The popular Myth Busters is back, Here is part four. I hope these clear up some of your food myths.
Coffee Causes Cancer - NO! Raise your cup? Studies have also shown in recent years that drinking coffee appears to offer some protection against other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes (although in order to substantially lower your risk for the latter, you may need to imbibe a jitters-inducing six cups per day). Some people also worry that consuming too much caffeine will raise their blood pressure. While caffeine may cause your pressure to rise, a study of more than 155,000 women found that the coffee lovers among them did not have an increased risk of high blood pressure.
Raw Fruits and Vegetables are More Nutritious than Cooked Ones - No! Scientists have discovered in recent years that cooking actually boosts levels of important compounds in some fruits and vegetables. For instance, ketchup contains five to six times more of the antioxidant lycopene than raw tomatoes do, making it much more useful against diseases such as prostate cancer.
Heat does rob fresh produce of some nutrients, especially vitamins that dissolve in water. For example, cooking fruits and vegetables tends to reduce their levels of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate in particular. But it increases the antioxidant levels of some vegetables, such as sweet corn and carrots. The bottom line: If you like raw produce, crunch away — but don’t fear the vegetable steamer or stir-fry pan.
Frozen and Canned Fruits and Vegetables are Less Nutritious than Fresh Ones Yes and No! Fresh fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than the frozen and canned variety — at the instant they are picked. However, the foods you find in the produce section have often had a long journey from the moment they were packed in crates, spending days or even weeks in transit from the farm or orchard. During shipping and storage, natural enzymes are released in fresh fruit and vegetables that cause them to lose nutrients. Food processors quick-freeze fresh-picked produce, which preserves much of its vitamin and mineral content. “With some fruits and vegetables, you actually lock in a higher nutrient content by freezing,” says Douglas Archer, Ph.D., a professor of food science at the University of Florida. A 1992 University of Illinois study found, for instance, that frozen beans retained twice as much vitamin C as fresh beans purchased in a grocery store. Contrary to common belief, canning does not deplete fruit and vegetables of significant amounts of nutrients either. While heat processing may reduce levels of some vitamins, certain canned foods — such as spinach and pumpkin — actually have higher levels of vitamin A than fresh versions.
Can swallowing gum cause stomach problems? - "Chewing and swallowing sugarless gum can contribute to abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea," says Joel M. Andres, M.D., a gastroenterologist. If you experience any of these symptoms, you're probably chewing gum that contains sorbitol, an artificial sweetener that's known for causing intestinal distress.
Can cherries relieve pain? - After a study was conducted at Michigan State University, it is believed that eating about 20 tart cherries a day helps reduce inflammation in patients with arthritis and gout. They zeroed in on the cherries because of evidence collected over years in a state that is one of the largest producers of the fruit.
Coffee Causes Cancer - NO! Raise your cup? Studies have also shown in recent years that drinking coffee appears to offer some protection against other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes (although in order to substantially lower your risk for the latter, you may need to imbibe a jitters-inducing six cups per day). Some people also worry that consuming too much caffeine will raise their blood pressure. While caffeine may cause your pressure to rise, a study of more than 155,000 women found that the coffee lovers among them did not have an increased risk of high blood pressure.
Raw Fruits and Vegetables are More Nutritious than Cooked Ones - No! Scientists have discovered in recent years that cooking actually boosts levels of important compounds in some fruits and vegetables. For instance, ketchup contains five to six times more of the antioxidant lycopene than raw tomatoes do, making it much more useful against diseases such as prostate cancer.
Heat does rob fresh produce of some nutrients, especially vitamins that dissolve in water. For example, cooking fruits and vegetables tends to reduce their levels of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate in particular. But it increases the antioxidant levels of some vegetables, such as sweet corn and carrots. The bottom line: If you like raw produce, crunch away — but don’t fear the vegetable steamer or stir-fry pan.
Frozen and Canned Fruits and Vegetables are Less Nutritious than Fresh Ones Yes and No! Fresh fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than the frozen and canned variety — at the instant they are picked. However, the foods you find in the produce section have often had a long journey from the moment they were packed in crates, spending days or even weeks in transit from the farm or orchard. During shipping and storage, natural enzymes are released in fresh fruit and vegetables that cause them to lose nutrients. Food processors quick-freeze fresh-picked produce, which preserves much of its vitamin and mineral content. “With some fruits and vegetables, you actually lock in a higher nutrient content by freezing,” says Douglas Archer, Ph.D., a professor of food science at the University of Florida. A 1992 University of Illinois study found, for instance, that frozen beans retained twice as much vitamin C as fresh beans purchased in a grocery store. Contrary to common belief, canning does not deplete fruit and vegetables of significant amounts of nutrients either. While heat processing may reduce levels of some vitamins, certain canned foods — such as spinach and pumpkin — actually have higher levels of vitamin A than fresh versions.
Can swallowing gum cause stomach problems? - "Chewing and swallowing sugarless gum can contribute to abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea," says Joel M. Andres, M.D., a gastroenterologist. If you experience any of these symptoms, you're probably chewing gum that contains sorbitol, an artificial sweetener that's known for causing intestinal distress.
Can cherries relieve pain? - After a study was conducted at Michigan State University, it is believed that eating about 20 tart cherries a day helps reduce inflammation in patients with arthritis and gout. They zeroed in on the cherries because of evidence collected over years in a state that is one of the largest producers of the fruit.
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