Headings usually summarize the essence of the content of the text. Sometimes even too brief. Unfortunately, this over-conciseness often leads to exaggerations and inaccuracies, and readers greatly overestimate “breakthroughs” in science. As a result, a person easily forgets that the discoveries published by the press are not always one hundred percent accurate. And this applies to all spheres of our life, but we will now talk about medicine, health and nutrition.
Headings are often inaccurate. But, on the other hand, the constant flow of new, contradictory data makes people think and speak on this topic, which, perhaps, stimulates further research on various issues.
So when you read about the same completely different things - do not hold your head. Just think that you are watching your opponents in the midst of a debate. In 2016, a huge number of various studies were published, the most popular of which are the following:
- What is worse - butter or sugar?
- Is body mass index a reliable indicator of human health?
- Does the “five-second rule” guarantee the suitability of food dropped on the floor for use?
You may be surprised at the results of some of these studies, but it is up to you to decide which of them to believe.
BMI (body mass index) is not a reliable indicator of health
This indicator is used to determine - can we assume that a person has a normal, healthy weight, or should he lose weight, and maybe, on the contrary, gain a few kilograms. This method is quite old and reliable: the weight and height of a person are compared. But new research suggests that measurements on this indicator may not give sufficiently accurate results.
Janet Tomiyama, the lead author of this study, believes that based on cardiometabolic data (a more accurate measurement of the general state of the body, including: cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, etc.), people could get information about the body that was would be much more accurate. In her opinion, BMI is misleading almost 75 million Americans, who mistakenly believe that their health is in order, or, conversely, makes completely healthy people spend money on medicines.
What is worse - butter or sugar?
The leitmotif of the outgoing year, without any doubt, can be called fats. TIME magazine published an article where the following thesis was revealed: “butter is better than sugar, but worse than olive oil”.
Around the same time, The New York Times told the world how, in the 1960s, the sugar industry paid scientists for making people see sugar in a better light.
Researchers blamed the diseases of the cardiovascular system for fats, not sugar. Now in America, people are warned that the use of sugar in quantities exceeding the permissible rate leads to heart disease.
It remains to add that, although sugar is more harmful, one should be no less careful with the amount of oil consumed.
Cranberry juice does not help treat genital tract infections
In contrast to popular opinion, cranberry juice, which can be found on the shelves of any fruit and vegetable store, has proved ineffective in combating infections of the genital tract.
Cranberries actually contain compounds that protect the walls of the bladder from bacterial infections, which can help prevent UTI. But cranberry juice does not have a high enough concentration of these compounds in order to bring significant benefits. To achieve a reduction in bacterial adhesion, a person must consume at least a liter of cranberry juice per day.
The rule of "five seconds" refuted
Is there really nothing holy left? The rule of "five seconds" says that if a piece of food that fell on the ground is picked up within five seconds, it is quite possible for them to eat. Researchers at Rutgers University counted the number of bacteria deposited on different products when they fell on different surfaces in different time frames (ranging from 1 to 300 seconds). Although the results of the experiment do not completely refute this rule, scientists still believe that food with a high moisture content is contaminated by bacteria at one moment.
The best minds of humanity are working daily to make our life a little healthier. But how exactly the discoveries are destined to change our lives - time will tell.
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