Many of scientific discoveries are obscure and may seem implausible or a bit skewed. The cases discussed in this post are the latter. The articles featuring these "breakthrough" research findings range from July 21, 2003, to Dec. 6, 2006, and were featured in magazines and newspapers found on the U.S.'s east coast, Canada, and the U.K.
1. The Diabetes-Fighting Brew.
By Oct. 2006, Harvard researchers found that drinking coffee daily would shave your chances of getting Type 2 Diabetes by a third. Sounds great if diabetes runs in the family.
Unfortunately, you would have to drink at least 6 cups of joe daily in order to prevent this devastating disorder. Caffeine, anyone?
2. Astounding Alcohol.
A. According to Britain's The Sun, the antioxidant flavonoid-packed Guinness beer was three times as likely as a lighter lager in preventing the clotting of blood platelets in lab tests.
The problem that this was not tested in humans, rather scientists injected dogs with the two kinds of beer. The issue that needs to be addressed here is cruelty to animals, not the unproven platelet theory.
B. Another U.K. reader, The Express, published an article on the age-yielding effects of resveratrol, found in red wine. The lab tests involved overweight white mice, who, when given a dosage of the compound, became energized and gained a 20 percent increase in their lifespan.
Cool, except for the fact that you would have to drink 750 bottles of red wine a day in order to feel any substantial effect.
3. Identity Crisis
A. Hate cancer? Indulge once a week with a pizza and you could prevent the digestive varieties of the disease. With research and a study on Italian life, Silvano Gallus found that people who ate pizza around twice a fortnight were less likely to contract cancers of the oral, esophageal, colon, and rectal varieties.
That is, if they do as the Romans do. Pizzas of the Italian make, with olive oil, mozzarella cheese and fresh tomatoes, are a great deal healthier than their fattening American cousins.
B. Again with the flavonoids. The flavonoids found in chocolate have been found to protect the cardiovascular system. This is true, but the tests were short-term and used high-cocoa dark chocolate, not that of Hershey's chocolate bars or some other high-sugar candy.
Popsci.com says, "Enjoy chocolate in moderation, but don't imagine that it's a health food the way green leafy veggies are."
Information for this post was obtained from Jason Daley's article "The Science Behind the Hype."
