Enough Lying And Cheating: Resolved Myths About Health in Which We All Blindly Believe

We’ve all heard a thousand times that sugar causes hyperactivity, wheat bread is better than the white one, soft drink cause diabetes and watching too much TV harms your eyes… However, if you are wondering how much of this is true, continue reading, and find out.

1. Can olive oil prevent heart disease?

Short Answer: Yes.

Olive oil is good for your health because it contains polyphenols- antioxidants which reduce the risk of cancerandheart disease.

However, in order to use olive oil for healing, you must purchase high quality oil that contains high levels of polyphenols. Most olive oils that are available in the market contain low levels of polyphenol, due to the poor processing of olives and improper storage.

2. Are cough syrups effective?

Short answer: No.

In 2006, doctors agreed that most cough syrups are not effective. This colored syrups generally contain too small doses of codeine and dextromethorphan to be effective.

It seems that the only effective syrups are the old ones, that contain antihistamines.

3. Does sugar cause hyperactivity?

Short answer: No.

A study from 1996 which brought together the results of 23 studies, concluded that sugar does not cause any “behavioral and cognitive changes in children”.

4. Can sugary drinks lead to diabetes?

Short answer: Yes

A big study from 2004 conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association,found that women who drank one or more sugary soft drinks per day have increased their risk of developing diabetes type 2 by 83%, compared to those who consumed only one of these beverages per month.

5. Do we need sunscreen with more than 30 SPF?

Short answer: No

Sunscreens with an SPF 30 (sun protection factor) block around 97% of ultraviolet rays, while sunscreens with an SPF higher than 30 block 97%-98%.

It is much more important that you take “broad-spectrum” sunscreen protection, because it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunbathers also need to apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen in order to get the full benefit of the cream.

6. Is the monosodium glutamatefrom Chinese foodcausing headaches?

Short answer: No

A review of 40 years of clinical studies, 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 monosodium glutamateand the constellation of symptoms that comprise the syndrome,” including the headachesandthe asthma attacks.

7. Do nuts make you fat?

Short answer: No

Around 75% of a nut is fat. However, eating fat doesn’t necessarily make you fat. The bigger factor leading to weight gain is the size of the portion. Luckily, nuts are full with healthy fats that keep you full. They’re also a good source of fiber andprotein. Certain study even found that whole almonds have 20% less calories than previously thought,since a lot of the fat is excreted from our body.

8. Is walking as effective as running?

Short answer: Yes

Numerous studies have proven that how long you exercise, and consequently how many calories you burn, is much more important than how hard you exercise. Running is a more effective form of exercise, but not necessarily better.

A six-year study published in April this year, found that running and walking at a moderate pace produced similar health benefits, as long as the same amount of energy was spent.

9. Is drinking fruit juice as good for you as eating the fruit?

Short answer: No

It’s better to eat the whole fruit than drink the juice from it. That’s because when you juice the fruit, you are stripping away the peel and throwing away the pulp, many ingredients like vitamin C, fiber, calcium, and other antioxidants are lost.

For comparison, one glass of orange juice that contains 69 calories has 0.3 gr of dietary fiber and 16 mg of calcium, while an orange with the same number of calories packs 3.1 gr of fiber and 60 mg of calcium.

10. Are all wheat breads better than the white bread?

Short answer: No

Not all wheat breads are identical. Wheat breads that are made froma whole grain are more healthier that the white ones. Butsome of the wheat breads are just white bread with a small amount of caramel coloring to make the bread look healthier.

11. Can a hot tub make me sick?

Short answer: Yes

Hot tubs, especially those in spas, gyms and hotels are perfect breeding grounds for germs. The water is not hot enough to kill the bacteria, but it’s just the right temperature to make microbes grow even faster. Despite the factthat hot tubs are treated with chlorine, the heat causes the disinfectant to break down faster than it would in regular pool.

12. Does coffee cause cancer?

Short answer: No

In the 1980s,coffee got a bad rap when a study linked drinking coffee to pancreatic cancer. The primary report was later discredited.

More recent health studies showedthat coffee can have numerous positive effects on health – lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and even suicide.

13. Can eggs raise the cholesterol levels?

Short answer: No

Although egg yolks are a major source of cholesterol lots of studies have shown that saturated fat has more of an impact on cholesterol in your blood than eating foods that contain cholesterol.

14. Can you drink too much water?

Short answer: Yes

Almost no onehas died from drinking too much water, but it is possible.

Overhydrating is most common among sportists. Drinking an excessive amounts of water, called water intoxication, reduces the concentration of sodium in the blood leading to a condition calledhypernatremia. The symptoms of hypernatremia can range from nausea and in severe casesconfusion to seizures and even death.

In order to avoid this, drink liquids with electrolytes during eventswith extreme exercise.

15. Can yogurt ease digestive problems?

Short answer: Yes

Our digestive tract is full with microorganisms, some good and some bad. Yogurt contains good bacteria, commonly called probiotics, that helps preserve a healthy balance. Probiotics can relieve some gastrointestinal problems, including diarrheaandconstipation.

16. Does whitening toothpastes whiten the teeth more than regular toothpastes?

Short answer: No

Whitening toothpastes generally contain peroxides and other strong abrasives that by removing stainsmight make your teeth appear whiter. Unlike the whitening strips and gels that have bleach, these toothpastes do not really change the color of your teeth.

17. Is it safe to microwave food that is in plastic containers?

Short answer: Yes

However, the plastic container should display that is microwave safe. This means that container is tested and no chemicals are used to make the plastic leech into the food during microwaving. If chemicals do leak into food, the amounts are tiny and not dangerous to our health.

Plastic grocery bags, most plastic tubs that hold yogurt, cream cheese, margarine, and condiments are not microwave safe.

18. Can watching TV ruin your eyes?

Short answer: No

This archaic myth is completely untrue. Before the 1950s, TVs emitted radiation that could increase an individual’s risk of eye problems after viewingTV too much. Modern TVs have special protective shield that blocks all of these harmful emissions.

19. Is red wine healthier than white wine?

Short answer: Yes

Red wine has much more resveratrol than white wine, an antioxidant that is found in the skin of grapes and it helps fight off diseases associated with aging.

20. Is bottled water better than tap water?

Short answer: No

Therecent study conducted by Glasgow University found that bottled water is actually more likely to be contaminated than the tap water. Bottled and tap water usually come from the same sources — natural springs, aquifers, and lakes. While public water supplies are tested for contaminants every day, producers of bottled water are only required to test the water for specific contaminants every week, month, or even year.