Popular Health Myths and Remedies - Health Myths Exposed
It turns out many "remedies" and "hazards" are more pseudo than science. Two doctors separate fiction from fact.
By Ramona Emerson
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the July 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine 
Illustration: Christopher Silas Neal
|
Even thousands of years ago, the Talmud associated drinking milk with sleep. Today there's no scientific evidence that it has the slightest impact on drowsiness. Milk does contain the nap-inducing amino acid tryptophan, but only in trace amounts. Eggs and cheese have more, but even an egg and cheese sandwich won't knock you out. (You'd probably have to eat seven of them, the authors speculate.) However, if a hot-milk nightcap seems to help you catch z's, drink up. A little placebo effect never hurt anyone. |
