Truth About Health Myths

Don’t walk out of your house with your hair wet for fear of catching a cold? Ask a friend to scare you when you get the hiccups? There are certain health myths many of us abide by on a daily basis, and yet they aren’t what we think them to be. Here is a breakdown of a few of those myths and the truth behind them.

Cutting Off the Bread’s Crust - Instead of cutting the crust off your bread in hopes of cutting out calories, buy 100 percent whole-wheat flour bread, and keep the crust. A study found that the baking process generates a type of cancer-fighting antioxidant which is eight times more abundant in the crust.

Wet Hair Equals a Cold - Conversely to popular belief, walking out of the house with wet hair will not increase your chances at catching a cold. The Common Cold Research Unit put a cold virus up the noses of volunteers and then half stayed in a warm room, and the other half took a bath and then stood dripping in a hallway for half an hour before getting dressed and walking around in wet socks for a few hours. The wet volunteers didn’t catch anymore colds than the dry ones.

Starve a Fever - Don’t starve a fever, instead be sure to eat and stay hydrated. Also, there is no need for specialty drinks like Gatorade unless a person is severely hydrated from vomiting or diarrhea.

Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years – While gum doesn’t easily break down in the digestive system, it does not stay in a person’s stomach for seven years. Conversely, gum is carried out via the fluids in the intestinal tract within days.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away – Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is the way to go, but when it comes to “keeping the doctor away” blueberry is the most effective fruit, as it is packed with antioxidants and fiber.

Get Rid of Hiccups with a Scare – Despite the many myths at eliminating hiccups, there exists no proof the scare-tactic works best. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, however, the hiccups of 19 out of 20 patients left after they swallowed a teaspoon of white granulated sugar.

No Swimming Immediately After Eating – There is no need to wait an hour after eating to hit go swimming. While you may not be able to swim as vigorously after, board-certified pediatrician Jim Sears of San Clemente, California, said, “It shouldn’t inhibit your ability to tread water or play.”

Daily Multivitamin for Children – Beyond children getting a vitamin D supplement for those solely breast feeding, children do not need multivitamins. Of them, Beverly Hills pediatrician Scott W. Cohen said, “Even extremely fussy eaters grow normally. Your kids will eventually get what they need, even if it seems as if they’re subsisting on air and sunlight.”

Warm Milk Will Help You Fall Asleep - While milk may include tryptophan, it does not have enough to put anyone to sleep. A warm glass of milk, however, can do the trick if it’s part of the nightly process as it will have a Pavlovian placebo effect.