Warm up nutrition facts

Eggs raise cholesterol levels.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: False
Although egg yolks are a major source of cholesterol — a waxy substance that resembles fat — researchers have learned that saturated fat has more of an impact on cholesterol in your blood than eating foods that contain cholesterol. “Healthy individuals with normal blood cholesterol levels should now feel free to enjoy foods like eggs in their diet every day,” the lead researcher from a 25-year University of Arizona study on cholesterol concluded.

Olive oil prevents heart disease.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: True
The health benefits of olive oil come from the presence of  polyphenols, antioxidants  that reduce  the risk of heart diseases  and cancers.

But to get these healthy compounds, consumers should buy good-quality, “extra-virgin” olive oil, which has the highest polyphenol content. Most commercially available olive oils have low levels of polyphenols associated with poor harvesting methods, improper storage, and heavy processing.  Remember olive is best consumed cold, so use it as a salad dressing by mixing it with apple cider vinegar, salt and some dried herbs.

Sugary soft drinks lead to diabetes.

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

Short answer: True
The majority of health research is stacked against sugar-sweetened soft drinks. A large 2004 study 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.   If you crave a drink with fizz, try soda water with some fresh lemon squeezed into it.

Nuts make you fat.

• True.

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: False
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 fibre. One study even found that whole almonds have 20% less calories than previously thought because a lot of the fat is excreted from the body.  If you’re trying to lose weight but love your nuts, stick to using your fingers as a guide – the amount that can fit on three fingers will make a good snack and stop you from overindulging.

Walking is as effective as running

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: True
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 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.

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Drinking fruit juice is as good for you as eating fruit.

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

Short answer: False
Calorie for calorie, whole fruit provides more nutritional benefits than drinking the pure juice of that fruit. That’s because when you liquefy fruit, stripping away the peel and dumping the pulp, many ingredients like fibre, calcium, vitamin C, and other antioxidants are lost. For comparison, half a glass of orange juice that contains 69 calories has .3 grams of dietary fibre and 16 milligrams of calcium, whereas an orange with the  same number of calories packs 3.1 grams of fibre and 60 milligrams of  calcium. Not only that, when you take away the fibre, the sugar from the juice causes a blood sugar spike, which can leave you craving more.

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Coffee cause cancer.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: False
Coffee got a bad rap in the 1980s when a study linked drinking coffee to pancreatic cancer.   The preliminary report was later debunked. More recently, health studies have swung in favour of the caffeinated beverage Coffee has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, and even suicide.  The trick is to not drink too much!

Yogurt can ease digestive problems

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: True
Your digestive tract is filled with microorganisms — some good and some bad. Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, generically called probiotics, that help maintain a healthy balance. Probiotics can relieve several gastrointestinal problems, including constipation and diarrhoea.
Certain brands of yogurts are marketed exclusively to treat tummy issues.  Just be careful of the sugar content and avoid low-fat yoghurts, as these have extra sugar added to compensate for the lack of taste caused by taking out the fat.

Bottled water is better for you than tap water

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Short answer: False
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  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.