Answers To Some Of The 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<http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/1/215S.full> 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 <http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-pick-the-healthiest-olive-oil-2013-7>  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 <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10777506/ns/health-cold_and_flu/t/doctors-discourage-use-cough-medicine/#.UgqsK2T70Wc>  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 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7474248>  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 " target=_blank><http://www.businessinsider.com/why-soda-is-bad-for-you-2013-5> . A  large 2004 study <http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=199317>  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 <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07684.x/abstract%3bjsessionid=5863DBDE73CFD6CC3689B914B9F2B7AB.d04t01>  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<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2006.00160.x/abstract> , 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<http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM196804042781419>  MSG with a variety of maladies that  people experienced after eating at Chinese restaurants.

Learn more about the MSG myth here  » <http://www.businessinsider.com/msg-allergy-doesnt-exist-2013-8>

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 <http://www.businessinsider.com/calorie-counts-arent-accurate-2013-7> 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 <http://atvb.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/04/04/ATVBAHA.112.300878.abstract> 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 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 <http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-resveratrol-in-red-wine-2013-3> .....

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<http://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-is-more-dangerous-than-tap-water-2013-1>  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.