Health: true or false?

Does eating carrots help you see in the dark? Does being wet and cold give you a cold? From urban myths to local remedies to old wives' tales, we check the truth of health claims

Jazz, smelly socks, vomiting: weird and wonderful common cold cures

Got a cold? Check out these weird and wonderful remedies

Cold season is here again and chances are you’ve already caught one. Here are some less mainstream ‘cures’ to try from around the world, plus a few historical treatments.

2 Nov 2018 - 6:33pm

A new study suggests eating a lot o forganic food can reduce the risk of getting certain cancers. Photo: Alamy

Organic-food diet linked to reduction in cancer risk, study finds

23 Oct 2018 - 9:19pm 1

Exercise is a stress on the body just like nervousness or anxiety, so people who work long hours and then hit the gym might need to rethink their routine

Lots of people exercise to relieve stress. That could be a bad idea

18 Sep 2018 - 6:30pm 1

Team of researchers who spent seven years studying 19,000 elderly people in Australia and the United States have published findings in New England Journal of Medicine

An aspirin a day will not keep the doctor away, new study says

16 Sep 2018 - 11:00pm 2

Doctors warn about the risk of heart attack during the Fifa World Cup 25JUN18 SCMP/Emily Tsang

Why World Cup fever could lead to a heart attack in couch potatoes

30 Jun 2018 - 2:16pm 3

Elsa Lee has taken to the trails late, but is making up for lost time. Photos: Trails of Fire

‘When I grew up, girls didn’t wear sports clothes’: 50-year-old takes to trails

7 Jun 2018 - 6:15pm

Some scientists say the DASH diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables – may help fend off depression. Photo: Alamy

Why you can’t beat depression with nutrition – one woman’s story

30 Apr 2018 - 7:27pm

Eva Chan with her two children. Photo: Felix Wong

Why Hong Kong children reach extremes before they are diagnosed with ADHD

28 Apr 2018 - 11:27am 5

Nursing mother Jasmine Smith (left) with her two children. The 34-year-old ate a varied diet when pregnant so her children would be exposed to a wide variety of foods from the get-go.

Eating right during pregnancy stops baby developing food allergies

5 Jan 2018 - 11:54am 2

A walk on Hong Kong’s wild side can ease some of the stress of living in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Why stressed Hongkongers should take a hike, not a pill

11 Dec 2017 - 8:35pm 3

Coffee is good for you, but how good? Photo: Alamy

Filter or frappuccino: how to get biggest health boost from your coffee

5 Dec 2017 - 7:17am 5

A healthy breakfast every morning sets us up for the day ahead and jump-starts our metabolism. Photo: Alamy

Another reason not to skip breakfast: it may give you clogged arteries

3 Nov 2017 - 4:17pm 1

Being in a good mood releases hormones that interact with the immune system and are able to influence how well it works – which, as recent research suggests, could increase the effectiveness of flu shots. Photo: Alamy

Want your flu shot to be more effective? Reduce your stress

21 Oct 2017 - 8:51pm

The whipworm is named for its distinctive body shape.

Can eating parasitic worms or their eggs treat some diseases?

7 Sep 2017 - 8:02pm 2

According to Nathan Solia, women have more sweat glands than men, but men still perspire more than their female counterparts.

If you sweat more during a workout, do you burn more calories?

10 Jul 2017 - 5:47pm

When it comes to defecation, there is no correct frequency – but changes to the body’s routines might warrant a visit to a doctor. Photo: Alamy

Are you unhealthy if you don’t move your bowels every day?

3 Jul 2017 - 5:50pm 3

Split ends should be trimmed to stop the splits spreading. Photo : Shutterstock

Is cutting your hair the only way to rid yourself of split ends?

26 Jun 2017 - 5:30pm 5

Healthy eating is crucial if you are trying to lose weight – and far more important than exercise. Photo: Shutterstock

Is the 80/20 weight loss rule true? Hong Kong naturopath says yes

19 Jun 2017 - 5:26pm 1

Breakfast cereals are the epitome of processed food. Photo: Shutterstock

Is processed food bad for you? Not necessarily, say experts

6 Jul 2017 - 1:57pm

Certain skincare products may contain ingredients that could enter the bloodstream.

Can ingredients in skincare products enter the bloodstream?

5 Jun 2017 - 5:23pm

All you learn from solving brain teasers, puzzles and crosswords is how to solve them better, say experts; there’s no wider application to real-world tasks

Word puzzles and brain games don’t help you in the real world

29 May 2017 - 5:36pm 2

While charcoal peel-off masks can remove blackheads and whiteheads, they also strip off the outermost layer of skin and oils that protect the skin from the environment. Photo: Shutterstock

Can overusing charcoal peel-off masks damage your skin?

22 May 2017 - 5:32pm

Lifting weights will not increase the chances of a miscarriage, but mums-to-be should be careful not to injure their back muscles during this important time. Photo: Shutterstock

Can stress or heavy lifting increase miscarriage risk?

8 May 2017 - 5:47pm

There are many myths surrounding ovarian cancer, one of the biggest causes of cancer deaths in Hong Kong women.

Hong Kong doctors bust five common myths about ovarian cancer

1 May 2017 - 5:17pm

Women can get pregnant soon after stopping taking oral contraceptives.

Must all traces of birth control pills be gone for you to get pregnant?

24 Apr 2017 - 5:48pm

Less than seven hours’ rest for adults can cut output of a hormone that signals you’ve had enough to eat, produce more of another that increases hunger and also stir cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie food

Sleep deprived? Beware the junk food trap

17 Apr 2017 - 6:02pm 4

Tongue scraping is a part of oral hygiene.

Does tongue scraping help promote proper oral hygiene?

10 Apr 2017 - 5:37pm 1

If persistent forgetfulness is affecting your daily life, doctors advise seeking medical help. Photo: Shutterstock

Why it’s not inevitable your memory will go to pot as you get older

3 Apr 2017 - 6:02pm 1

Hong Kong doctors warn that while red cheeks and cranky moods are common as first teeth emerge, a persistent high temperature should not be ignored and warrants a medical check-up

Things a mum must know: teething and high fever don’t go together

27 Mar 2017 - 5:21pm

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