For beauty, you drink lemon water until you're sick to your stomach; for weight loss, you fast on fruit and vegetable juices; for anti-aging, you swallow grape seeds whole when eating grapes... In reality, eating these things is of no use.
1 Lemon water does not whiten skin
The vitamin C content in lemons is not particularly high among fruits, only about half that of strawberries and one-third of kiwis. Moreover, the amount of lemon used to make water is usually small. Coupled with the destructive effects of various factors on vitamin C, the amount of vitamin C that can be dissolved in a glass of lemon water is very limited. Therefore, it's not reliable to expect to whiten your skin by drinking lemon water. To have good skin is not as simple as just supplementing with collagen; it also requires sufficient protein, essential fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and many other nutrients. Furthermore, a person's blood circulation must be normal, and their metabolism must be balanced.
2 Fruit and vegetable juices do not detoxify
Detoxification itself is a vague concept. The human body has its own complete detoxification system. The skin, respiratory system, and digestive system can prevent harmful substances from entering the body, and the immune system can identify and remove foreign harmful substances. You cannot detoxify by drinking fruit and vegetable juices. Additionally, fruit and vegetable juices are low in calories and mainly provide some carbohydrates, a small amount of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. They lack protein, fat, and certain micronutrients. If you only drink fruit and vegetable juices without paying attention to the intake of other nutrients, it can easily lead to side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.
Some people experience diarrhea after drinking fruit and vegetable juices, believing this is a form of detoxification. In fact, this diarrhea is likely caused by hygiene issues with the juice itself or conditions like lactose intolerance.
Compared to drinking fruit and vegetable juices, maintaining a comprehensive and balanced diet, engaging in moderate exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, and having a good mood are more important for maintaining the health of the body's detoxification system.
3 Eating grape seeds does not prevent aging
Grape seeds do contain anti-aging components, mainly proanthocyanidins, which have biological effects such as antioxidant properties, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, it may be difficult to achieve an anti-aging effect by simply swallowing grape seeds. On one hand, the amount consumed is actually very limited, and on the other hand, the rate of digestion and absorption is relatively low.
In addition to grape seeds, other foods containing antioxidants (such as beta-carotene and lycopene), like carrots and tomatoes, are also believed to prevent aging. However, the anti-aging effect is actually based on a nutritional balance. It is difficult to achieve the expected health benefits by just eating a few "anti-aging foods."
4 Maca and health tonics do not enhance male virility
Maca is a plant in the same family as radishes and is a common vegetable food in its place of origin. Although there are reports of maca extract being effective in animals, there are currently no definitive scientific experiments proving that maca can increase human hormone levels and thus improve sexual function. Furthermore, there is currently no sufficient research evidence to prove that various health tonics with added ingredients can enhance male virility.
Some people feel they have more "fighting power" after eating maca and drinking health tonics. This could be due to the placebo effect—the belief that it works—or the addition of other ingredients, such as sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra). The China Food and Drug Administration has also reminded consumers not to purchase health foods that claim to enhance male virility.