Believe It or Not : The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices

This book examines the history, culture, and science behind health myths. The word “myth” can have two quite different meanings: (1) a shared tradition or story and (2) a belief that can be falsified. Most previous books have focused on “busting” the second type of myth – explaining why the myth is false. In contrast, “Believe It or Not: The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices” explores the cultural and religious origins of each belief or practice and how it varies among countries and, within countries, according to age, education, ethnicity, and urban vs rural location. Most importantly, the book relies on systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the extent to which the health beliefs and practices are true and influence health status. Previous “myth-busting” books have not attempted rigorous, systematic evaluations of the scientific evidence for and against the beliefs and practices they discuss. This book includes a range of chapters dedicated to infection, skin and eye conditions, diet and food, and pregnancy and childbirth. In an era when social media, fake news, and contradictory opinions are a mere click away, people deserve to understand the science underlying common health beliefs. Believe It or Not: The History, Culture, and Science Behind Health Beliefs and Practices is a valuable read for the general public, curious about health and science but without technical, scientific, or medical training. Preface How to Read the Book Acknowledgments Contents About the Author Part I: How to Evaluate Scientific Evidence 1: How Science Helps Decide What to Believe What Is Science? Scientific Inference Experiments Versus Observational Studies Bias and Precision How Should Science Influence Health Beliefs? 2: Summing Up: Synthesizing the Scientific Evidence Why Synthesize the Evidence? Systematic Review Reviewing the Evidence on Health Beliefs and Practices How to Read the Rest of This Book Part II: Infection 3: Dodging the Draft: Does Avoiding the Cold Reduce the Risk of Catching a Cold? Introduction What Is a Cold? Historical Origins Current Beliefs About the Cause of the Common Cold Detailed Review of the Scientific Evidence Seasonality Effects of Exposure to Cold Temperature Effects of Cold Weather on Virus Infectivity and the Immune Response Effects of Indoor Crowding and Ventilation Summary References 4: Dietary Supplements and Common Viral Infections: “Boosting” the Immune System or the Manufacturers’ Profits? Introduction Nutrition and Health Nutrition and Infection Dietary Supplements: How Commonly Are They Used? Who Uses Them? Detailed Review of the Scientific Evidence Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin E Omega-3 Fatty Acids Flavonoids Zinc Probiotics Summary References 5: Common Sense or Nonsense? Non-Drug Treatments for the Common Cold Introduction Historical Origins Who Uses These Cold Remedies? Detailed Review of the Scientific Evidence Bedrest and Exercise Supplemental Fluids Humidifiers and Vaporizers Nasal Irrigation Summary References Part III: Skin and Eye Conditions 6: Duct (or Duck) Tape for Treating Warts: A Quack Remedy? Introduction A Brief History of Duct (or Duck) Tape Who Uses or Recommends Duct Tape to Remove Warts? Detailed Review of the Evidence Summary References 7: Aloe Vera: Does It Work? A Burning Question Introduction History How Are Burns Currently Treated? Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Summary References 8: Diet and Acne: Should Teenagers Avoid Pizza and Chocolate? Introduction Current Beliefs About Diet and Acne Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Glycemic Index Chocolate Vitamin D Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCPUFAs) Other Nutrients Zinc Fatty or Oily Foods Summary References 9: I Can See Clearly Now: Do Glasses Make You More Nearsighted? Introduction Ethnic and Geographic Differences and Temporal Trends Current Beliefs About Wearing Glasses Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence: What Slows Progression of Myopia? Summary References 10: Eye Strain and Headache: A Change in Viewpoint Introduction A Brief History Why Should Refractive Errors Cause Headache? Current Beliefs About and Prevalence of Eye Strain Headaches Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Do Refractive Errors Cause Eye Strain and Headache? Does Correction of Refractive Errors Reduce Eye Strain and Headache? Summary References Part IV: Foods and Beverages 11: The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting: Detox or Redux? Introduction Voluntary Fasting: A Brief History Current Beliefs and Practices About Intermittent Fasting Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Summary References 12: Preventing or Treating a Hangover: Dilution or Delusion? Introduction Historical and Cultural Overview Current Beliefs and Practices What Works? Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Summary References 13: “Natural” Remedies to Improve Sleep: Perchance a Dream? Introduction Current Beliefs and Practices Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence: Do “Natural” Remedies Work? Herbal Teas and Extracts Milk Dietary Supplements Aroma Therapy Summary References 14: The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners Introduction History of Artificial Sweeteners Current Practices and Beliefs Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence General Principles Changes in Body Weight, Fat, and Other Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors Dental Health Cancer Adverse Effects on Offspring Due to Exposure During Pregnancy Other Adverse Health Outcomes Summary References 15: The “Hype” About Sugar and Children’s Behavior Introduction How Common Is “Hyper” Behavior? Sugar Intake and Behavior: Knowledge and Beliefs Detailed Review of the Scientific Evidence Summary References 16: Organic Foods: A Healthier Alternative? Introduction The History of Organic Farming Current Beliefs and Practices Concerning Organic Food Consumption Detailed Review of the Evidence on Health Benefits of Organic Foods Do Organic Foods Taste Better? Do Organic Foods Provide Lower Exposure to Chemical Contaminants? Do Organic and Conventional Foods Differ in Bacterial Contamination? Do Organic Foods Have a Better Nutrient Content? Does Organic Food Consumption Improve Health? Summary References 17: Protein Supplements: Bulk or Bilk? Introduction Protein Supplements to Increase Muscle Mass and Strength: A Brief History Current Beliefs and Practices Concerning Protein Supplements Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Protein Supplements in Healthy Adults Protein Supplements in the Elderly Summary References 18: Prevention and Treatment of Jet Lag: What Works? Introduction Current Beliefs and Practices: Who Gets Jet Lag and What Do They Do About It? Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence on Prevention or Treatment of Jet Lag Summary References 19: High Sugar Consumption and Diabetes Risk: A Sweet Lie Introduction Historical Background Current Beliefs and Behaviors Concerning Sugar Consumption and Diabetes Detailed Review of Evidence on Sugar Consumption and Risk of Diabetes Summary References Part V: Pregnancy and Childhood 20: Born Too Soon: What’s in a Number? Introduction When Does Pregnancy Begin? How Long Does Pregnancy Last? Review of Scientific Evidence History and Cultural Origins References 21: Take Your Shots? Parents’ Fear of Adverse Effects of Vaccines Introduction Historical Context Parents’ Beliefs About the Risks and Benefits of Vaccination Qualitative Studies Quantitative Studies Detailed Review of Scientific Evidence Behind Parents’ Beliefs Autism Adverse Effects on the Immune System Summary References 22: Does Teething Cause Fever, Rash, and Other Signs of Illness? Introduction Historical Perspective What Do Parents and Health Providers Believe About Teething? Parents Health Care Professionals Systemic Consequences of Teething: Detailed Review of the Evidence Summary References 23: No Tylenol? No Problem! Beliefs About Fever and Its Treatment in Children Introduction Historical Perspective Beliefs About Fever and Its Treatment in Children Parents Health Care Professionals Do Educational Interventions Reduce Fever Phobia? Detailed Review of Evidence on Treating Fever in Children The Biology of Fever Review of Published Evidence Summary References Index