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Food and Science - Good or Bad

Each year there are more discoveries in the world of Science and Health. Here are some of the things which scientists have recently said are good for us, and others they have told us to avoid. Pick a food item and try to predict whether it is good or bad for you. Then check what scientists have to say in this matter by driving the mouse over the button of your choice.
The 'Good' button or the 'Bad' button

 

The information was taken from The Week with kind permission

 


Almonds

We should be taking them to avoid heart attacks. Scientists discovered in October 2002 that two chemicals in almonds – one in the skin and the other in the nut itself – combine to form a powerful protection against cardiovascular disease. But don’t eat more than an ounce (approx 30 gr.) a day, or the fat in the nuts will counterbalance the good effects of the other substances. (The Week 28 December 2002)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Apples

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Bad’ button.

Apples suffered a major blow to their reputation in February 2002, when scientists revealed that modern varieties of the fruit contain as much sugar as fizzy drinks. To make matters worse, apples contain high levels of acid which can gradually wear away tooth enamel. (The Week 28 December 2002)

Bread

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Bad’ button.

Now doctors think they have discovered the cause of pimples – and it could be nothing more than a slice of white bread. According to a new study at Colorado State University, highly processed breads and cereals are digested so easily they cause blood-sugar levels to rise dramatically, triggering the release of high levels of insulin, and an accompanying acne-causing hormone. (The Week 14 December 2002)

Chocolate

After a rash of recent studies found that chocolate could ward off illnesses ranging from depression to heart disease, scientists have discovered another medicinal use for the confectionary: as a potent cough medicine. Trials at London’s National Heart and Lung Institute have shown that theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate, is far more effective than codeine – currently used in most cough medicines – at soothing a tickly throat. (The Week 14 December 2002)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Coffee

A new study suggests that drinking a few cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. Scientists at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health surveyed the coffee consumption of 51,000 adults for six years, and found that those who drank at least three cups a day were 40% less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver than those who drank none. Even alcohol users seemed to benefit, although scientists warned that drinking copious amounts of coffee would not stop liver damage caused by heavy drinking. Other recent studies have suggested that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, colon cancer and gallstones. (The Week 9 August 2003)

Wrong Guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Cranberry juice

The first major study into the effects of the juice on humans has revealed that drinking three glasses a day raised levels of ‘good’ cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein – in the blood by 10%. This corresponds, said Dr Joe Vinson of Scranton University in Pennsylvania, with a 40% reduction in the risk of cardiac conditions. Cranberry juice is thought to lower the risk of gum disease, stomach ulcers and cancer. (The Week April 12 2003)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Eggs

After 30 years of bad press, a Harvard University study of 117,000 men and women has shown that there is no link between eating high-cholesterol foods – such as eggs – and heart disease. For most people there is no risk. Japan has the highest rate of egg consumption and one of the lowest rates of heart disease. But egg lovers should confine their intake to the poached, scrambled and boiled varieties for the saturated fat that goes with fried eggs is still bad for the heart. (The Week July 15 2000)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Fibre

A diet rich in fibre can significantly reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. According to scientists at Cambridge University, doubling a person’s consumption of cereals, fruit and vegetables can nearly halve the risk of developing the disease. The findings based on a study of the eating habits of 500,000 people across Europe, contradict earlier research from the US, which concluded that there was no link between bowel cancer prevention and fibre. Bowel cancer kills 16,000 people a year in Britain. (The Week May 17 2003)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Garlic

Garlic wards off numerous complaints, from chest infections to heart disease. It can also be used to cure athlete’s foot. (The Week October 16 1999)

Wrong guess. Go the ‘Good’ button.

Ginger

Ginger tea can relieve nausea, particularly in the form of travel sickness and morning sickness. (The Week October 16 1999)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Junk food

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Bad’ button.

Hamburgers and French fries don’t just clog the arteries, say the scientists at the University of Toronto; they clog the mind too. Research on rats suggests that eating too much animal fat or vegetable fat in childhood can impair memory and concentration by preventing the brain taking up the glucose needed for healthy performance. (The Week March 10 2001)

Sage

Researchers at the University of Newcastle and Northumbria recently completed the first clinical trials testing the medicinal benefits of sage. In a study of 44 adults, one group was given capsules containing between 50 mg and 150 mg of sage oil; the others received a placebo. Afterwards volunteers took part in memory tests. Those who had taken the sage oil performed up to 10% better than the placebo group. Scientists will now look at the possibility that sage has properties which can be used to combat Alzheimer’s. (The Week September 13 2003)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Venison

Nutritionists say it is good for you because it’s lower in fat and cholesterol than pork, lamb, beef and chicken, and has fewer calories. (The Week February 24 2001)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

Wine

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Bad’ button.

Scientists said that the odd glass of wine was good for you, protecting against myriad illnesses including heart attacks and stokes. However, according to a study of 4,000 American graduates, it’s the way wine lovers live, rather than the alcohol they drink, that is responsible for their reported health benefits. Large amount of alcohol can cause serious liver problems. (The Week August 10 2002)

Yoghurt

For 2000 years, people have known that yoghurt is good for you. But its real powers are more spectacular than previously imagined. So say scientists at the University of Western Ontario, who have discovered that lactobacilli – friendly bacteria found in some yoghurt – suppress germs, and in particular staphylococcus aureus, the so-called superbug which is resistant to almost all antibiotic drugs. (The Week March 24 2001)

Wrong guess. Go to the ‘Good’ button.

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