20 health myths people still believe
When it comes to health, myths have a habit of sticking around even after various researchers, scientists and experts have proven, time and time again, that they are unfounded. In the following paragraphs, we’ll bust 20 of those long-standing myths.
You should wait at least an hour after eating before going swimming, otherwise you’ll get a cramp.
This urban legend dates from the start of the last century. At the time, it was believed that a cramp suffered while in the water was caused by the stomach requiring a large quantity of oxygenated blood for digestion. In reality, the risk of suffering a cramp if you swim after eating is quite low.
Organic food doesn’t contain pesticides
Even the most diligent of farmers is unable to guarantee that their produce won’t contain any pesticides. Wind and water can certainly contaminate organic foods with pesticides. What's more, while some farmers use organic pesticides instead, they can be even more toxic than their synthetic counterparts.
Arthritis is a disease that only affects the elderly
Two-thirds of those who suffer from arthritis are actually under the age of 65. There are over 100 forms of arthritis that affect people of all ages. Affecting around three in every 1,000 children, juvenile arthritis, for example, is one of the most common diseases among children.
Sugar causes hyperactivity in children
No scientific proof exists establishing a relationship between sugar consumption and hyperactivity.
However, that doesn’t mean that sugar is completely harmless for children. Various studies have shown a link between the consumption of sugary drinks in children and weight gain.
Being cold gives you a cold
In winter, it’s not the cold itself that causes seasonal sniffles but rather our behaviour. In the colder months, we spend much more time inside where air is recycled and where we are more likely to find ourselves in close proximity to infected individuals, facilitating the spread of viruses that cause colds.
That said, it's also not a good idea to spend lots of time out in sub-zero conditions, which may put you at risk of frostbite.
Eating carrots helps you to see in the dark
This myth can be traced back to World War II. It was initially created by the British government in an effort to prevent the Nazis from finding out about a new British radar system. The system had just been invented, and made it easier to locate and eliminate German bombers at night.
The British government did not want the Nazis to know about their invention, so to keep it secret they rolled out a rather crafty propaganda campaign. Throughout the country, posters were displayed encouraging solders to eat carrots in order to see better in the dark.
Once the radar system started operating, the Nazis began suffering much greater losses during their night raids. However, rather than suspecting that radar was behind this new development, they believed it was all down to the British soldiers’ “night vision” gained through eating large quantities of the orange vegetable.
Unfortunately, although carrots are good for our health, they won’t help you see in the dark. One study even demonstrated that taking a beta-carotene supplement over 12 years does not delay the onset of cataracts.
It’s fine to eat food you’ve dropped as long as you stick to the five-second rule
Picking up dropped morsels within five seconds will not protect you from germs. A study has shown that some bacteria “jump” immediately onto food that is dropped on the floor. In other words, there is no period of time during which food can be on the floor without risking contamination.
Your hair and nails keep growing when you die
When a person dies, their hair and nails do appear to keep growing. However, this is a simple illusion caused by the drying out of the scalp and the skin. Your hair and nails will stop growing as soon as you die.
Eggs are bad for your health
Popular belief would have it that eggs are bad for you because they increase your cholesterol levels. However, researchers have shown that eating up to 12 eggs per week is not bad for your health. Their study showed that eating that many eggs does not increase cholesterol, blood sugar or blood pressure.
If you swallow gum it will stay in your stomach for 7 years
We all swallowed gum at some point as kids, after which we were told that it would stay in our bodies for 7 years. For many of us, this was enough to put us off ever swallowing gum again. After all, who wants to have a piece of gum stuck to the inside of their stomach for seven years?
In fact, although it does take a bit longer to make its way through our digestive system, gum is expelled pretty quickly. The only reason it might remain stuck in the digestive tract is if it is swallowed along with a foreign body, such as a coin or sunflower seeds.
You lose 80% of your body heat through your head
“Put on a hat or you’ll lose all your body heat!” We all heard this as children. However, it is actually scientifically impossible to lose 80% of our body heat through our heads. We lose heat through our heads when we go outside in the cold simply because the rest of our body is covered in clothing. The same thing would be true if we went out in winter without shoes and socks.
Sitting too close to the TV damages your eyes
Seeing a child sitting too close to a television set is a sight that worries many parents who fear that the screen will damage their child’s eyesight. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, however, sitting close to the TV does not damage your eyes, although it can cause eyestrain.
If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way
Crossing your eyes, even if you really, really cross them, will not cause them to stay that way forever. You might get some spasms, or perhaps experience some eyestrain for around an hour, but then everything should go back to normal.
Antiperspirants cause breast cancer
There is a widely-held belief that, by stopping you from sweating, antiperspirants stop your body from getting rid of toxins and, therefore, increase your risk of suffering from breast cancer. However, the main reason we sweat is to cool our bodies down, not to eliminate toxic substances. In fact, the Canadian Cancer Society states that there is no link between the use of antiperspirants and breast cancer.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis
Cracking your joints isn’t going to increase your risk of suffering from arthritis. The noise we hear is created by the popping of bubbles in your synovial fluid, a substance found in your joints that, among other things, reduces friction between the bones.
AIDS was transmitted to people through sexual contact between humans and monkeys
According to the most widespread theory among medical professionals, the first humans to contract AIDS did so through hunting and then eating the meat of infected monkeys. Another theory suggests that a hunter contracted the virus after having been in contact with the blood of an infected monkey, which made its way into his system through a wound. Whatever the case, the theory that AIDS first appeared in humans after someone had sex with a monkey holds no water at all.
Vaccines weaken your immune system
Though children today receive more vaccinations than their parents or grandparents, a recent study has revealed that they do not have weaker immune systems. Nor are they at greater risk of contracting infections.
Green mucus is a sign of infection
Of course, green-looking mucus would seem to signify a more serious illness then yellow or clear mucus. In fact, the colour of your mucus mainly depends on the number of immune-system cells involved in fighting infection and not the severity of your condition. Someone battling a simple cold might, therefore, have green mucus.
Chocolate is a powerful aphrodisiac
Sadly for chocoholics, this food is not an aphrodisiac. A study has shown there to be no biological difference between women who eat chocolate and those who don’t. At best, this sweet treat might have only a psychological effect on libido.
You should drink eight glasses of water a day
There is no scientific study proving that we should be drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day to stay healthy (that’s 64 ounces a day). Research, in fact, suggests that women should drink 2.7 litres (91 ounces) of water a day, while men should drink 3.7 litres (125 ounces).
