Have you ever found yourself perpetuating myths about health only to find out later they were completed wrong? We’ve all been there at some point in our lives.
As children, we’ve all grown up with stories passed down to us by our elders to help us lead better, healthier lives. But just how many of these old wives’ tales bear any factual accuracy? We take a look at some of the common tales we’ve been told and the truth behind them.
Every year, new research helps us better understand diet, exercise, disease, and other aspects of our health which end up diasapproaving these myths.
Here are four most common of these myths;
1.Eating ice cream will make your cold worse
How many times have you avoided taking even when you are craving ice cream on fear of catching a flu? Well, here’s some good news: go ahead and treat yourself to that ice cream! It actually does not make your cold worse. The digestive process of breaking food down actually generates heat, so despite your stomach temporarily becoming colder while snacking on an ice cream, you don’t have to worry about it making you feel more ill.
2.Microwave cause cancer
Heating food by use of a microwave does not by any means cause cancer. This is one of the biggest ‘porky pies’ told about health. Your microwave is designed to excite the water molecules in anything placed within it. Whilst it does this using microwave radiation this is non-ionising and in very low doses to be potentially dangerous to a human being. Also, some do leak radiation but they need to be below acceptable tolerances or they can’t be sold.
3.Salt causes heart attack and high blood pressure
This health related myth has been on for many years. However, the truth is many years of scientific study have shown there is very little support for the claim. However, reducing salt-intake can reduce blood pressure by 1-5mm/Hg it has little or no effect on your chances of having a heart attack or stroke in the future.
4. Milk strengthens your bones
It’s true that your bones require calcium to be healthy, much like how calcium can be found in milk. However, various studies conducted point to a lack of association between the risk of fractures and calcium intake. Other studies suggest getting calcium supply from leafy greens or beans. This doesn’t mean that milk is bad for you, it just means that it’s not as effective in combating bone fractures.
