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.
Do cough syrups work?
Short answer: No
In 2006, the nation's chest physicians agreed that the majority of
over-the-counter cough medicines don't actually work. These
colourful 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.
Does sugar cause hyperactivity?
Short answer: No
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 behaviour 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.
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.
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%. It's 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.
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 it.
Do nuts make you fat?
Short answer: No
As much as 75% of a nut is fat. But eating fat doesn't 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. They're also a good
source of protein and fibre.
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.
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.
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. That's because when you liquefy fruit, stripping away
the peel and dumping the pulp, many ingredients like fibre,
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 fibre and 16 milligrams of
calcium, whereas an orange with the same number of calories packs 3.1 grams of fibre
and 60 milligrams of calcium.
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 fibre-dense bran, must be labeled "whole
grain" or "whole wheat."
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 Legionnaire's disease. This is what reportedly sickened more than 100 people at
the Playboy Mansion back in 2011. Yuck!
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 favour of the caffeinated beverage. Coffee has been linked to a lower risk of type
2 diabetes, Parkinson's
disease and liver cancer.
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 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.
Can you drink too much water?
Short answer: Yes
It is 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.
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.
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 colour of your teeth.
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.
Can watching TV ruin your eyesight?
Short answer: No
Watching TV will not destroy your rods and cones as the out dated myth
suggests. Before the 1950s, TVs emitted radiation
that could increase an individual's risk of eye problems after excessive TV
viewing. Modern TVs have special
shielding that blocks these harmful emissions.
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.
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.
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