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 18 of those long-standing myths.
18 health myths people still believe
It would be best if you waited at least an hour after eating before swimming. Otherwise, you’ll get a cramp.
This urban legend dates from the start of the last century. 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 relatively low.
Organic food doesn’t contain pesticides.
Even the most diligent farmers cannot guarantee that their products won’t contain any pesticides. Wind and water can undoubtedly contaminate organic foods with pesticides. 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 have 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.
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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 behavior. We spend much more time inside in the colder months when air is recycled. We are more likely to find ourselves close 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. The British government initially created it 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 they rolled out a rather crafty propaganda campaign to keep it secret. Throughout the country, posters were displayed encouraging soldiers to eat carrots to see better in the dark.
Once the radar system started operating, the Nazis suffered much more significant 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 OK 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 dropped on the floor. In other words, there is no period 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 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 many eggs does not increase cholesterol, blood sugar, or blood pressure.
It will stay in your stomach for seven years if you swallow gum.
We all swallowed gum at some point as kids, after which we were told that it would stay in our bodies for seven years. This was enough to put us off ever swallowing gum again for many of us. After all, who wants to have a piece of gum stuck to the inside of their stomach for seven years?
Although it takes a bit longer to make its way through our digestive system, the gum is expelled quickly. It might remain stuck in the digestive tract 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 lose all your body heat!” We all heard this as children. However, it is 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 without shoes and socks in winter.
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, 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.
Even if you cross them, crossing your eyes will not cause them to stay that way forever. You might get some spasms or perhaps experience eyestrain for around an hour, but everything should go back to normal.
Antiperspirants cause breast cancer.
There is a widely-held belief that, by stopping you from sweating, antiperspirants contain your body from getting rid of toxins and, therefore, increase your risk of suffering from breast cancer. However, we sweat to cool our bodies down, not to eliminate toxic substances. The Canadian Cancer Society states that there is no link between antiperspirants and breast cancer.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
Cracking your joints isn’t increase your risk of suffering from arthritis. The popping of bubbles creates the noise we hear in your synovial fluid, a substance found in your joints that, among other things, reduce friction between the bones.
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 signify a more severe illness than yellow or clear mucus. The color 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.
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 (64 ounces a day). Research suggests that women should drink 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of water a day, while men should drink 3.7 liters (125 ounces).