Medical myths are part of our everyday life. Everyone knows them but only a few realise that they are myths and not real: Here are examples of medical and health myths that have been sustained over the years. Many people, including doctors believe in these myths although they are either not true or lack scientific evidence. Some of these myths also have very amazing and unbelievable origins.
- Carrots can improve your eyesight
This is one of the best medical myths ever. We have been told many times that eating carrots improves our eyesight because they contain a lot of vitamin A. Indeed carrots do contain vitamin A but consuming a lot of vitamin A has nothing to do with improving our vision.
The origins of this myth go back to the dates of
World War II. The British Intelligence service spread the rumour that their pilots ate a lot of carrots and that’s why they were so successful in destroying German targets. The truth for their success was the use of radars and not the consumption of huge amounts of carrots!! In an effort to hide the existence of radars the British spread around this myth that is sustained with great success until today.
- Eating spinach can make you stronger
I am sure that most of us have seen Popeye getting stronger and more powerful with a tin of spinach. In fact Popeye is the first word that comes to mind when we hear about spinach. The truth about this lovely myth is that spinach does not make you stronger. On the contrary spinach is a vegetable that contains low levels of iron. There are other green vegetables that contain more iron than spinach.
- The consumption of turkey makes us sleepy
This myth is based on the fact that turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid located in protein that affects sleep and mood. However, the quantity contained in the turkey is not more than in other foods like chicken or veal and in some cases it is even less per gram than it is contained in pork or cheese. The myth apparently stems from the fact that all of us feel drowsy after a big meal (and eating turkey is a big meal), because the body consumes energy for digestion and thus the blood flow and oxygenation in the brain is reduced.
- We need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day
An article by the USA National Academy of Sciences (60 years ago) noted that a good indication for water consumption for adults is 2.5 litres a day. In the same article they also noted, in the last sentence, that this quantity is already contained in the food we eat. In other words we consume the water our body needs in the food we eat.
Researchers suggested that if we ignore the last statement from the article then it could be interpreted as a directive for the consumption of eight glasses of water a day. Other research suggests though that we get sufficient levels of water in our body from the typical daily consumption of juices, milk and even caffeine drinks.
- Coffee is harmful for our health
Coffee is consumed on a daily basis by millions of people. It is the world's morning favourite drink.
It is a fact that the excessive consumption of coffee may be hitting the nerves and this can cause increased excitability. Normal consumption of coffee though can be good for our health.A study by Harvard University with more than 125,000 people drinking coffee showed that women were 30% less likely to suffer type ‘2 diabetes’. Other studies have shown that coffee reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's and cancer of the colon.
Two to three cups of coffee a day is beneficial to our health. However if we notice symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, then it is better to reduce coffee or switch to decaffeinate drinks.
- Fresh is always better than frozen
Ever since scientists have pointed out the benefits of antioxidants, people started to believe that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is a better choice than eating frozen. In fact we tend to believe that frozen is second-class food.
Frozen food can be as beneficial as fresh food because fresh fruits and vegetables are cut when they are at the top of their nutritional value and transferred to factories where they are frozen. This process locks down their nutrient ingredients and so frozen food has all the nutrient ingredients. Fresh fruit and vegetables when placed on the shelves - they lose some of their nutritional ingredients because of heat, air and moisture.
- Eggs increase cholesterol
During the'60s and'70s, scientists have associated cholesterol in the blood with heart disease. Eggs that are rich in cholesterol eventually came out of our daily diet.
Recent studies showed that saturated and trans fat in the diet of a person are more likely to increase the risk of heart disease than eggs. One egg has only 1.6 grams of saturated fatty acids, while a glass of milk with 2% fat contains 3 grams of saturated fat. Eggs provide protein in the body as well as vitamins A and D without making you gain extra weight. If you eat an egg for breakfast, you simply need to be careful with the amount of cholesterol that will take from other foods during the day.
