The Definitive Answer To 20 of Your Biggest Health Questions

The 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 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 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.   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.   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 at Chinese

restaurants.  Learn more about the MSG myth here »   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 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 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.

(Smoothie is more nutritious)   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 what reportedly sickened more than

100 people

at the Playboy Mansion back in 2011.   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, 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-year University of Arizona study

on 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. 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 micro-

organisms —

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 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 outdated 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.

J AAT CHODH - DESH JODH!!
SAB KA SAATH - SAB KA VIKAS!!
QUALITY FIRST - QUANTITY LAST!!