Debunked Health Myths And Old Wive's Tales

February 7, 2023

Have you ever been told if you cross your eyes that way they'll get stuck? Or if you stand close to the TV, you'll go blind? What about if you swallow gum, it will take seven years to digest properly? There are tons of health myths that have been circulating for decades that are about to be put to rest. Health is a serious subject and is about facts supported by adequate scientific evidence. So we can lay all these myths to rest in Dracula's tomb.

Sitting Too Close To The TV

We've all heard it from our parents before, "Don't stand too close to the television or you'll ruin your vision!" However, it is not actually the distance at which you sit from the TV, but the length of time you watch it for that can cause eye strain and fatigue. The cure is as simple as a good night's rest.

The myth started back in 1960 when General Electric began selling color TVs that emitted 100,000 times the amount of radiation than the federal health officials deemed safe. It is important to note in some cases, children who sit close to the TV do so for comfort, and the reasoning could be they are nearsighted. If you are worried about your child sitting too close to the TV, then it is advised you get their vision tested.

Now you know you can give your TV Eskimo kisses without going blind, but keep reading to find out the myth about the low-fat diet.

A Low-Fat Diet Is Guaranteed To Make You Lose Weight

Many people believe switching to a low-fat diet is guaranteed to lower the number on their scale at home. Years ago a low-fat diet consisted of eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods. But not anymore! The grocery store is filled with low-fat foods high in calories and sugar, that do not contain the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy diet.

To healthily lose weight it is best to cut calories, get plenty of exercise, and cut out sources of 'bad fats' while also enriching your diet with 'good fats.' Good fats will help you absorb nutrients from other foods, give you energy, and increase your overall cognitive function.

It takes more than a low-fat diet to shed those extra pounds; read further to learn about a common myth about fever and cold.

Starve A Fever, Feed A Cold

In the past, people believed the old wives tale that you should feed a cold and starve a fever, which dates back to a 1574 dictionary by John Withals. Although, modern doctors put this myth to a quick rest, claiming it should be “feed a cold, feed a fever.”

The truth is, colds are caused by viruses and require plenty of rest and fluids to get over them. Continuing to drink a lot of fluids and eating nutritious meals will help your body fight off the virus. As for starving a fever, it is never a good idea to starve yourself, especially while your immune system is already weak. When your body is fighting off illnesses, it needs plenty of energy, which can be provided by the food you eat.

So don't starve your fever, but continue reading to find out whether or not vegans and vegetarians are starving themselves of protein.

Vegetarians And Vegans Aren't Getting Enough Protein

Vegetarians and vegans are used to being asked, "Do you get enough protein?" Or, "How do you get your protein if you do not eat meat?" The truth is many vegetables have just as much, sometimes more protein per calorie-serving than meat. By ingesting one-hundred calories of regular ground beef, individuals would provide themselves with 4.3 grams of protein, whereas, one-hundred calories of spinach contains 12.44 grams of protein.

On average, only three percent of Americans do not meet the forty-two grams of protein per day, usually due to extreme low-calorie diets.

It turns out vegans and vegetarians do get enough protein! Keep reading to learn about a myth that's cracking.

Stop Cracking Your Knuckles, Or You'll Get Arthritis

The sound of cracking knuckles sounds unpleasant to many, to say the least. For years, parents have told their children to stop cracking their knuckles or they'll get arthritis one day. However, there has been no evidence to support the claims. In fact, Tyler Cymet, assistant professor of International Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine claims those who crack their joints usually have healthier joints than those who do not, although it is not advised to begin cracking your knuckles because of this claim. The fact of the matter is those who crack their knuckles tend to be more active.

So you can crack your knuckles without stressing about a future of arthritis, but keep reading to debunk a myth about the gum you've been chewing.

You Don't Have To Swallow It To Join The Big League Chew

You're walking into an interview, and with no trash can around or a piece of paper to wrap it in, you decide to swallow the piece of gum you've been chewing. Now you're worrying because of all the times you've been told that if you swallow your gum, it will remain in your stomach for the next seven years.

Gum base cannot be broken down by acid in the stomach or the digestive enzymes in the intestines. But before you begin worrying, gum will not stay in your gut for seven years if you do happen to swallow it. However, consuming large amounts of gum has been known to cause constipation.

Now that you know that the Hubba Bubba won't be camping out in your in your lower intestine for the next seven years, keep reading to learn another health myth.

How Many Glasses Of Water Do I Need?

Since 1945, the Food and Nutrition Board has recommended individuals should consume around 2.5 liters of water each day. However, it is important to note a lot of this water comes from the food we eat as well as juice, beer, tea, and coffee. To debunk two myths in one; no, coffee does not make you dehydrated, despite popular opinion.

The most common sign to identify whether or not you are dehydrated is by examining your urine. If it is dark yellow, you should be drinking more water. You should notice the early signs of dehydration as having dark yellow urine, less urine, headaches, and feeling thirsty.

Now that you know that you do not need to drink eight cups of water per day, keep reading to learn about a myth about pregnancy.

Is It A Boy Or A Girl?

Many people are excited to discover the sex of their baby as early into their pregnancy as possible, and there are many myths when it comes to determining the gender. One of the most common is that you can learn your baby's gender by putting your wedding ring on a necklace and holding it above your belly. If the ring begins spinning in a circle, you'll have a girl, but if it begins swaying back and forth, the baby will be a boy. Although these are fun games to play when a couple is getting ready to bring a baby into the world, it is, in fact, a myth. So maybe hold off on deciding which color to paint the room until you get confirmation from a doctor.

Does Using Antiperspirant Lead To Breast Cancer?

Some have been lead to believe using antiperspirants can lead to breast cancer over years of prolonged use. It has been theorized aluminum-based antiperspirants could lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and kidney disease.

A study done in 2004 discovered a high concentration of parabens in breast cancer tumors, but could not verify whether they caused cancer, or whether they were from antiperspirants. There has been no scientific evidence to back the theories that aluminum - or any other ingredients within antiperspirants for that matter - could pose a threat to your health.

So keep applying an antiperspirant before you scare away your friends, and continue reading to learn whether or not you can get sick from sitting on a toilet seat.

Will Sitting On A Toilet Seat Make You Sick?

Do you ever make a seat of toilet paper on top of the toilet seat? Or maybe hover over - hoping not to get infected by the germs - worrying you'll get sick? Well, public restrooms aren't as unsanitary as you may think, and the bacteria possibly lingering on the seat is not easily transmitted by the skin.

Bacteria tend to thrive in moist places, which eliminates the porcelain throne. However, if you were to use the restroom without washing your hands, you may be at risk of transmitting the bacteria. Otherwise, there is no real reason to worry about your next trip to the washroom.

When you're all done with your business, remember to wash your hands.

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