1. Does olive oil prevent heart disease? > > Short answer: Yes > The health benefits of olive oil come from the presence of > polyphenols, antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart diseases and > cancers. But to get these healthy compounds, consumers should buy > good-quality, fresh extra-virgin olive oil, which has the highest > polyphenol content. Most commercially available olive oils have low > levels of polyphenols associated with poor harvesting methods, > improper storage, and heavy processing. > > > 2. Do cough syrups work? > > Short answer: No > In 2006, the nations chest physicians agreed that the majority of > over-the-counter cough medicines dont actually work. These > colorful syrups typically contain doses of codeine and > dextromethorphan that are too small to be effective. Only cough > suppressants that contain older antihistamines seem to relieve coughs. > That includes brompheniramine, an active ingredient in Dimetapp. > > > 3. Does sugar cause hyperactivity? > > Short answer: No > Following a review of 23 studies, a 1996 report published in the > Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that sugar > does not affect the behavior or cognitive performance of > children. The age-old myth that kids misbehave when they eat large > amounts of candy, cookies, and other junk food, could be related to > the type of events where these foods are typically served. For > example, kids are more wound-up at birthday parties and during > Halloween when sweet treats tend to flow freely. > > 4. Do sugary soft drinks lead to diabetes? >> > Short answer: Yes > The majority of health research is stacked against sugar-sweetened > soda. A large 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical > Association found that women who drank one or more sugary drinks > per day increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 83% > compared to those who consumed less than one of these beverages > per month. > > 5. Do I need sunscreen with more than 30 SPF? > > Short answer: No > Sunscreens with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 block about > 97% of ultraviolet rays, while sunscreens with an SPF of higher > than 30 block 97%-98%. Its more important that you choose > broad-spectrum sunscreen, meaning it protects against both UVB and > UVA rays. Sunbathers also need to apply a generous amount of sunscreen > in order to get the full benefit of the SPF. > > 6. Is the MSG in Chinese likely to give you a headache? > > Short answer: No > A review of 40 years of clinical trials, published in the journal > of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2006, found that > all previous research failed to identify a consistent > relationship between the consumption of MSG and the constellation of > symptoms that comprise the syndrome, including headaches and asthma > attacks. The misconception spawned from several poorly-done small > studies in the 1960s that seemed to connect MSG with a variety of > maladies that people experienced after eating at Chinese restaurants. > > > 7. Do nuts make you fat? > > Short answer: No > As much as 75% of a nut is fat. But eating fat doesnt necessarily > make you fat. The bigger factor leading to weight gain is > portion-size. Luckily, nuts are loaded with healthy fats that keep you > full. Theyre also a good source of protein and fiber. One study even > found that whole almonds have 20% less calories than previously > thought because a lot of the fat is excreted from the body. > > 8. Is walking as effective as running? >> > Short answer: Yes > Studies have shown that how long you exercise -- and thus how many > calories you burn -- is more important than how hard you exercise. > Running is a more efficient form of exercise, but not necessarily > better for you. A six-year study published in the journal > Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology in April found that > walking at a moderate pace and running produced similar health > benefits, so long as the same amount of energy was expended. > > 9. Is drinking fruit juice as good for you as eating fruit? >> > Short answer: No > Calorie for calorie, whole fruit provides more nutritional > benefits than drinking the pure juice of that fruit. Thats because > when you liquefy fruit, stripping away the peel and dumping the pulp, > many ingredients like fiber, calcium, vitamin C, and other > antioxidants are lost. For comparison, a five-ounce glass of orange > juice that contains 69 calories has .3 grams of dietary fiber and 16 > milligrams of calcium, whereas an orange with the same number of > calories packs 3.1 grams of fiber and 60 milligrams of calcium. > > 10. Are all wheat breads better for you than white bread? > > Short answer: No > Not all wheat breads are created equal. Wheat breads that contain > all parts of the grain kernel, including the nutrient-rich germ > and fiber-dense bran, must be labeled whole grain or whole > wheat. Some wheat breads are just white bread with a little bit of > caramel coloring