges, bananas and chocolate are very healthy. Processed orange juice is not the best, but many times it does contain the daily requirement of vitamin C. While they say the amount of chemicals in chocolate that have aphrodisiac qualities is likely negligible, perhaps we shouldn't overlook the symbolic history of chocolate and love. As for bananas and celiac... Celiac disease in general is very misunderstood. But bananas are calming for the stomach! Ever hear of BRT?

Nice post upvote followed.

that is really interesting. I am reading it <3

Well written! I love my oranges and my orange juice. Thanks for sharing this informative post.

Mostly marketers tend to exaggerate the benefits of a product. They do it to maximize their sales. Some go over board with the black hat tricks but thats just the world we live in. Thanks for sharing

Nice :) upvoted and followed
Why don't you check best burgers in the world?
https://steemit.com/food/@notonlyfood/try-to-find-a-better-one-paninoteca-da-gino I hope you leaved a vote

I stopped drinking store bought orange juice 2 years ago. It is very bad for you. If I want OJ, I fresh squeeze. Great article and enjoyed.

It's actually quite scary when you think about it...

Excellent ... I am following you from a link on @Donkeypong latest post....

Ooh and there is another book I really liked it's 99F by Frédéric Beigbeder (there is an english version) about Marketing and Advertising field and consumption society

I hate what the world is coming to. I mean you want a job, make me some real orange juice. Commercial food manufacturing is the devil!

Interesting article, thanks for the work. But I am wondering, if there are (big) differences in the marketing strategies and the myth that are invented around some products in various countries. I live in Germany and work with a very health aware ( I might dare to say health neurotic) clientel and I have never heard the (fabricated) connection between bananas and celiac disease... or perhaps it's a matter of time and this story will arrive in some months in Germany :-)
The idea that juice (and all other beverages which contain sugars) is not so good for health otherwise seems to be general knowledge. Parents are for example strongly advised not to give juices to children - if they want to serve them, they should dilute the juice heavily with water.
Food and its production and marketing is a really fascinating topic, thanks again :-D
overal something like bought juices is considered as very bad for the health.

And let's not forget to add "gluten free" spinach and "all-natural" soda to the list of marketing tactics. They make eating so much more difficult than it needs to be.