Debunked Health Myths And Old Wive's Tales

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.