Feed a cold, starve a fever

感冒宜吃，发烧宜饿

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

感冒季来临时，为了抵抗感染，很多人开始大吃。

Dr Sarah Brewer¹, 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.

全科医生、健康寿命公司医疗总监萨拉·布鲁尔告诉每日邮报网站说：“这个‘无稽之谈’是因为人们认为感冒时吃东西会使身体产生热量。”

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

“而在发烧时，不吃东西能帮你降温。”

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

但布鲁尔医生指出，这两种说法都没有“确凿证据”。

'Listen to your body,' she said. 'If you feel hungry, have something nutritious² to fuel the body as your immune system fights an infection.'

她说：“要听从你的身体。如果你觉得饿，就吃些有营养的东西来为身体补充能量，因为免疫系统正在对抗感染。”

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.

扎马公司的全科医生凯瑟琳·贝斯福德也认为，在对抗感冒时，多喝水比多吃东西更重要。

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.'

她说：“除食物以外，水、果汁和汤等热饮能让身体保持充足的水分和营养，有助于对抗感冒。”

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

谈到“发烧宜饿”的建议时，贝斯福德医生强调说，这“不是个好主意”。

'It's not uncommon³ 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.

她说：“发烧时没有食欲很常见，但让自己挨饿就不对了，因为这会让身体失去抗击病毒所需的必要能量。”

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

一天一苹果，医生远离我

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.

很多人从小就会说“一天一苹果，医生远离我”这句押韵的俗语，这种说法有一定道理。

Apples are rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to lower the risk of a premature⁴ death, particularly from heart disease.

苹果富含抗氧化剂类黄酮。人们已经证实，类黄酮可以降低早逝风险，尤其是心脏病导致的早逝。

The popular fruit has also been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes⁵ and even some cancers.

苹果还与2型糖尿病甚至某些癌症的患病风险降低有关。

To reap the benefits, it may be best to enjoy apples whole, rather than opting⁶ for juice.

为获得这些益处，最好吃下整个苹果，而不是只喝果汁。

'Apple peel also has blood-pressure lowering actions similar to those of ACE⁷ inhibitor drugs,' Dr Brewer said.

布鲁尔医生说：“苹果皮还能降血压，类似于血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂药物。”

Dr Basford stresses it is important to eat a varied⁸ diet and not rely on just one fruit or vegetable to keep you healthy.

贝斯福德医生强调说，饮食多样化很重要，不要仅仅依靠一种水果或蔬菜来保持健康。

Carrots help you see in the dark

胡萝卜有助夜间视力

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

布鲁尔医生说，“这个说法确实有一定的根据。”

'Carrots are a source of the pigment⁹ beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body when needed.

“胡萝卜是β-胡萝卜素的来源。β-胡萝卜素在需要的时候可以在体内转化为维生素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.

“视紫红质眼色素的生成需要维生素A，这种眼色素对光线极为敏感，使人们能在暗光中看到东西。”

'Lack of vitamin A can lead to night blindness. So, if you are deficient¹⁰ in dietary vitamin A, eating carrots might help.'

“缺乏维生素A可能导致夜盲症。因此，如果你的饮食中缺乏维生素A，吃胡萝卜或许有帮助。”

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

贝斯福德医生同意这种观点，但她提醒吃胡萝卜的人不要期待拥有完美的夜间视力。

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

她说：“很遗憾，吃胡萝卜能帮助你在完全黑暗的环境中看清楚这种想法毫无依据。”

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

“保证饮食均衡，吃胡萝卜等富含维生素A的食物，有助于保持正常的健康视力。”

Eating before drinking soaks up alcohol

饮酒前吃东西能吸收酒精

This old wives' tell is only partially¹¹ true.

这种说法只在一定程度上是正确的。

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

布鲁尔医生说：“如果你空腹喝酒，酒精会通过胃粘膜迅速吸收。”

'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 intestine¹².'

“如果你在饱腹的情况下喝酒，这种效果就会减弱，酒精的吸收也会变慢，更多酒精会被‘护送’到小肠。”

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

贝斯福德医生说，那些消化缓慢因而对血糖影响较小的食物可能尤其有益。

'To ward¹³ 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.

她说：“为避免过量饮酒的影响，人们可以选择香蕉和酸奶等缓释食物，或者鹰嘴豆泥、肉类和坚果等高蛋白食物。”

Although this sounds promising¹⁴, 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.

虽然听上去挺好，但研究表明，人们的血液酒精浓度往往会在饮酒不到45分钟后达到安全上限，不管人们是否提前进食。

Chocolate gives you spots

吃巧克力会长痘

'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.

贝斯福德医生说：“巧克力对皮肤的影响颇具争议。那些皮肤干净的人不大可能因为多吃了几颗巧克力而长痘。”

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

她说：“但如果皮肤原本就有问题，最好多注意可能引发痤疮的因素。”

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

研究人员在四周内让男性痤疮患者每天吃25克可可含量为99%的巧克力。

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

两周后，这些男性的痤疮（包括黑头和白头）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.

目前尚不清楚其确切原因。有证据表明，罪魁祸首可能是黑巧克力中大量的多酚类抗氧化剂。

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

可可多酚可能会引发对痤疮细菌的免疫反应增加，从而导致炎症。

Chicken soup cures colds

鸡汤治感冒

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.

感冒时，一碗热气腾腾的汤可能正合人的心意。但它的好处有多大因食谱而异。

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

贝斯福德医生说：“大蒜能抗炎，可以帮助免疫系统对抗病菌。”

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

布鲁尔医生也认为，当你身感不适时，鸡汤“令人舒服”，但她怀疑鸡汤是否真的能让感冒好得更快。

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

她说：“鸡汤没什么神奇的，但它有营养、让人舒适，还能提供能量，给人补水，让人暖和。”

'Drinking any hot liquid will help soothe¹⁵ a sore throat, and the warm vapours will help clear a blocked nose.'

她说：“喝任何热饮都有助于缓解咽喉疼痛，热蒸汽还能缓解鼻塞。”