Sick Myths

My grandmother has renewed our subscription to Bottom Line Personal, a little magazine perfect for both upper-middle aged people and the average trivia magazine blogger. In the recent issue, medical myths are busted by Edward Saltzman, MD.

"¢ MYTH: Feed a cold, starve a fever.
"¢ REALITY: "Eating more or less will have no real effect on how long you remain sick." Which is good, because I can never remember that feed/starve saying anyway.

"¢ MYTH: Eating after 8pm causes weight gain.
"¢ REALITY: "There is no evidence that calorie 'burn' is slower at night. Weight gain results from overeating and lack of activity, whether that occurs in the morning, afternoon or night."

"¢ MYTH: Honey is more healthful than sugar.
"¢ REALITY: "Honey contains more fructose than sugar. Some studies suggest that high-fructose diets are linked to weight gain and metabolic syndrome, a group of health problems that includes excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low 'good' cholesterol and high blood sugar."

"¢ MYTH: Soy relieves hot flashes.
"¢ REALITY: "While soy is a good source of phytoestrogens, it provides an extremely weak estrogenic effect."

Got any other medical myths you'd like to challenge?