Victoria Alarcon
Sports & Health Editor
When it comes to staying healthy, it’s no surprise people will believe just about anything to stay in good health. Whether it’s drinking green tea every day or eating chicken soup every hour, the consensus has always been better safe than sorry.
But who’s to say that every single thing we hear is true? Here are some of the most popular myths around, and the truth behind them.
Chocolate can give you acne.
FACT
The tasty treat is known for coming in different shapes and size, and is one of the most popular sweets around, but the probability of getting acne from eating chocolate is very high.
“Some people have allergies or are sensitive to some of the components in chocolate, so that may trigger acne,” said Rolando Ceddia, associate professor in the faculty of health. Ceddia cautions people eating the treat, saying that though researchers have yet to find a reason as to why chocolate triggers acne, there is a clear association between the two.
Orange juice will prevent the flu.
FICTION
The drink is enriched with vitamin C, which boosts your immune system, and calcium, but it’s not the key to any secret antidote to the flu.
The theory has been the more you drink, the more likely you are to stay healthy, but as far as scientific evidence goes, it’s untrue, says Ceddia.
“The reason they say it’s good is because there is vitamin C in it – some people say it prevents flu or infections – but there are a lot of studies who look at people who drink it and there is no difference” said Ceddia.
Though vitamin C has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of flu symptoms, the added sugar in orange juice hinders any kind of repellent effect.
Drinking green tea will make you lose weight.
FICTION
There’s been a lot of news about the benefits of green tea, including links to weight loss. The nutrition value comes from the tea leaves that are left to be heated and then dried.
An article by the Globe and Mail notes that it’s been proven that green tea is good for the heart and for lowering the risk of numerous types of cancer, but losing weight is not on the list of things green tea has been proven to do.
“They drink it because they like it, but there is no scientific evidence showing that it really does anything different than another tea or English tea,” said Ceddia.
Organic food is better for you.
FACT
If one were to compare the two, one would find organic is the healthier choice, says Ceddia.
According to the health professor, the amount of chemicals and pesticides that go into the crops of farmers is a fair amount, and if there is any food out there that is grown without those chemicals, then it is indeed the healthier choice.
People have chosen to go with non-organic simply because it is cheaper to buy, but at the end of the day, organic food is a lot healthier than the regular kind, says Ceddia. “They put so many chemicals on it [crops] to make it look bigger and nicer, but it is not better,” he explained.
Are carrots good for vision?
FACT
Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which is an important component of having not only healthy skin, but also healthy vision, according to eatrightontario.ca. The orange vegetable is made up of beta-carotene, which changes into vitamin A after it is swallowed and digested by the body, says Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s office for science and society, in an article. It thus helps in developing normal growth in the body while maintaining good vision.
Eating chicken noodle soup is the best way to fight a cold.
FICTION
It’s been said by parents and grandparents: the best way to fight the cold is by eating chicken noodle soup. Right now, though, there is no evidence to support that, says associate professor Ceddia.
“There is one nutrient or one component that may be related to making the body healthy, but when you put it in your system, the nutrient will not achieve what it is thought to achieve outside of your system,” said Ceddia. “It’s okay to eat chicken soup because it’s nutritious, but it’s not to say that chicken noodle soup is better than having broccoli soup.”
The best way to get rid of the flu is simply by resting well and drinking fluids, according to the government’s health website.
