Medical

Myths
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T

Debunked
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F DESPITE THE MoNEY, TIME AND ATTENTIoN given to medical

T research, many people prefer to believe in old wives’ tales

that have guided our health decisions for generations. Can
eating chocolate really cause breakouts? Does gum stay in
your system for seven years if you swallow it? We turned to
a few of Austin’s best doctors to find out if there’s any truth
to some of the most common medical advice. – JILL HARRIS

THE MYTH: THE MYTH: THE MYTH: THE MYTH: THE MYTH: THE MYTH:
Gum stays in Eating chocolate Coffee can cure a Feed a cold. Coffee stunts Fish is brain
your system for can cause hangover. Starve a fever. growth. food.
seven years if breakouts.
swallowed.

TRUE.
For those of
you who insist
FALSE. FALSE. FALSE. on a tuna fish
Scary thought Indulging in A good cup of sandwich before
but completely a Hershey bar Joe might be FALSE. a big test, you
untrue, says Dr. won’t cause your go-to brew FALSE. Dr. Mark might be not be
Robert Fracht- blemishes. Dr. the morning “I don’t ascribe Dawson says increasing brain
man. “I don’t John Fox, a der- after a long night to feed a cold, that although cells, but it isn’t
know where matologist, says out, but it’s not starve a fever,” it’s not good for a total loss, says
they got the poor nutrition going to make says Dr. Hillary children to have Dr. Mark Daw-
seven years doesn’t necessar- you feel any bet- Miller. “I think if a lot of caffeine son. “Fish, par-
from. I would ily cause acne. ter, at least not you have either, in their diets, ticularly deep-
say unless there “Foods are actu- from a medical you should coffee has little water fish, are
is an anatomic ally metabolized standpoint. “It drink plenty of to do with our a good source
problem like a in your digestive makes absolute- fluids and get growth. “Our of omega-3 oils
narrow intestine system and they ly no difference rest. Certainly, height is deter- that have a posi-
or if there is don’t necessarily in your alcohol for adults take mined by how tive effect on our
something big, go to the skin to level,” Dr. Wil- an ibuprofen,” much our bones cardiovascular
hard or irregu- produce more liam Frederick she says. There’s grow before our and circulatory
larly shaped, oil, otherwise Brooke says no magic fix for growth plates systems,” he
it should go everyone would about coffee. a cold or fever, close,” he says. says. “High-pro-
through,” he have acne. What “You are still doctors warn. “Hormones are tein food gives
says. “Every- really counts is going to have all The best you a trigger for clos- long-lasting cal-
body is a little oil glands, tem- the same effects can do is stay ing our growth ories that help to
different, but perature factors on your central hydrated, sleep plates. I am fuel bodies and
gum usu- such as heat and nervous system a lot and wait not aware that are better than
ally clears the sweating, stress that you would for the pesky caffeine has any eating a high-
stomach within and hormonal without the illness to pass. effect on this.” carbohydrate
4 hours.” fluctuations.” coffee.” Sorry, meal before a
coffee lovers. big test.”

98 AUSTIN MONTHLY JANUARY 2009