感冒宜吃,發燒宜餓?這些"健康常識"到底靠不靠譜?大綱

Feed a cold, starve a fever

感冒宜吃，發燒宜餓

When the sniffle season comes, many pile up their plates to help them beat the infection.

感冒季來臨時，爲了抵抗感染，很多人開始大吃。

Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and medical director of Healthspan, told MailOnline: 'This old wives' tale is based on the belief eating will generate warmth when you have a cold.

全科醫生、健康壽命公司醫療總監薩拉·布魯爾告訴每日郵報網站說：“這個‘無稽之談’是因爲人們認爲感冒時吃東西會使身體產生熱量。”

'Avoiding food may help you cool the body when you have a fever.'

“而在發燒時，不吃東西能幫你降溫。”

However, Dr Brewer was quick to point out there is no 'firm evidence' to support either theory.

但布魯爾醫生指出，這兩種說法都沒有“確鑿證據”。

'Listen to your body,' she said. 'If you feel hungry, have something nutritious to fuel the body as your immune system fights an infection.'

她說：“要聽從你的身體。如果你覺得餓，就吃些有營養的東西來爲身體補充能量，因爲免疫系統正在對抗感染。”

Dr Kathryn Basford, a GP at Zava, also argued it is more important to stay hydrated when battling a cold than to overindulge in food.

扎馬公司的全科醫生凱瑟琳·貝斯福德也認爲，在對抗感冒時，多喝水比多吃東西更重要。

She told MailOnline: 'Water, juice, and hot liquids, like soups, along with food, will help fight cold infections by keeping the body well-hydrated and nourished.'

她說：“除食物以外，水、果汁和湯等熱飲能讓身體保持充足的水分和營養，有助於對抗感冒。”

When it comes to the advice to 'starve a fever', Dr Basford stresses this is 'not a good idea'.

談到“發燒宜餓”的建議時，貝斯福德醫生強調說，這“不是個好主意”。

'It's not uncommon to lose your appetite when you've got a fever, but starving yourself is not a good idea, as it can deprive your body of the necessary energy needed to fight a virus,' she said.

她說：“發燒時沒有食慾很常見，但讓自己捱餓就不對了，因爲這會讓身體失去抗擊病毒所需的必要能量。”

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

一天一蘋果，醫生遠離我

An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a rhyme many of us can recall from our childhoods - and it may hold some truth.

很多人從小就會說“一天一蘋果，醫生遠離我”這句押韻的俗語，這種說法有一定道理。

Apples are rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to lower the risk of a premature death, particularly from heart disease.

蘋果富含抗氧化劑類黃酮。人們已經證實，類黃酮可以降低早逝風險，尤其是心臟病導致的早逝。

The popular fruit has also been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and even some cancers.

蘋果還與2型糖尿病甚至某些癌症的患病風險降低有關。

To reap the benefits, it may be best to enjoy apples whole, rather than opting for juice.

爲獲得這些益處，最好吃下整個蘋果，而不是隻喝果汁。

'Apple peel also has blood-pressure lowering actions similar to those of ACE inhibitor drugs,' Dr Brewer said.

布魯爾醫生說：“蘋果皮還能降血壓，類似於血管緊張素轉化酶抑制劑藥物。”

Dr Basford stresses it is important to eat a varied diet and not rely on just one fruit or vegetable to keep you healthy.

貝斯福德醫生強調說，飲食多樣化很重要，不要僅僅依靠一種水果或蔬菜來保持健康。

Carrots help you see in the dark

胡蘿蔔有助夜間視力

'This old wives' tale does have some basis in fact,' Dr Brewer said.

布魯爾醫生說，“這個說法確實有一定的根據。”

'Carrots are a source of the pigment beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body when needed.

“胡蘿蔔是β-胡蘿蔔素的來源。β-胡蘿蔔素在需要的時候可以在體內轉化爲維生素A。”

'Vitamin A is needed to make an eye pigment called visual purple, which is extremely sensitive to light and allows vision in low-light conditions.

“視紫紅質眼色素的生成需要維生素A，這種眼色素對光線極爲敏感，使人們能在暗光中看到東西。”

'Lack of vitamin A can lead to night blindness. So, if you are deficient in dietary vitamin A, eating carrots might help.'

“缺乏維生素A可能導致夜盲症。因此，如果你的飲食中缺乏維生素A，吃胡蘿蔔或許有幫助。”

Dr Basford agrees, but warns carrot eaters not to expect perfect nighttime vision.

貝斯福德醫生同意這種觀點，但她提醒吃胡蘿蔔的人不要期待擁有完美的夜間視力。

'The idea that eating carrots can help you see in complete darkness is unfortunately a myth,' she said.

