Big little (health) lies
Did you hear the one about applying butter to a burn? (Please don’t). Or that if your arms start tingling with pain, a cold front is on the way. Hmm…
We all love a good old health myth BUT the proof is not in the pudding with these ones. Brush up on the facts.
Egg yolks cause high cholesterol
Don’t miss out on this tasty part of the egg. Egg yolks actually contain a good dose of HDL (the good cholesterol). Unless you’re allergic, you can have eggs – yolks and all – a few times a week.
Coffee stunts kids’ growth
We’re not saying it’s okay for your child to down three cups of coffee a day, but the heartening news is that the odd sip isn’t going to be detrimental. There’s no concrete evidence that coffee stunts your child’s height or has any effect on their overall growth and development. For health reasons though, and due to the stimulant effect of caffeine, it obviously isn’t a wise everyday choice.
Knuckle-cracking leads to arthritis
Crack on! Popping your knuckles may be annoying to people around you but it does not lead to arthritis. Not unless you're predisposed to it anyway.
Deodorant causes cancer
With our climate, who doesn’t need a little extra help to stay fresh? But we bet you’ve heard that aerosol spray, roll-on and deodorant can cause cancer. Spray with ease: there are no conclusive studies that support this myth. On a related note, don’t fall for the myth that sunscreen causes cancer either. Sunscreen does not cause cancer but can lead to excessive exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet light as people tend to tan too long, thus causing skin cancer.
Feed a cold, starve a fever
A cold is caused by a virus and usually lasts a few days no matter what you eat. With a fever, it does no good to starve either as you need light, nutritious meals to keep energy levels up to help the body fight the virus. Either way, make sure you get plenty of liquids and rest.
Sitting too close to the TV can make you blind
Hands up if your parents threatened you with this one! The good news is that it’s not true at all. It may look a tad weird, but sitting super close to the TV is okay. It’s probably just not very comfortable and could lead to a few bouts of blurry vision and headaches from the eye strain.
Fat makes you fat
In the wake of the Banting and low-carb hype, we now know a little better. We’re not saying to go ahead and eat fatty food for each meal, but research has shown that not all calories are equal. Our bodyneeds fats – good fats – to function at its best. Gaining weight is a simple formula: more calories in than calories burned. Good fats to keep in your diet are nuts, seeds and avocados, which keep you fuller for longer.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, and usage of any medication.