Cozi Blog

Five Health Myths Busted

Sorting out fact from fiction

Everyone’s heard at least one health–related old wives’ tale that’s so ingrained you assume there must be some truth to it. Here’s the real deal on five common myths that are more fiction than fact.

Myth One: If you go outside with damp hair, you’ll catch a cold.

This advice is simply all wet, says Janet O’Mahony, M.D., a physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. “Colds are caused by viruses. The only way to catch one is to come in contact with someone who’s already sick or by touching a contaminated surface.” Nearly 80% of infectious diseases, including the common cold, are spread through touch. Stay sniffle-free by washing your hands often.

Myth Two: Drink eight glasses of water every day for optimum health.

You should take in enough fluids to replace what you lose daily through bodily functions, but that amount varies depending on your age, activity level and even the climate where you live. In reality, most of us get plenty of fluids from the foods and drinks we consume. A simple rule is to drink enough so that you don’t feel thirsty and until your urine is pale. Dark urine means you’re dehydrated and at risk for kidney stones.

Myth Three: Feed a cold, starve a fever.

Being congested, miserable and hungry isn’t at all what the doctor ordered. Your body needs the energy food provides to fight the viruses that cause colds and the flu, and chicken soup is a great way to fuel up. Research shows chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that help clear out nasal passages fast. The best get-well advice: Eat when you’re hungry, and stay hydrated with fluids.

Myth Four: Cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis.

When you push or pull your knuckles a certain way, air bubbles form in the joints and make a popping sound. While this noisy habit might annoy others, studies have yet to show that it increases your risk of arthritis. Still, all that snap, crack and popping isn’t exactly harmless: Knuckle crackers can develop swollen hands and weakened hand strength later in life.

Myth Five: Reading in poor lighting is bad for your eyes.

Your eyes work extra hard to see clearly in dim light. While this is tiring, it won’t damage your vision. The same holds true for sitting too close to the TV or staring too long at a computer screen. You can reduce eye fatigue by positioning light sources to avoid a glare and taking five-minute eye breaks every hour (shut your eyes or move away from the task at hand).

MakingLifeBetter provides tips and smart strategies to help you feel good, look good, and get more out of life.

Eating Seasonally

A guide to summer’s tastiest nutritional powerhouses.

Let’s be honest: Most of the year it’s a struggle to get enough of the fruits and vegetables we know we ought to eat to stay healthy, trim and energized. But from Memorial Day to Labor Day, fitting in those five to nine servings of produce a day gets much easier. “Zucchini squash, eggplant, tomatoes, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon — a lot of these delicious fruits and vegetables are more plentiful from May to October,” says Douglas Husbands, D.C., C.C.N., a functional medicine doctor, and a certified clinical nutritionalist with Athens Chiropractic Clinic in San Carlos, Cali. With food prices climbing, you want to choose wisely, so you’re sure to get both good nutrients and good flavor. Below, a quick guide to summer fruits and veggies that taste delicious and pack a real nutritional punch.

Fruits
Berries. Little they may be, but berries are a great source of anthocyanidins, a type of antioxidant. “They have exceptional antioxidant activity,” Husbands explains. “During World War II, British pilots doing night flights would eat more bilberries [which are related to blueberries] because they found their night vision improved.” Blueberries, like cranberries, also have a substance that may stave off urinary tract infections. Add blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries to cold and hot cereal, yogurt, smoothies and rice pilaf, or top off your favorite home-churned ice cream with a handful.

Cherries. “Cherries are in season from the end of May to August, but peak in June and July,” Husbands notes, adding that it’s best to choose darker cherries. These have a higher amount of flavonoids, which act as an anti-inflammatory in the body. “Some research has shown that the flavonoids in cherries are comparable to ibuprofen for anti-inflammatory effects. And their antioxidant activity is better than vitamin E.” Choose a tart cherry — like Montmorency — and you’ll also get melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep.

Peaches and nectarines. A plump peach is one of summer’s signature fruits. Peaches and nectarines have more than flavor, though: The vitamin C content in these juicy orbs is high, and you’ll get some fiber as well.

Melon. Sweet, ripe watermelon helps you stay hydrated on dog days, and like the tomato, it also provides ample amounts of lycopene. Molly Kimball, R.D., sports and lifestyle nutritionist at the Elmwood Fitness Center, a division of Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, likes to brush a raspberry vinaigrette onto cut-up pieces of cantaloupe, pineapple and strawberries, then skewer the fruit like shish kebab and throw it on the grill.

