# Is this for reals? (Health claims for various foods)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535 "2002-04-30T19:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eviljap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Eviljap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eviljap)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/1 "2002-04-30T19:45:16Z")

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Just got this as spam… is this for reals?  
Subject: here’s to being healthy!  
\> \> \>  
\> \> \> \> Subject: Fw: healthy tips on staying young forever  
\> \> \> \>  
\> \> \> \>  
\> \> \> \> \>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>HEADACHE ? - EAT FISH !  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Eat plenty of fish - fish oil helps prevent  
\> \> \> \> \> \>headaches. So does ginger,  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>which reduces inflammation and pain.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat  
\> \> \> \> \> \>honey from your area  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>(local region) daily.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>INSOMNIA (CAN’T SLEEP?) - HONEY! Use honey as a  
\> \> \> \> \> \>tranquilizer and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>sedative.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>ASTHMA? - EAT ONIONS! Eating onions helps ease  
\> \> \> \> \> \>constriction of  
\> \> \> \> \> \>bronchial  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>tubes.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>ARTHRITIS? - EAT FISH, TOO!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent  
\> \> \> \> \> \>arthritis.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>UPSET STOMACH? - BANANAS - GINGER!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will  
\> \> \> \> \> \>cure morning  
\> \> \> \> \> \>sickness  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>and nausea.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by  
\> \> \> \> \> \>the manganese in  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>pineapple.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Women can ward off the effects of PMS with  
\> \> \> \> \> \>cornflakes, which help  
\> \> \> \> \> \>reduce  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>depression, anxiety and fatigue.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Oysters help improve your mental functioning by  
\> \> \> \> \> \>supplying much-needed  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>zinc.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>COLDS? EAT GARLIC!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Clear up that stuffy head with garlic.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups  
\> \> \> \> \> \>is found in hot  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it  
\> \> \> \> \> \>can irritate your  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>tummy.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>BREAST CANCER?  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Wheat, bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at  
\> \> \> \> \> \>healthy levels.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A  
\> \> \> \> \> \>found in dark  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>green and orange vegetables.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both  
\> \> \> \> \> \>gastric and duodena  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>ulcers.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>eat it to cure  
\> \> \> \> \> \>this  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>condition.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>Celery contains a  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>chemical that lowers pressure too.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate  
\> \> \> \> \> \>insulin and blood  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>sugar.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of  
\> \> \> \> \> \>potassium,  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>magnesium,  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Vitamin E and fiber. Its Vitamin C content is twice  
\> \> \> \> \> \>that of an  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>orange.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although  
\> \> \> \> \> \>an apple  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>flavonoids which  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>enhance the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to  
\> \> \> \> \> \>lower the risks  
\> \> \> \> \> \>of  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>colon  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>cancer, heart attack and stroke.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the  
\> \> \> \> \> \>highest total  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>antioxidant power among major fruits, which protects  
\> \> \> \> \> \>the body from  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>cancer causing, blood vessel clogging free radicals.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a  
\> \> \> \> \> \>day may help  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>dissolve kidney stones  
\> \> \> \> \> \>as  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Water Melon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of  
\> \> \> \> \> \>92% water, it  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>is alsp packed with a giant dose of glutathione which  
\> \> \> \> \> \>helps boost our  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene  
\> \> \> \> \> \>- the cancer  
\> \> \> \> \> \>fighting  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>oxidant. Other nutrients found in water melon are  
\> \> \> \> \> \>Vitamin C and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Potassium.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Guava and Papaya: They are the clear winners for  
\> \> \> \> \> \>their high  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which  
\> \> \> \> \> \>helps prevent  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>constipation.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Papaya is rich in carotene, which is good for your  
\> \> \> \> \> \>eyes.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> Tips on how to stay young…  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Researches have found that people who generally live  
\> \> \> \> \> \>longer do so  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>partly because of good habits.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Here, Dr Vernon Coleman and others provide the  
\> \> \> \> \> \>following good habits  
\> \> \> \> \> \>for  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>longevity.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 01. Laugh and have fun, don’t be gloomy.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 02. Let bygones be bygones. Dwelling on the  
\> \> \> \> \> \>past inflicts  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>unnecessary  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> stress.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 03. Early to bed, early to rise, is healthy  
\> \> \> \> \> \>and wise.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 04. Stay lean, being just 30% overweight is  
\> \> \> \> \> \>bad.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 05. Keep learning, reading and socializing.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>An alert and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>active  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>mind keeps  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> brain cells healthy.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 06. Keep working, doing something you like.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>Don’t retire. It  
\> \> \> \> \> \>slows  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> down your body.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 07. Be the boss of your own life. Letting  
\> \> \> \> \> \>others push you  
\> \> \> \> \> \>around  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> produces stress.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 08. Too many pills ruin your body. Take just  
\> \> \>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>what you need.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 09. Constantly alternating between weight  
\> \> \> \> \> \>gain and loss is  
\> \> \> \> \> \>bad.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 10. Exercise, quit smoking and eat less  
\> \> \> \> \> \>fatty foods.  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> 11. Do not worry about health or death, just  
\> \> \> \> \> \>get on with your  
\> \> \> \> \> \>life  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\> and enjoy it!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>  
\> \> \> \> \> \>  
\> \> \>  
\> \>  
\>