Many people think that bananas are high in fat. The truth about this myth is that bananas are actually low in fat. Bananas are made up of 95 calories and ½ gram of fat.
There is no evidence that chocolate; sugar, oil, milk or any other food causes acne. Some people believe that certain foods may be the cause of acne. No clinical research has proven that food is associated with acne.
- Cholesterol is bad for you.
Sure there is ‘bad’ cholesterol and ‘good cholesterol’. Bad cholesterol is created by saturated fats found in food like meat and cheese. This type cholesterol can be the cause of heart diseases.
Good cholesterol is found in unsaturated fats such as nuts, seeds and oily fish. Good cholesterol helps transporting cholesterol away from the arteries, back to the liver.
- The shaving of the hair makes them grow faster, darker or coarser
This myth is repeated by the media and reinforced when short beard appears after shaving. A clinical study conducted in 1928 showed that shaving does not have an impact on the growing of hair, a finding that is also confirmed by more modern studies. When hair is re-grown after shaving they seem more rugged because they do not have the smooth head of the non-shaved hair. They also seem darker because they are not affected by the sun like the non-shaved hair.
- The Use of Lipsticks can poison you
In 2007, an environmental group named
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics checked 33 different lipsticks for lead. Despite the fact that there is no allowable limit of lead in lipsticks, 1 / 3 of the samples checked they contained a greater quantity of lead than that allowed in sweets. These findings created the myth that lipsticks can be harmful to your health because of the amount of lead they carry.
But after studying the results of this research by American Nutrition Association, they decided that the risk from lead in lipsticks is extremely small. Lead poisoning is usually caused by other environmental factors, such as pipes and paint in old houses for example. In conclusion, there is no reason to concern that the use of lipsticks can poison you.
- Not washing properly can cause acne
Stress and the effects of hormones on sebaceous glands are the main causes of acne. It is not in any way proved that not showring properly will create acne. On the contrary cleaning your face too often can actually increase acne as the body compensates to replace the body oil washed away. On the contrary what you can achieve by washing your face twice a day is to get rid of blackheads
- Reading with low light ruins eyesight
The idea that low light ruins eyesight has its roots in the pain of the eye. Low lighting makes it difficult for the eye to focus, leading to fewer eye-closings and hence this leads to dry eyes. So reading with low lighting is «inconvenient» but does not create permanent damage to the eyes.
- Computer screens can damage our eyes
The enormous usage of computers both in the office and at home has created the idea that computers are machines harmful to our eyes. Many people visit the eye doctors and others are making complaints about discomfort and fatigue in the eyes after prolonged and continuous use of the computer.
A number of investigations and researches made for this myth have shown that video terminals are not detrimental to our eyes. This is because it has been proven that the video terminals emit very little or no harmful radiation such as X-rays or ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, with simple words, our eyes are not in a long-term risk from a computer screen.
- The Use of mobile phones can affect male fertility
A team of researchers from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine carried out a study with 364 men. The purpose of this study was to see if the use of mobile phones could affect male fertility. The study showed that men who used their mobile phones for more than 4 hours per day showed around 23% lower concentration of sperm compared with those not using any mobile phone.
Although the researchers that made this study raised the theory that the decline in sperm quality can be either the effects of electromagnetic radiation or heat in the testes, this is just a theory based on a survey. Therefore it remains a simple observation that is not based on concrete facts that can prove that mobile phones can indeed affect male fertility. It excludes, for example, other important factors such as stress of people who speak more than 4 hours in the mobile, or a sedentary lifestyle.
- Metabolism is the same for men and women
This myth suggests that the body metabolism i.e. daily energy consumption is the same for Men and women. The proportion of fat and muscles in the body is what determines the amount of energy that will be spent. Men, who typically have less fat and more muscles tend to spend more energy than women, therefore they have a better metabolism than women.
