6 Health Concerns to Cross Off Your Worry List

Full-Fat Dairy

Consuming whole milk, cream, cheese, and butter has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardio-vascular disease, according to a growing number of studies. All these foods are caloric, though, so watch your portions.

Public Restrooms

They're no worse than any other public place, according to a study published in a 2015 issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Less than 15 percent of the germs in restrooms were from feces, leading researchers to conclude that those germs may die off quickly.

Coffee

A morning cup of joe can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 7 percent, and a four-cup-a-day habit has been linked to a 20 percent lower risk of melanoma.

Raw vs. Cooked

Boiled or steamed vegetables—like broccoli, carrots, and zucchini—have more of some antioxidants, such as carotenoids and ferulic acid, than raw ones do, according to a 2008 report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Getting an Epidural During Early Labor

Early, late—there's no difference in terms of birth outcome, according to a review of nine studies involving more than 15,750 first-time mothers published by the Cochrane Library.

Monosodium Glutamate

Despite the belief that MSG causes headaches and other symptoms of so-called Chinese restaurant syndrome, there is no solid research to support this claim, concluded a study in the journal Appetite.

/By Real Simple/