Definitive Answer To
20 Of Your Biggest Health Questions
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
diseasesand 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
polyphenolsassociated with poor harvesting
methods, improper storage, and heavy processing.
Do cough syrups work?
Short
answer: No
In 2006, the nation's
chest physicians agreedthat the majority of over-the-counter cough medicines
don't 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.
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 agenerous amount of sunscreenin 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 1960's that seemed to connectMSG
with a variety of maladies that
people experienced after eating at Chinese restaurants.
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 fiber.
One study
even found that whole
almonds have 20% less caloriesthan 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 studypublished 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 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.
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 Reader's Digest.
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
whatreportedly
sickenedmore than 100
people at the Playboy Mansion back in 2011.
Does coffee cause cancer?
Short answer:No
Coffee got a bad rap
in the 1980's when a studylinked drinking coffee to pancreatic cancer. The
preliminary report waslater debunked.
More recently, health studies
have swung in favor of the caffeinated beverage. Coffee has been linked to a
lower risk
oftype 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, liver cancer, and even suicide.
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-yearUniversity of Arizona
studyon cholesterol
concluded.
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. Over-hydrating
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.Certain brands
of
yogurts,
like Activa by Dannon, are
marketed exclusively to treat tummy issues.
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.
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
hastested the
containerto 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 outdated myth suggests. Before the 1950's,
TVs emitted radiation thatcould increase an individual's risk of eye
problemsafter 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 beenshown 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 faucetbecause 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.
Walking is the best possible exercise.
Habituate yourself to walk very far.
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