- Fat people have a lower metabolism than slim people
This myth is completely wrong. Fat people have a better metabolism than slim people. This is because a fat person burns more calories for movement because it needs more energy (due to the extra weight) compared to a thinner person.
- As we get older our metabolism is increasing
As we get older our basic metabolism is actually decreasing. This because over the years our body muscles are reduced and fat is increased. More specifically, the basic metabolism of the individual from the age of ten is falling about 1% to 2% per decade.
- Reducing the number of meals per day will improve metabolism
Digestion is a function of our body that burns many calories. So greatly reducing the quantity of food we eat, our body will also reduce the rate of metabolism to save energy.
If we want to increase our metabolism we must not reduce the meals we eat but to choose food with fat-free protein and a lot of fibber. Furthermore, consumption of small meals at regular intervals (every 3 to 4 hours) helps for the better allocation of calories in our body and as a result this increases the basic metabolism.
Now,You will first be presented with more myths, and then the truth that will dispel this myth.
- Myth-Whey Protein Makes You Fat
The Truth – Whey protein doesn’t make you fat. Only eating an excessive amount of daily calories can make you gain fat. Eating a proper amount of daily protein will ensure maximum muscle gains. On the other hand, if you under eat protein, you make it harder for your body to add muscle.
- Myth -Supplements Are A Waste Of Money
The Truth – There are an amazing number of effective nutritional and muscle building supplements on the market that help to maximize performance and overall health. Don’t let the exaggerated claims of a handful of snake-oil salesmen keep you away from products that amplify your efforts.
- Myth- I Eat A Good Diet, I Don’t Need Supplements
The Truth – A well-balanced diet is a good start, but it does not mean that you are meeting all of your body’s nutritional needs. Nutrient needs can change and fluctuate because of age, health, stress and intense training. Consider supplements an insurance policy, one that fills in the gaps.
- Myth-Supplements Cause Many Side Effects
The Truth – The majority of ingredients contained in supplements are found naturally in the human body, or in the food we eat. Proper supplementation yields very minimal side effects.
- Myth -Creatine Causes Kidney Damage
The Truth – Because of it’s popularity as a performance boosting supplement, creatine use has been extensively studied. Creatine has been shown to be safe and non-toxic for use by individuals with a healthy kidney (renal) function.
- Myth- Everyone Will Experience The Same Benefits From A Supplement
TheTruth – This is completely false. Each individual is unique, and no two athletes train the same or eat the same. Often times you will find that creatine or pre-workout, nitric oxide supplements work better for some than others. In fact, it is often the case that one person will experience minimal benefits from one brand, but receive great benefits from another. Don’t assume that because a supplement didn’t work well for your friend, that it won’t work for you.
- Myth- Fat Burners Are A Waste Of Money
The Truth -Most popular fat burning supplements contain a battery of ingredients that are effective at stimulating your metabolism and encouraging and assisting the body with burning fat. While fat burners are certainly not miracle products that will help you shed fat even if you are eating poorly, combined with weight training, cardio and a proper diet they assist in bolstering your energy and metabolism during long periods of weight loss.
- Myth -Our Body Produces Enough Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Its Own
The Truth – The body doesn’t produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own. Omega-3’s are considered essential, meaning the body is incapable of producing them, and they must be obtained through the food we eat. Supplements such as fish oil supply the body with needed omega-3 fatty acids, and are very beneficial to hard-training athletes and individuals who are on a limited calorie diet.
- Myth - Protein supplements/shakes are an essential part of someone who actively exercises diet
The Truth-You can easily reach your Protein requirements for your level of training without supplements by eating the correct portions and amounts you need from food
- Myth-Post working out, protein is the most important nutrient to take to prevent muscle breakdown
TheTruth-In reality, carbohydrate is the most important. You should take in more Carb as opposed to protein after working out to help minimize degradation (protein breakdown). This helps maximise Protein synthesis. Pretty much together carb & pro post-working out is the right combo, instead of protein alone
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