HEALTH FEATURE
Truth Be Told
Only old men develop Alzheimer's, and 8 other common health "facts" that are false
By Shannon Davis
Some myths are easy to spot. Like the one about Atum, the Egyptian deity who took his divine member in hand and, after some firmament-shaking masturbation, caused life to, literally, come into existence.
Other myths, particularly those based on actual science rather than pyramid power, are a bit more difficult to identify. And that can be dangerous when they're the very things we're counting on to keep us healthy. Classic example: the pregame stretch. It can't prevent a pulled hamstring any more than praying to your jockstrap can. Yet, until a few years ago, guys who weren't in the know stretched and, with blind faith in fiction, ran into an injury.
Well, we're here to show you the light—to turn your world upside down and then, like Copernicus, put a different spin on it. All told, we debunk nine modern health myths and then show how the truth can, if not set you free, at least keep you off life's sidelines.
Myth: A high-fiber diet will prevent colon cancer
Not even if you eat a pine tree, cones and all. Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that no matter how much fiber study subjects ate—from 10 grams a day to 27—it did nothing to reduce their risk of recurrence of precancerous polyps. "The fiber hypothesis dates from an old epidemiological study," says James E. Allison, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. "It was presumed that the shorter intestinal transit time accompanying a high-fiber diet decreased a person's exposure to potential carcinogens."
Reality check: Keep eating a high-fiber diet (it can help lower cholesterol and prevent diabetes), but don't count on it to cancer-proof your colon. For that, you need folic acid. Studies have shown that this B vitamin significantly lowers a man's risk of colon cancer, with research from Louisiana State University linking it to a 60 percent reduction. If your multivitamin (or cereal) doesn't contain at least 400 micrograms of folic acid, buy one that does.
Myth: A soy burger is healthier than a beef burger
Here's the problem: Soy, in all its forms, contains phytoestrogens—that is, plant estrogens. And while having some of the female hormone in our bodies is okay, and even normal, having high amounts of the plant version isn't. In fact, Australian researchers found that men who consumed a soy-rich diet had significantly lower testosterone levels than beef eaters. And as for red meat's artery-clogging reputation, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that eating lean beef can help to lower LDL cholesterol levels while increasing HDL levels.
Reality check: At only 10 percent fat, ground round is the leanest hamburger meat at the market. It also has the potential to taste the worst, since less fat generally means less flavor. Stick with ground chuck, which, with 15 percent fat, still qualifies as lean. And make sure you pick a package with little "juice" pooled in the Styrofoam tray. "It comes from water in the protein molecules called ‘free water,' which is released over time," says Mike De La Zerda, PhD, beef-quality manager for the Texas Beef Council in the US. "The more free water that has drained into the package, the less juicy your burgers will be."
Myth: Ginkgo biloba will improve your memory
This popular herbal supplement gained a reputation as a smart pill after certain medical studies suggested that it could improve brain function. And it does—in Alzheimer's patients. In healthy people, "we found no evidence that ginkgo has any effect on memory or cognitive function," says Paul R. Solomon, PhD, director of the memory clinic at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Solomon's research team found that the people taking Ginkgo biloba for six weeks did no better on 14 tests of learning, memory, attention, and concentration than those taking a placebo. "There is nothing in our research to justify taking ginkgo," says Solomon.
Reality check: Go take a nap—one that lasts 10 minutes. Australian researchers studied the effects of three naps of differing lengths and found that the people who grabbed 10 minutes of shut-eye concentrated better and had more-accurate memories than the rest. Still feel addled? See your doctor. You could be suffering from sleep apnea, a nighttime breathing disorder that deprives your brain of restorative REM sleep.
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Men's Health Philippines - September 2006 Issue
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It's called early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and it even strikes guys in their 30s and 40s. The symptoms are no diffeQheimer's disease among older men.
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