Hot sauce makes you lose weight? Eating after 7pm is bad? What are some health myths that actually aren't true?
Don't cut off the crust of the bread because it is full of vitamins
The truth is: Bread contains cancer-fighting antioxidants period. It is best to serve whole-wheat bread because it is higher in fiber and nutrients. Make sure that it says whole-wheat flour on the ingredients list, as breads with a simple wheat label are usually made with a combination of whole-wheat flour and enriched white flour.
You can catch a cold if you go out with your hair wet.
The truth is: Although you will feel cold, you aren't likely to catch a cold. Feeling cold doesn't affect your immune system. One study inoculated volunteers with a cold virus. Half of the group had to remain in a warm room. The rest had to take a bath and drip wet in the hallway for 30 minutes. In the study, the wet group did not catch any more cold than the dry.
Eye crossing can remain permanent.
The truth is: There is no harm in voluntarily crossing your eyes, but you could have vision problems if you cross your eyes a lot. If you notice your child doing this a lot, he or she might have other vision problems. So this is not true.
You should feed a cold and starve a fever.
The truth is: You should eat and drink in both cases-staying hydrated is the most important thing to do when you are sick. You tend to lose a lot of fluids when you are ill. Drink plenty of water or some Gatorade or orange juice, and continue to make sure that you get a lot of fluids.
Gum stays in the stomach for 7 years
The truth is: Gum disappears, just like other foods. It's not going to stay there. All foods that are eaten and digested pass through the digestive system within 2 weeks. Even though gum is not easily broken down in the digestive tract, it shouldn't cause a stomach ache either.
Having someone startle you will get rid of hiccups
The truth is: Most home remedies haven't been medically proven to be effective. However, you can try swallowing one tablespoon of white granulated sugar. This is a trick that dates back to 1971. One study found that hiccups ceased in 19 out of twenty patients afflicted with this. You might want to try this.
Drink eight glasses of water a day.
The truth is: You don't need to count cups. It is true that water quenches your thirst and keeps you healthy and hydrated. But water-rich foods like fruits, soup and vegetables will also help you get your fill of fluids. However, there are instances where you might need to drink more water. You might need more water if your urine is dark yellow or if you live in a hot climate, for example.
There you have it. These are some of the most popular health myths. As you can see, they aren't true for the most part. Remember to keep these in mind the next time you hear something similar.