Nine things to stop worrying about right now
I came across a list of nine health myths from Health magazine, some that I’m already aware of, others that I’m not, but it’s worth a share anyway. For more details, check out this article.
Myth #1: Drink eight glasses of water a day. Water’s great, but you also whet your whistle with juice, tea, milk, fruits and vegetables — quite enough to keep you hydrated. Even coffee quenches thirst, despite its reputation as a diuretic; the caffeine makes you lose some liquid, but you’re still getting plenty.
Myth #2: Stress will turn your hair gray.
Myth #4: Reading in poor light ruins your eyes. “Reading in dim light can strain your eyes,” Snyderman explains. “You
tend to squint, and that can give you a headache. But you won’t do any
permanent damage, except maybe cause crow’s-feet.”
Myth #4: Coffee’s really bad for you. “Coffee comes from plants, which have helpful phytochemicals that act
as antioxidants,” says Stacy Beeson, RD. One set of antioxidants
appears to increase insulin sensitivity, which might explain a lowered
risk of type 2 diabetes in people who sip java. A Harvard study of more
than 125,000 coffee drinkers found that women cut their risk of type 2
diabetes by 30 percent. Other studies suggest that coffee cuts the risks of Parkinson’s
disease, colon cancer, cirrhosis and gallstones. Drinking joe gives
your brain a boost, too. And, despite the jolt of energy it provides,
coffee has no effect on heart disease.
Myth #5: Feed a cold, starve a fever.
Myth #6: Fresh is always better than frozen. Frozen can be just as good as fresh because the fruits and vegetables
are harvested at the peak of their nutritional content, taken to a
plant, and frozen on the spot, locking in nutrients.
Myth #7: Eggs raise your cholesterol.
Myth #8: Get cold, and you’ll catch a cold. “Chilling doesn’t hurt your immunity, unless you’re so cold that your
body defenses are destroyed — and that only occurs during hypothermia,”
Vreeman says. “And you can’t get a cold unless you’re exposed to a
virus that causes a cold.”
Myth #9: Your lipstick could make you sick.
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Simon Columbus
April 5, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Well, I already knew I didn’t have to worry about them, but it’s still great to not have to be aware of something :-)
dreamessence
April 6, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Some of these are general knowledge, but others surprised me–thanks for sharing.
kinzi
April 6, 2008 @ 9:43 am
Mention #8 to anyone in Jordan, and it is equal to speaking heresy.
Beti
April 6, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
I know from personal experience that #8 is not a myth…
Dave
April 6, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Thank you, Kinzi, for mentioning it. Geez, I hate it when educated people are complaining that their back and/or stomach hurts because they “caught a cold” outside. I’m tempted to believe this common wive’s tale is taught in science class in school, since nearly everyone believes it.
yaseen
April 6, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
Actually #8 isn’t a myth, let me quote someone “when in a cold environment, the body will try a preserve heat by limiting blood flow to other parts of the body, like the hands, feet and the inside of your nose. so when the bugs come, they’ll be able to multiply without having them pesky white blood cells eliminating them.”
To test it, go outside on a cold day with light clothes, next day you’re most likely to get sick.
and #2.. no one in my family has white hair strains except for me ;( I believe in #2 as well, I only got those since I started working.
kinzi
April 6, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
Yaseen, but check, the operative word is ‘when the bugs come’. You can’t get sick without a virus or bacteria. The constriction does keep white blood cells from flowing around the nose, the most common place bacteria and viruses affect a body. But they don’t enter cold toes or fingers. Hand-washing in all kinds of weather keeps you healthy. My kids wear shorts and short sleeves all winter in Jordan, and they don’t get sick because we are RELIGIOUS hand-washers.
Hareega
April 6, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
People who traveled to the north and south poles and spent months there were pretty darn cold and never got sick.
I still disagree on the eggs and cholesterol, eggs do raise your cholesterol but the effect varies from one person to another.
Also you frequently need more thna 8 glasses of water a day, it all depens on the weather outside and how much water you lose.
TripleM
April 7, 2008 @ 11:06 am
are you sure about this water think…cause it happen to know that no matter how many cup of juices, coffee or any other liquids you drink, still there is a certain amount of water you should be having during the day which is 2-4 litres..and I love the coffee part cause I defied someone that coffee dose have a lot benefits…anyway the post is great
sam
April 7, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
ah it s useless telling people about the cold thing..my mother in law also thinks that if give my kids cold water or ice cream they will get a throught infection (lowaz) uggh i am so sick of hearing this…germs do have a better chance of getting u when cold…but like others mentioned keep your hands clean and do not kiss a sick person and u should be ok.
Shaden
April 15, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
myth # 7 is very interesting!
Basma
April 28, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
I can’t help it!!!
Please please fix the numbering!!
You don’t have a #3, you have two #4!!!
Pleaaaaase!
OCD :)