Grapefruit. If you’re on a cholesterol-lowering or blood pressure medication, don’t add grapefruit to your grocery cart (it interferes with both types of drugs), but for the rest of us the golden spheres can add fiber, vitamin C and more. “Grapefruit contains a substance called naringin, which is an enzyme,” Husbands explains. Some research shows that “it can act as a blood thinner so it helps blood to flow better.”

Vegetables
Dark green leafy vegetables. “Kale, collard greens, spinach, Swiss chard, brussels sprouts — those are the ones people don’t eat enough of,” Husbands says. Not only are these leafy greens full of fiber, but they also contain the B vitamin folic acid, which may be important for helping to keep cholesterol in check and preventing heart disease. “Steam or lightly stir-fry these vegetables to maintain good levels of folic acid and other phytonutrients,” Husbands suggests.

Tomatoes. Perhaps late summer’s best gift from the garden, tomatoes shine mostly for their high amounts of lycopene; they also contain beta-carotene and good amounts of vitamin C. “I like to prepare tomatoes by slicing them in half and adding a little Parmesan cheese and olive oil and broiling them,” says Kimball. “Lycopene is absorbed better from cooked tomatoes than from raw ones.”

Beets. “They’re superhigh in the same type of antioxidants that blueberries are,” Kimball says, stressing that folks who say they hate beets after tasting only the canned variety should give them another try. “Try wrapping the beet in foil and baking it for an hour at 350°F, then add a little goat cheese,” she says. “That’s really delicious.”

Red and yellow peppers. These veggies not only add vibrant color to any meal, but they’ve also got vitamin C and beta-carotene. Kimball prefers oven roasting or grilling as the simplest way to prepare peppers. “Just add a little sea salt,” she says. “Since it’s coarser, you don’t need to use as much.”

provides tips and smart strategies to help you feel good, look good, and get more out of life.

Eat Fresh – In-Season Foods for Spring

Fresh produce, finally! The refreshing flavors of spring and early summer produce make it easy to eat simply and healthfully. Here are five top picks to add to your spring family meals:

Asparagus
Fresh asparagus is tasty no matter how you prepare it - steamed, boiled or grilled. Trim hard ends from asparagus and rinse well. Before cooking, marinate the spears in balsamic vinegar, oil and salt. Or, cook plain and serve with a simple sauce of equal parts Dijon mustard and olive oil. Cook extra asparagus tonight to use in tomorrow's salad or over rice or pasta.

Radishes
Radishes are a crunchy addition to salads and afternoon snacks. Did you know you can even grill radishes? Slice the radishes, place on foil with garlic, butter, salt and pepper and seal the foil packet tightly. Grill for about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Spinach
Use spinach in place of light green lettuces for a nutrient boost. Not into salads? Saute spinach for a few minutes in garlic, butter or a few bits of bacon. You can even add fresh spinach leaves to many soups and stews. During the last few minutes of cooking stir in whole or sliced spinach leaves until wilted.

Strawberries
Not much can beat the taste of fresh, in-season strawberries. Enjoy strawberries from your own garden or a locally-grown supply for the best flavor. The really fresh ones don't last long once picked, though! Rinse and slice extra strawberries and freeze before they rot and use them like you would ice cubes in smoothies.

Summer squash
The term "summer squash" includes various types of zucchini, yellow crookneck, yellow straightneck, scallop and more. Slice a mixture of summer squash, tomatoes, eggplant and onions and brush with olive oil. Grill on foil or in foil packets.

Protect Your Kids in Sports

Parents can help ensure that kids stay safe in team sports. To make sure your children play it safe, follow this action plan from the National Alliance for Youth Sports.

Prepare Your Kids
Have your little ones warm up before games, wear safety equipment, and drink liquids throughout games and practices.

Observe the Coach
Attend a game or practice to check that the coach knows and adheres to the rules of the game, offers specific tips for improvement (“Drop your elbow when you throw”) rather than generalities (“You need to throw harder”) and is patient with kids who aren’t stars.

If the coach doesn’t perform satisfactorily in any of these areas, talk to him privately. Most coaches have kids’ best interests in mind and will listen and make adjustments. If not, go to the league supervisor.

Screen the Coaches
Do a background check on the coach. The cost is usually minimal — about $15 per report. Talk to other parents and approach the league supervisor to make your request. There’s strength in numbers.

Check The Condition of Equipment
Appropriate equipment should be available for each child and should be properly sized and in good shape. Point out equipment problems to the coach or league supervisor and ask that they be rectified. Or buy your child his own equipment — but be sure to label it clearly with his name.

--Making Life Better