Do You Believe In These Health Myths? We Hope Not

Did you know that women (26%) are far more likely to get arthritis than men (18%)? Therefore, women must get checked regularly for arthritis once they turn 40. They must also take care of their calcium intake to keep their bones healthy.

Now, if you are aware of the disease, you might have heard people say not to crack your knuckles or you will get arthritis. Well, it’s no true. And it’s not just you, a vast number of people believe this myth. But this is just one of the many myths you have been told at some point in your lives. But don’t worry, we are here to debunk some of the most commonly believed health myths.

Given below 8 myths you must stop believing now:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

The expression ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ gives one the impression that it is the healthiest fruit. There is no doubt that apples are loaded with fibre and vitamins which are necessary to boost your immunity and overall health but so are other fruits. However, with all the health benefits that apples provide, it is still very important to include other fruits for a balanced diet and to keep illnesses at bay.

Being out in the cold causes runny noses

There is no evidence to prove that you will catch a cold if you go out in chilly weather – even with wet hair. We know cold comes from viruses and not really temperature. Moreover, if that were the case, people staying in colder climates would constantly have a running nose. A more likely reasons is that we tend to spend more time indoors with other people around in winter, and the chances of catching a cold virus from someone else increases. Having said that, the weather might add to it since cold temperature constricts our blood vessels that deliver infection-fighting white blood cells.

Feed a cold and starve a fever

Remember, under-nourishment is never a good idea. The truth is that you need to eat properly when you are sick – not less, not more. The body needs energy to fight the cold but it is quick to turn consumed food into energy so there is no need to overeat. In the case of fever, the body rises the temperature to beat the virus and thus burns up a lot of calories. Thus, your body needs more calories to nourish and heal itself. You also tend to lose a lot of liquids when you are sick so make sure you keep yourself hydrated too.

Carbohydrates make you fat

There are a lot of low carb diets circulating as many people believe that carbohydrates make a person fat. But carbs are important if you want to have a balanced and healthy diet. What makes a difference is the type of carbs you consume. For instance, whole grains like brown rice, oats, whole wheat, barley, etc. are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre and help you fight against illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases and more.

Late night snacking makes you fat

There is no difference between metabolism during the day and at night. What you need to keep in check is the total amount of calories consumed throughout the day. The problem is that you try to keep your calorie consumption in check during the day but lose your willpower by night-time and end up binging. You can have a small healthy snack at night if you have not eaten much during the day. In fact, it’s been proven that in healthy people, consumption of protein rich beverge before sleeping improves overnight muscle protein synthesis.

Eggs are not good for the heart

Eggs, in fact, are very good for health, but they do have a high cholesterol level than any other regular food. Eggs are one of the most inexpensive and healthy foods available. Research suggests that eating eggs is safe and does not increase the risk of cholesterol and heart problems.

Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day

Water may be the elixir of life but consuming this much of water is not a necessity. It is important to hydrate yourself, but there is no evidence that we need 8 glasses of water a day to stay healthy. In fact, we get a lot of water through our food as well. Remember, your water requirement changes depending on weather, activities you do, food you eat etc.

Your health is your most important asset so make sure you don’t fall for these health myths.