Health Bits
Health Tips
Compiled by John Edward Dominique Dela Paz Dalida

Q. Are the chicken meals served in fast food chains sufficient, or is their nutritional quality compromised?

A. The worst part of a chicken, whether or not it is of the fast food sort, is the skin. Protein is actually improved by the cooking process, and fast food restaurants cooks the chicken with the skin, allowing it to retain its moisture and nutrition. A wise consumer would remove the skin and would eat the meat only (Men’s Health November 2006, p. 14).

Q. Does our local tsokolate drink have some health benefits?

A. Of course, they have health benefits. Chocolate contains antioxidants, but it is high in calories. Like everything else, moderation is the key. Overindulging in chocolates might lead to too much calories and fats in body (Men’s Health December 2006, p. 10).

Q. Which has more benefits, hot tea or iced tea?

A. If by iced tea, you mean the powdered and crystallized kind, it is advised that you stay away from it, as it is almost purely sugar. Bagged tea, on the other hand, is rich in antioxidants—plus, you can control the amount of sugar that you mix it with. Taking your tea hot is supposed to aid in digestion, based on common Chinese belief, while cold tea is absorbed faster by our digestive system, as all cold drinks are. Either way you take your tea does not matter, as long as you stay away from the powdered kind (Men’s Health January 2007, p. 8).

Q. Can tea stain my teeth?

A. Tea has the same properties found in other “chromogenic” foods which cause staining over time. Cola, wine, and coffee are other examples of popular beverages known for their staining effect. People who have gone bleaching procedures are especially advised to lessen intake of such beverages if not avoid them altogether. Other causes of teeth discoloration are aging, tobacco, and certain medications (Men’s Health June 2007, p. 10).

Q. I am 20 years old and still struggling with pimples. Can you give me some tips for making scars vanish?

A. Treatment depends on the type of scarring. Whitening creams can lighten dark scars. Alpha-hydroxy acids, on the other hand, may smooth out shallow scars. Various clinical procedures such as lasers, dermal fillers, chemical peels, and micro-dermabrasion, may also improve skin appearance. Remember also to seek professional help to control active pimples that might cause further scarring (Men’s Health September 2007, p. 12).

Q. Is there a basic difference between women’s and men’s skin? How should this affect the way we take care of our skin?

A. Male and female skins are fundamentally the same at the cellular level. However, male skin is oilier and generally thicker in all areas of the body. Whether male or female, the person’s skin type would determine how it should be taken care of. Shaving in men, though, may make them more sensitive to products and prone to irritation and redness (Men’s Health November 2007, p. 10).