to make the bread appear healthier, according to > Readers Digest. > > 11. Can a hot tub make me sick? > > Short answer: Yes > Hot tubs -- especially ones in spas, hotels, and gyms -- are perfect > breeding grounds for germs. The water is not hot enough to kill > bacteria, but is just the right temperature to make microbes grow > even faster. Even though hot tubs are treated with chlorine, the heat > causes the disinfectant to break down faster than it would in regular > pools. The most common hot tub infection is pseudomonas folliculitis, > which causes red, itchy bumps. A more dangerous side-effect of > soaking in a dirty Jacuzzi is a form of pneumonia known as > Legionnaires disease. This is what reportedly sickened more than > 100 people at the Playboy Mansion back in 2011. > > 12. Does coffee cause cancer? > > Short answer: No > Coffee got a bad rap in the 1980s when a study linked drinking > coffee to pancreatic cancer. The preliminary report was later > debunked. More recently, health studies have swung in favor of the > caffeinated beverage. Coffee has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 > diabetes, Parkinsons disease, liver cancer, and even suicide. > > > 13. Do eggs raise cholesterol levels? > > Short answer: No > Although egg yolks are a major source of cholesterol -- a waxy > substance that resembles fat -- researchers have learned that > saturated fat has more of an impact on cholesterol in your blood than > eating foods that contain cholesterol. Healthy individuals with > normal blood cholesterol levels should now feel free to enjoy foods > like eggs in their diet every day, the lead researcher from a 25-year > University of Arizona study on cholesterol concluded. > > 14. Can you drink too much water? > > > Short answer: Yes > It is very rare for someone to die from drinking too much water, > but it can happen. Overhydrating is most common among elite athletes. Drinking an > excess of water, called water intoxication, dilutes the > concentration of sodium in the blood leading to a condition known > as hyponatremia. The symptoms of hyponatremia can range from > nausea and confusion to seizures and even death in severe cases. > To avoid this, drink fluids with electrolytes during extreme > exercise events. > > 15. Can yogurt ease digestive problems? > > Short answer: Yes > Our digestive tract is filled with microorganisms -- some good and > some bad. Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, generically called > probiotics, that helps maintain a healthy balance. Probiotics can > relieve several gastrointestinal problems, including constipation > and diarrhea. Certain brands of yogurts, like Activa by Dannon, are > marketed exclusively to treat tummy issues. > > 16. Do whitening toothpastes whiten teeth more than regular > toothpastes? >> > Short answer: No > Whitening toothpastes usually contain peroxides and other strong > abrasives that might make your teeth appear whiter by removing > stains. Unlike at-home whitening strips and gels that contain bleach, > these toothpastes do not actually change the color of your teeth. > > 17. Is it safe to microwave food in plastic containers? >> > Short answer: Yes > But the plastic container should display the words microwave > safe. This means that the Food and Drug Administration has tested > the container to make sure no chemicals used to make the plastic > leech into foods during microwaving. If chemicals do seep out into > food, the amounts are tiny and not dangerous to our health. As a > general guideline, plastic grocery bags as well as most plastic tubs > that hold margarine, yogurt, cream cheese, and condiments are not > microwave safe. > > 18. Can watching TV ruin your eyesight? > Short answer: No Watching TV will not destroy your rods and cones as the outdated > myth suggests. Before the 1950s, TVs emitted radiation that could > increase an individuals risk of eye problems after excessive TV > viewing. Modern TVs have special shielding that blocks these harmful > emissions. > > 19. Is red wine better for you than white wine? >> > Short answer: Yes > Red wine contains much more resveratrol than white wine, an > antioxidant found in the skin of grapes that has been shown to fight > off diseases associated with aging. > > 20. Is bottled water better for you than tap water? >> > Short answer: No > Bottled water is no safer or purer than tap water, although it is > substantially more expensive. A recent study by Glasgow University > in the U.K. found that bottled water is actually more likely to be > contaminated than water from your faucet because it is less > well-regulated. Bottled water and tap water typically come from > the same sources -- natural springs, lakes, and aquifers. While public > water supplies are tested for contaminants every day, makers of > bottled water are only required to test for specific contaminants > every week, month, or year.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:57:10 +0000
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