Occasionally someone says something that intuitively seems true, but is as far from reality as could be. It catches on in conversation, and now on the net, and spreads like wildfire. Soon it takes on a life of its own. So many people seem to know about it that it must be true. Does chewing gum really stay in your stomach for 7 years? Should you wait an hour after a meal before swimming? Does shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker? Below are ten common myths that many people think are factual.
Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years
“Although
it is true that many of the ingredients in gum — such as elastomers, resins and
waxes — are indigestible, that does not mean they hang out in your guts for
seven years. Plenty of what you eat — even things you are recommended to eat,
such as fiber — is indigestible. But the digestive system is a robust piece of
organic machinery, and anything it can't absorb, it moves along. Despite the
stickiness and strange consistency of gum, it passes right through your
digestive tract and into the toilet…."
Sugar turns kids into little monsters
“The concept of the sugar high is something of a parenting urban
legend; plenty of research has shown that feeding kids sugar doesn’t make them
hyper. What it does do,
though, is prime their parents to look for signs of misbehavior.
In part …. the misconception stems from the fact that sugar often marks a
special occasion: When kids are stuffing themselves with birthday cake or
Halloween candy, they’re already in a situation where they’re going to be
naturally amped up. But parent’s ideas are reinforced by seeing it in those
circumstances …. The placebo effect can be very powerful.”
Reading in the dark or sitting too
close to the TV ruins your eyesight
“Dim
light — or alternatively, staring into the multi-colored tube at close range —
can undoubtedly make your eyes work so hard they hurt. But there is no evidence
that these practices cause long-term damage …. The TV myth may have started in
the 1960s, and at that time, it may have been true. Some early color TV sets
emitted high amounts of radiation that could have caused eye damage, but this
problem has long been remedied, and today's TV and computer monitors are
relatively safe ….. If you or your child tend to sit so close to the computer
or TV that it hurts the eyes, it may be a good idea to get checked for near-sightedness.
However, sitting too close does not create a need for glasses even if getting
glasses can remedy the habit.”
You should drink at least 8 glasses
of water a day
“Every
day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel
movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water
supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. So how much fluid
does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an
adequate daily fluid intake is:
About
15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men
About
11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
“These
recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20
percent of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks
….. You've probably heard the advice, Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a
day. That's easy to remember, and it's a reasonable goal. Most healthy people
can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel
thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough. But
other people might need more.”
You should wait an hour after eating before
you go swimming
“This
myth has ruined many summer afternoons, forcing young and old to swelter in the
heat while cool waters beckoned, all because they were careless enough to down
a PB&J. Let the ban be lifted: There is no special reason not to swim after
eating…..
“It's
true that any type of vigorous exercise can be uncomfortable (although not
dangerous) after an overwhelming feast. But for most of us whose waterfront
dining experience includes sand-dusted chips and soggy sandwiches, that is
hardly a concern. And cramps can happen anytime, whether you've eaten or not.”
Shaved hair grows back faster,
coarser and darker
“That is simply not so. But there are several reasons that
the myth continues to flourish. One is the limitation of human perception. ‘People
are just not very good observers, but there’s just no science behind hair
growing back thicker,’ says Amy McMichael, chair of the Department of
Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Health. There’s also the power of
coincidence. Indeed, pervasive myths—if a young boy shaves his mustache it will
grow back thicker—are grounded in a kernel of truth: it might. But that’s
because the shaving may overlap with the timing of natural hormonal
fluctuations in his body that are developing his adult facial hair, not because
of his hair removal. Body hair grows at different times and at different rates
for everybody.”
Ulcers are caused by spicy food
“Years
ago it was accepted as fact that spicy foods were the culprits behind many
peptic ulcers (ulcers in the stomach and upper portion of the small intestine).
Doctors’ advice was to avoid curries, salsas, hot peppers, and anything else
that “burned,” the theory being that they would literally burn the lining of
your stomach (not to mention your taste buds)….
“According
to the CDC, the overwhelming majority of ulcers are due to the bacteria
Heliobacter pylori (up to 80 percent of stomach ulcers and more than 90 percent
of ulcers in the duodenum of the small intestine). Chronic use of nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve),
and aspirin, can also damage tissues, leading to ulcers. Smoking and stress can
aggravate an existing ulcer. But the belief that spicy foods can cause ulcers
still lingers….
“Even
though spicy foods can’t cause an ulcer, it’s recommended that if you have one
you should still avoid them if they trigger pain; you should also pass on any
other foods or drinks that cause discomfort, especially coffee, alcohol,
chocolate, and caffeinated sodas.”
Going out in the cold with wet hair
will make you sick
“Don't
have time to dry your hair before leaving the house on a cold day? Don't worry
about it! Though lots of people might tell you that a wet head, plus cold air,
is bound to equal a head cold, that's simply not the case…. Germs such as
viruses and bacteria, not temperature changes, make people sick. So although
you might be a bit chilly if you leave home with wet hair on a winter day, that
doesn't mean you'll get sick.
“However,
a study published in 2015 in the journal Proceeding of the National Academy of
Sciences does suggest that rhinoviruses (the viruses behind the common cold)
may take advantage of cold weather. Researchers found that cold temperatures
might make it easier for these cold-causing viruses to replicate by diminishing
the body's antiviral immune responses.”
Chicken noodle soup cures …
everything
“Everybody's
heard that chicken soup is supposedly the best cure for whatever ails you. But
does this delicious food really help you get better when you're sick?
Unfortunately, no. The combination of hot broth and yummy veggies is more of a
comfort than a cure, he said. However, some research suggests that chicken
noodle soup may work well as a placebo. In other words, it may convince you
that you're getting better. So keep slurping!”
We use only 10 percent of our brains
“The
human brain is complex. Along with performing millions of mundane acts, it
composes concertos, issues manifestos and comes up with elegant solutions to
equations. It's the wellspring of all human feelings, behaviors, experiences as
well as the repository of memory and self-awareness. So it's no surprise that
the brain remains a mystery unto itself. Adding to that mystery is the
contention that humans only employ 10 percent of their brain. If only regular
folk could tap that other 90 percent, they too could become savants who
remember to the twenty-thousandth decimal place or perhaps even have
telekinetic powers.
“Though
an alluring idea, the ‘10 percent myth’ is so wrong it is almost laughable,
says neurologist Barry Gordon at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Although there's no definitive culprit to pin the blame on for starting this
legend, the notion has been linked to the American psychologist and author
William James, who argued in The Energies of Men that ‘We are making use of
only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources….
“Although
it's true that at any given moment all of the brain's regions are not
concurrently firing, brain researchers using imaging technology have shown
that, like the body's muscles, most are continually active over a 24-hour
period. ‘Evidence would show over a day you use 100 percent of the brain,’ says
John Henley, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Even in
sleep, areas such as the frontal cortex, which controls things like higher
level thinking and self-awareness, or the somatosensory areas, which help
people sense their surroundings, are active, Henley explains.”
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Photo: https://dvdbash.com/2014/12/06/topps-trading-cards-books-bazooka-joe-and-his-gang/
Jerry De Luca is a Christian freelance writer who loves perusing dozens of interesting and informative publications. When he finds any useful info he summarizes it, taking the main points, and creates a (hopefully) helpful blog post.
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