Real or not? : health scams and beauty fallacies exposed / Andy Ho.

Includes index.

Ch. I. Shy about sexy matters? Boob creams and pills are just a bust. Looks like it's bra-burning time. In search of manhood boost? Here're some phallic fallacies. Sexual blues in three colours. Bye to hormones and back to herbs for hot flushes? Prostates and a sea of pain. Why anal sex really sucks ... -- ch. II. Forever young and trim? Beauty pills -- How to distinguish help from hype. A ray of hope for skin blemishes. Hair today, gone tomorrow ... but science can help. Of grey hair, dyes, risks and hope. Eating less to live longer? Atkins, a dieting delusion? Best carb blocker? Look in the mirror. Before you try rolling away your cellulite ... -- ch. III. Is that really a cure? More muck than magic in a colon flush. Coffee cure for cancer? Add a pinch of caution. Cure for cancer? Don't start drinking urine yet. Flushing out clogged arteries. Chemical "claw" the answer to clogged arteries? Take heart, red wine still best for coronary health. A "shock machine" at home may just save that life. An "oil" for arthritis? Right to ban ma huang supplements. Spirulina -- Pond scum or wonder food? Jury's out. Why green may not be everyone's cup of tea -- ch. IV. You're sure, Doc? Doctor, can I really trust you? Taking statins to be safe? You may be sorry. "Pre-disease" -- Has medicine gone mad? Your liver enzymes look high? Do we really need full annual health checks? Don't ignore that frequent heartburn. Neurolinguistic programming and brainwashing -- ch. V. What's that in my food? Eat French fries at your own risk ... Palm oil bad? Get those fat facts right. Watch that margarine. Having sushi? Hold the salmon. That steak is mad-cow free? Bull! Mad cow disease in that vitamin? Coffee can be good for you. Should you stick with non-stick Teflon pans? Microwave ovens are safe, just keep the eggs away.

This interesting book is a compilation of recent stories from a regular column called "Science Monitor" in The Straits Times, Singapore's main English daily. They focus on exposing health and beauty fads and fallacies like purported breast enlargement methods, baldness treatment and skin renewal therapies which have begun plaguing consumers in Asia. Written by a well-known columnist, Andy Ho, PhD, this book provides a handy review of what cutting-edge research says about these scams. Readers can apply these valuable insights, which the author has backed up by poring over medical books and journals and by talking to the best physicians and scientists, and then decide for themselves if they want to part with their money, or worse, gamble with their health.

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