As people strive to live a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle, they seek out the truth. The truth about their health and fitness and certain medical conditions. But with so much information available, it can be hard to cut through the noise and know which facts are true and which are not.
Here we’ll examine and bust seven of the most well-known myths about your overall health and wellness. Some of these facts may surprise you!
Cold Weather Can Make You Sick
This may be a mother’s favorite excuse for bundling their child in excessive amounts of clothing, hats, and coats when temperatures drop. They’ll likely quip, “Bundle up or you’ll catch a cold.” The truth is, low temperatures do not cause sickness – germs and bacteria do. So, don’t tell your mother, but you could actually venture outside, naked, with a wet head, right after a shower and have just as much chance of catching a cold as your neighbor wearing ten layers.
In fact, it’s just as easy to spread germs in warmer temperatures, like inside your home, school, or other public place. So, although its recommended you wear warm clothing when it’s cold outside, if you choose not to, a cold will not be your punishment.
Green Mucus Means You’re Sick
After blowing your nose into a tissue and taking a peek at its contents, do you ever think, “Oh my goodness, it’s green! I must be sick!” Or how about, “It’s green, that means I’m getting better!” Certain people have certain beliefs about what the color of their snot means.
The truth is, mucus can be yellow, green, or clear and the color is no indication of the severity of your condition. Yes, sometimes green or yellow mucus can indicate a bacterial infection, but this isn’t always the case. If your mucus and symptoms persist, you should visit your primary care physician and an antibiotic may be in order. In other cases, your mucus could be due to allergies. Postnasal drip is another common occurrence that causes mucus build up at the back of the throat and nose.
Cracking Your Knuckles is Bad for You
Are you one of those people that love the feeling of cracking your knuckles? Or is the opposite true? Can you not stand the sound of someone popping their joints in such a crude way? Whichever your stance, you’ve probably heard rumors that cracking your knuckles is a bad habit that can actually lead to arthritis of the hands. Well, though cracked knuckles may be a nuisance, it is not a proven cause of arthritis.
For years, people have claimed that cracking the knuckles of your fingers can lead not only to arthritis, but also decreased grip strength and swelling. But none of these medical diagnoses have been associated with knuckle cracking. Perhaps this myth was started by someone who couldn’t stand the sound?
Eggs are Bad for Your Heart
You’ve likely heard that eating too many eggs, and especially egg yolks, is bad for your heart and for cholesterol levels. Though the yolk of the egg does contain cholesterol, the overall benefits of eggs far outweigh the negatives.
Eggs contain omega-3 which can actually reduce the risk of heart disease. Eggs are also a great source of protein and low in fat. Packed with a long list of other vitamins and nutrients, consuming one to two eggs a day will not have a negative impact on your health. It’s also important to note that eating one food item that is high in cholesterol isn’t normally a problem. The problem begins when people eat many high-cholesterol foods in large quantities.
Sugar Makes Kids Hyper
Have you ever been at a party where the kids are running around like crazy? Or your child just can’t go to sleep at night or calm themselves down and people attribute it to a “sugar high”?
Did you know that sugar is proven to have no adverse effects on children’s behavior? In fact, some studies have given children drinks and then asked parents to observe their behavior. Because the parents assumed the beverages contained sugar, they reported that the children were hyper, unfocused, and unruly, when in fact, the drinks contained no sugar at all. This myth is purely mental and has nothing to do with the physical effects of sugar on the body.
You Need to Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard this saying before. But is it true? And why do people think it is?
The belief is that if you eat a healthy, filling breakfast that you’re less likely to overeat at lunch and dinner. Though this may hold true for some people, others are perfectly content and capable of skipping breakfast and still warding off cravings and avoiding indulgences throughout the day. Breakfast is truly an option and not one that you need to take. Don’t let this weight loss myth hold you back from reaching your goals!
You Need to Drink 8 oz. of Water a Day
There are many different answers to this same question – How much water should I drink in a day? Some people say twice your bodyweight in ounces. This means a 150 pound person should drink 75 ounces of water daily. Others stick by the old standard of eight, 8 ounce glasses of water. Dr. Oz once said that if you’re visiting the bathroom multiple times a day, constantly feeling the need to urinate, that you’re actually drinking TOO much water.
Did you know that a human can actually drink so much water that it leads to water intoxication, and even death? This is an extremely rare occurrence when a person’s sodium levels drop too low after consuming too much water in a short period of time.
It’s safe to say that drinking water is beneficial to overall health but that you don’t need to obsessively drink it. Your body will get hydration from other water-rich foods like soups, vegetables, and teas or other drinks throughout the day. Signs that you’re not getting enough water include dark urine. If you live in a hot climate or are extremely active, you may need to consume more water than others.
Now You Know the Truth
Though some of these myths have a basis in real, medical knowledge, none of them have proven true. Sometimes, a myth is simply passed from one generation to the next, for so many years that people begin to believe it.
But now that you know the truth, you can continue eating eggs (maybe not for breakfast), cracking your knuckles, and drinking water in moderation without the fear of side effects!
Article Submitted By Community Writer