她說：“很遺憾，吃胡蘿蔔能幫助你在完全黑暗的環境中看清楚這種想法毫無依據。”

'Making sure you have a balanced diet, including vitamin-A rich foods, like carrots, can help you to maintain normal healthy vision.'

“保證飲食均衡，吃胡蘿蔔等富含維生素A的食物，有助於保持正常的健康視力。”

Eating before drinking soaks up alcohol

飲酒前吃東西能吸收酒精

This old wives' tell is only partially true.

這種說法只在一定程度上是正確的。

'If you drink on an empty stomach, alcohol is rapidly absorbed through the stomach lining,' Dr Brewer said.

布魯爾醫生說：“如果你空腹喝酒，酒精會通過胃粘膜迅速吸收。”

'If you eat on a full stomach, this effect is reduced and alcohol absorption is slowed, as more alcohol is "escorted" through to the small intestine.'

“如果你在飽腹的情況下喝酒，這種效果就會減弱，酒精的吸收也會變慢，更多酒精會被‘護送’到小腸。”

Foods that are broken down slowly, and therefore have less of an impact on blood sugar, may be particularly beneficial, Dr Basford added.

貝斯福德醫生說，那些消化緩慢因而對血糖影響較小的食物可能尤其有益。

'To ward off the effects of excessive drinking go for slow-release foods like bananas and yoghurts, or things with a high-protein content like hummus, meat or nuts,' she said.

她說：“爲避免過量飲酒的影響，人們可以選擇香蕉和酸奶等緩釋食物，或者鷹嘴豆泥、肉類和堅果等高蛋白食物。”

Although this sounds promising, studies have shown blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits tend to be reached after less than 45 minutes of drinking, regardless of whether someone ate beforehand.

雖然聽上去挺好，但研究表明，人們的血液酒精濃度往往會在飲酒不到45分鐘後達到安全上限，不管人們是否提前進食。

Chocolate gives you spots

吃巧克力會長痘

'Chocolate's impact on skin is heavily debated,' Dr Basford said. 'It's unlikely those with clear skin will experience spots as a result of indulging in chocolate.

貝斯福德醫生說：“巧克力對皮膚的影響頗具爭議。那些皮膚乾淨的人不大可能因爲多吃了幾顆巧克力而長痘。”

'But if you have existing issues it might be a good idea to keep an eye on factors that might be causing flare-ups.'

她說：“但如果皮膚原本就有問題，最好多注意可能引發痤瘡的因素。”

A study of male acne sufferers had them eat 25g of 99 percent cocoa chocolate every day for four weeks.

研究人員在四周內讓男性痤瘡患者每天吃25克可可含量爲99%的巧克力。

After a fortnight, the men's spots, including black and whiteheads, had significantly increased.

兩週後，這些男性的痤瘡（包括黑頭和白頭）大量增加。

Exactly why this occurs is unclear. Evidence suggests the antioxidants polyphenols, which are found in high amounts in dark chocolate, may be to blame.

目前尚不清楚其確切原因。有證據表明，罪魁禍首可能是黑巧克力中大量的多酚類抗氧化劑。

Cocoa polyphenols may trigger an increased immune response against the bacteria that cause acne, leading to inflammation.

可可多酚可能會引發對痤瘡細菌的免疫反應增加，從而導致炎症。

Chicken soup cures colds

雞湯治感冒

A steaming bowl of warming soup may be 'just what the doctor ordered' when suffering from a cold. But the extent of its benefits may differ depending on the recipe.

感冒時，一碗熱氣騰騰的湯可能正合人的心意。但它的好處有多大因食譜而異。

'Garlic is anti-inflammatory, which can help the immune system fight germs', Dr Basford said.

貝斯福德醫生說：“大蒜能抗炎，可以幫助免疫系統對抗病菌。”

Dr Brewer agrees chicken soup is 'comforting' when you feel under the weather but questions whether it really gets rid of a cold quicker.

布魯爾醫生也認爲，當你身感不適時，雞湯“令人舒服”，但她懷疑雞湯是否真的能讓感冒好得更快。

'There is nothing magical about chicken soup, but it is nutritious and comforting, providing energy, fluids and warmth,' she said.

她說：“雞湯沒什麼神奇的，但它有營養、讓人舒適，還能提供能量，給人補水，讓人暖和。”

'Drinking any hot liquid will help soothe a sore throat, and the warm vapours will help clear a blocked nose.'

她說：“喝任何熱飲都有助於緩解咽喉疼痛，熱蒸汽還能緩解鼻塞。”