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**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/2 "2002-04-30T20:47:53Z")

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\> \> \> \> \> \>\>DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and  
\> \> \> \> \> \>eat it to cure  
\> \> \> \> \> \>this  
\> \> \> \> \> \>\>condition.

Gee, The 2013 Year Old Man says to eat Cling Peaches… 😃

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**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/3 "2002-04-30T21:11:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!! A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in darkgreen and orange vegetables.

No, not for reals. When someone uses three exclamation points, you shouldn’t have to ask.

Studies have shown that beta carotene actually makes smokers **more likely** to get lung cancer. And this stupid piece of glurge makes it sound like a _cure_ for lung cancer, which is ridiculous.

I won’t bother with the rest of it.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/4 "2002-04-30T21:22:30Z")

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Some of it seems to have basis in fact; the capsaicin for coughs bit, at least.

> [@](#):
>
> CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO

- is that before or after rising from the dead?

Most of it boils down to ‘eat lots of fresh vegetables and fish’ - surprise surprise, hold the front page.

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**Author:** ![Mad\_Matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Mad\_Matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mad_Matt)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/5 "2002-04-30T21:43:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> CRANBERRY JUICE AND URINARY INFECTIONS  
> Copyright 1996 by David J. DeRose, MD, MPH
> 
> Can cranberry juice really help a bladder infection? I’m Dr. David DeRose, we’ll have an answer in a moment on WellnessWise.
> 
> Bladder infections are a very common female problem. And mothers have told their daughters for years that Cranberry juice can help heal those infections. Well, recent evidence suggests that Mom was probably right again.

Also my wife swears by it.

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**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/6 "2002-04-30T21:58:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eviljap \*  
> **Just got this as spam… is this for reals?**

(Underlining mine). Question and answer in one. Though some of it seems like good advice at the bottom. Most of it is probably as real as those Snapple “Real” facts. Things that can’t be proven, mostly. Though certainly correct me if I’m wrong.

> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by Mad Matt_  
> \*\*When studied over 6 months, Those who received the cranberry juice had a 42% decrease in the risk of bladder infection. \*\*

Maybe I’m stupid, but how does one measure the “risk” of bladder infection? Sounds weird to me.

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**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/7 "2002-04-30T22:07:48Z")

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Looks to me like more shameless advertising from the powerful and corrupt Fish, Yogurt, Honey, Onion, Banana, Cranberry, Pineapple, Cornflake, Oyster, Garlic, Red Pepper, Wheat, Bran, Cabbage, Orange, Apple, Avocado, Celery, Olive, Broccoli, Peanut, Kiwi, Strawberry, Watermelon, Guava, and Papaya Lobby. Bastards!

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/8 "2002-04-30T22:09:36Z")

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**Mad Matt** , since the article you quoted is copyrighted, I deleted most of it. The rest can be read here: [http://www.lifetalk.net/anewstart/wellnesswise/ww\_intro.html#targ\_2](http://www.lifetalk.net/anewstart/wellnesswise/ww_intro.html#targ_2) It is usually best to limit yourself to quoting no more than a paragraph or two of copyrighted material.

bibliophage  
moderator GQ

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/9 "2002-04-30T22:19:16Z")

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**Eviljap** , I changed the title of this thread from **Is this for reals?** to \*\* Is this for reals? (Health claims for various foods)\*\*. In the future, please try to choose more descriptive thread titles.

bibliophage  
moderator GQ

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/10 "2002-04-30T22:22:50Z")

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Surely it should be **Are this for reals**?

Sorry.

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/11 "2002-05-01T01:09:58Z")

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I didn’t even bother reading most of this, but I can comment on the cranberry one.

It’s actually true. Cranberry juice acidifies the urine to the point that it will kill most common UTI bacteria. We discussed it in my Medical Microbiology class, and I think it was even in the textbook. On a tangent, my last job was testing herbal products for bacterial contamination. Not only were our cranberry samples always clean, but it killed any bacteria we tried to inoculate it with.

The others I read have no scientific basis that I’m aware of.

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**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-reals-health-claims-for-various-foods/106535/12 "2002-05-01T17:37:05Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mangetout \*  
> \*\*Surely it should be **Are this for reals**?
> 
> Sorry. \*\*

No, it should be **Are _these_ for reals**.

Regards,  
The Grammer Poleez