We all
grow up hearing myths handed down from one generation to another. Many often
involve health issues. Our guest today, John Wills, addresses some of those
myths he heard from his mother. John is an award-winning author of books, short
stories and poetry. He reviews books for the New York Journal of Books, writes
a monthly column on Officer.com,
is a speaker for the NCAA on the topic of dangerous drugs, and holds a personal
trainer certificate. Learn more about him and his books at his website.
Cold Weather Myths And Other Scary Things My Mother Taught Me
Sadly, Mom wasn’t
always right.
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are probably the
most memorable holidays of the year. It’s a time when we gather together with
family, friends and co-workers to celebrate. These special occasions invariably
include lots of high fat, high-calorie food, along with things like eggnog and
liquor. Many of us think, “Hey, it’s the holidays. I can make an exception and
eat and drink what I want.” But, can you?
What are the implications to your waistline of eating and
drinking in excess on holidays? Conventional wisdom, as well as many of our
friends and family, tells us that eating all that extra chow will put on at
least five pounds of holiday weight. But, does it really? Not according to The New England Journal of Medicine. Their study
suggests that few data support this accepted assertion, debunking the notion
that we gain weight during the holidays. Holiday weight gain is a myth.
Let’s explore another oft-heard bit of advice. Wear a hat
outdoors to stay warm. Anyone who runs or walks outside in the winter has heard
that you must wear a hat to keep warm. If you fail to wear one, you’ll lose up
to 75% of your body heat. True or false? False. The correct figure is probably
closer to 10% for an adult.
The old adage about losing 75% of one’s body heat applies
only to newborn babies, and is predicated on their head size, which is a much
greater percentage of their total bodyweight at birth. Thus, the reason we see
babies in the hospital nursery-wearing caps. Truth is, adults lose body heat
through any part of their body that’s exposed to the cold (arms, hands, feet).
Therefore, the no-hat rule is a myth.
Holidays can be a difficult time for some folks. It is said
that the suicide rate increases during the holiday season. If you’ve lost a
loved one, or have other stressors such as health issues or loss of a job,
depression can become overwhelming. However, a 35-year study of Minnesota
residents found that suicide did not increase during the holidays, or other
important events such as birthdays. Another myth.
Everyone loves brilliant red poinsettia plants at Christmas.
These beautiful flowers decorate homes, businesses and churches throughout the
holiday season. However, I remember my mother telling me to keep my younger
brothers and sisters away from the plants because they were poisonous. She also
warned us to keep our pets away as well. But is the poinsettia plant really
harmful to our health? No, not according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. In
1996, their analysis of 22,793 poinsettia cases reported no significant
poisoning. It is possible to become ill by consuming large amounts of the plant, however, that is also rare. Poinsettia
poisoning is, therefore, a myth.
Don’t go outside with wet hair—you’ll catch a cold! Ever
hear that warning? I have. But what about that, will you really get sick by
going out in the cold with wet hair? No. You will feel cold, but feeling cold
does not affect your immune system. According to Dr. Jim Sears, co-host of the
TV show, The Doctors, going outside
with wet hair is harmless. Sears cited a Salisbury, England study that proved
the wet hair notion was indeed a myth.
Feed a cold—starve a fever. Which one is correct? Actually,
Dr. Sears advises that in both cases one should eat and drink, and then drink
some more. “Staying hydrated is the most important thing to do, because you
lose a lot of fluids when you’re ill.” However, should you drink special
beverages such as Gatorade? Sears advises that unless you’re severely
dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea, there’s no need to drink anything
containing electrolytes.
Have you ever heard your parents tell you that if you
swallow your gum it stays in your stomach for seven years? It’s true, they
explained to you, because gum isn’t food, therefore, the stomach has a
difficult time breaking gum down in the digestive system. Myth or fact? That is
another myth. Most non-food items swallowed by kids will pass through the
system in a couple of days, and won’t even cause a tummy ache.
How about this one? You should wait an hour after eating
before going swimming. True or false? False. The digestive system will not make
your muscles cramp and cause you to drown. Blood flow to the muscles will decrease, since more blood is
directed to the digestive system to break down the meal you just consumed, meaning
you may have less energy. However, swimming immediately after eating will not
cause one to drown. Go ahead and dive right in after enjoying that
cheeseburger.
We all know that eating at night makes you fat . . . or does
it? That is a myth. According to registered dietician, Dr. Jeannie
Gassaniga-Moloo, who is also a spokesperson for the American Dietetic
Association, don’t worry if you are forced to eat dinner later than usual. “The
time of day a person eats is not as important for overall weight gain as the
amount of calories eaten during the day.”
During the holidays, we feed our children much more sugar in
the form of cakes, pastry and candy. Does sugar make the kids hyperactive, or
is that a myth? You’ll be happy to learn that according to twelve
placebo-controlled studies, kids who eat sugar do not act any different than
those who did not. Another myth.
And speaking of kids, did your mom ever tell you that if you
cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way forever? Well, according to
Ophthalmology Professor W. Walker Motley, University of Cincinnati College of
Medicine, that warning is yet another myth. “There’s no harm in voluntary eye
crossing,” the good doctor tells us. But it sure did sound scary when mom said
it.
The bottom line about myths is that any advice that is
anecdotal in nature should be researched. Don’t take advice at face value every
time someone tells you something. Ask an expert, or research it yourself. The
internet provides instant access to authoritative sources that can help you
decide what is a myth and what is not.
Links:
Holiday Health Myths: Sugar, Suicides, and Cold-Weather
Clothes
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