Eggs are ‘hot’ and oranges are ‘cold’; excessive milk intake gives fairer complexion and tea does the opposite. Blood donation causes permanent weakness. Honey is useful in winters – so forth and so on. We hear many such things that many more people rather religiously follow. Mostly people use or abandon different things and practices on hearsay. This tendency about a matter as serious as health can be quite dangerous. In “Believe it or Not” we bring you common beliefs about health and truth about them from experts.
Eggs are “not good” for your heart
This concept is untrue as eating one egg daily does not harm anybody: be it a healthy individual or a heart patient. Eggs are a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and lean proteins plus they offer a rich source of important nutrients. However, eating more than one egg daily can be dangerous for your heart. Also, the way the egg is cooked matters. Eat boiled eggs instead of fried.
Dr Yousaf Hasan, Cardiologist
Shifa International Hospital
Islamabad
Antiperspirants cause breast cancer
There are no evidences or authentic reports to this. If this was true then every other woman from Europe and America would fall prey to breast cancer as many of them use antiperspirants regularly. Family history is one of the major factors for this cancer as up to 10 percent of the cases occur due to fault with genes or if there is a young patient in the family. However, 90 percent of the cases include environmental factors such as hormonal imbalance, late menopause, early onset of menstrual cycle, use of pills that contain estrogen, undergoing gender change surgery, mid-term abortion, no breastfeeding or remaining single and exposure to radiations on chest.
Dr Muhammad Zulqurnain, Oncologist
Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital
Lahore
Carbs make you fat
No, it is not true. Your overall diet pattern matters more than anything else. So, blaming carbohydrates alone is not justified. You should take care about what you intake and how it is utilized. Suppose there is a person who overeats, and another who has limited himself to a carb diet. The individual on the carb diet is also careful about the amount he eats and uses them appropriately. Hence, he will be healthier of the two. Weight gain and weight loss all depend on your overall diet plan and your routine eating habits determine your health and fitness.
Ayesha Zahid, Nutritionist
Aga Khan University Hospital
Karachi
