Old wives’ tales have been ingrained into our society to the point where it’s sometimes challenging to distinguish fact from fiction. Let’s examine the myths, urban legends, and folklore that don’t hold up upon closer inspection.
Swimming After Eating Causes Cramps
Contrary to popular belief, swimming right after eating doesn’t necessarily cause cramps that can lead to drowning. The myth likely stems from the idea that blood flow increases to the stomach after eating, reducing the amount available to muscles during swimming. However, medical research shows no significant correlation between the two.
Reading in Dim Light Ruins Eyesight
The age-old warning that reading in dim light damages your eyes is not supported by scientific evidence. Poor lighting can cause temporary eye strain and discomfort, but reading in poor lighting does not permanently impair vision. It’s always more comfortable to read in sufficient lighting, but doing otherwise occasionally won’t cause lasting harm.
Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker
Many believe that shaving unwanted hair causes it to grow back thicker and coarser, but this is merely a misconception. The blunt tip of the hair after shaving may feel coarser as it grows out, but shaving does not change the thickness, color, or rate of hair growth. This myth persists due to the immediate rough feel of stubble compared to the finer tip of unshaven hair.
Cracking Knuckles Leads to Arthritis
Cracking knuckles has a bad reputation for causing arthritis, but scientific studies have found no direct link between the two. The sound you hear is caused by the bursting of gas bubbles in the synovial fluid of the joint. Regular knuckle cracking has not been shown to increase the risk of developing arthritis.
Toads Give You Warts
The myth that touching a toad can cause warts has scared many children, but it’s unfounded. Warts are actually caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which cannot be contracted from toads or any other animals. The bumps on a toad’s skin are glands that help them adapt to their environments, not transmitters of warts.
Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever
This saying suggests different treatments for colds and fevers but following it might not be the best advice. Both colds and fevers require adequate hydration and nutrition for recovery. It’s essential to listen to your body’s needs and provide it with nourishment during any illness.
Sitting Too Close to the TV Damages Eyesight
Parents often warn children that sitting too close to the TV will ruin their eyes. While this might cause temporary eye strain or fatigue, no evidence suggests that it causes permanent vision damage. The origin of this myth dates back to the 1960s when some televisions emitted excessive radiation due to manufacturing defects.
Eating Chocolate Causes Acne
It’s a common belief that chocolate directly causes acne, but scientific studies do not support this claim. While diet can affect the skin, acne is primarily the result of hormonal imbalances and bacteria. Moderate chocolate consumption does not directly cause acne breakouts.
Humans Use Only 10% of Their Brains
The myth that people use only 10% of their brains is completely false. Brain imaging studies have shown that no part of the brain is completely inactive. Most of the brain is active almost all the time, even during simple tasks or while resting.
Cold Weather Causes Colds
Many people think that being out in cold weather can make you catch a cold. However, colds are caused by viruses, not cold weather itself. It is more likely that people catch more colds in winter because they spend more time indoors and close to others who may carry the virus.
Sugar Makes Children Hyperactive
The belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children is widespread but not supported by research. Studies comparing sugar with non-sugar diets have not consistently shown differences in children’s behavior. The hyperactivity likely results more from the excitement of situations where sugary foods are consumed than from the sugar itself.
You Lose Most Heat Through Your Head
It’s often stated that humans lose most of their body heat through their heads, but this isn’t entirely accurate. The head is just as susceptible to heat loss as any other part of the body when exposed. This myth might originate from studies where subjects were dressed but had their heads uncovered.
Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years
Chewing gum does not linger in the stomach for seven years if swallowed. While gum is indigestible, it passes through the digestive system at the same rate as other matter. The myth likely started as a way to deter children from swallowing gum.
Eating Carrots Improves Your Night Vision
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, a nutrient essential for good vision. However, the idea that carrots can significantly enhance night vision is a myth, often traced back to British propaganda during World War II. While they support overall eye health, carrots do not grant superhuman night vision.
Water Conducts Electricity
It’s commonly believed that water conducts electricity, prompting caution around electronics and pools. However, it’s actually the minerals and impurities in the water that conduct electricity, not the water itself. Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity.
Hair and Fingernails Continue to Grow After Death
The appearance of hair and fingernails seeming to grow after death has led to this common misconception. In reality, dehydration of the body causes the skin to recede, making hair and nails appear longer. No new growth occurs after death.
Eating Before Bed Makes You Gain Weight
The myth that eating late at night causes weight gain persists, but it’s the total calories consumed, not the time of eating, that affects weight. What matters for weight management is the balance of calories consumed versus calories burned over time. Eating at night doesn’t inherently make you gain weight.
Watching Too Much TV Makes Your Eyes Go Square
The quirky warning that eyes can turn square from watching too much TV is, of course, just a humorous caution. There is no possibility of your eyes changing shape from viewing any screen. This saying is just a playful way to encourage less screen time.
Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
This saying is intended to illustrate rarity, but in fact, lightning can strike the same place multiple times, especially tall, isolated objects. The Empire State Building, for example, is struck by lightning about 25 times a year. This myth may dissuade people from taking proper precautions during thunderstorms.
If You Cross Your Eyes, They’ll Stay That Way
Parents often warn children not to cross their eyes for fear they might get stuck that way. Crossing eyes is a voluntary action, and they will return to their normal position without any permanent change. This myth is likely used to discourage making faces.
Eating Spinach Gives Super Strength
While spinach is high in iron and beneficial for health, it does not provide superhuman strength. This myth was popularized by the Popeye cartoon, where the character gains enormous strength from eating canned spinach.
Bats Are Blind
The saying “blind as a bat” suggests that bats cannot see at all. In reality, bats have quite good eyesight, and they also use echolocation to navigate in the dark. This dual capability makes them exceptionally adept at navigating in various lighting conditions.
Counting Sheep Helps You Sleep
The advice to count sheep to fall asleep is based on the idea that the activity is so monotonous it will lull someone to sleep. However, studies suggest that imagining relaxing landscapes is actually more effective for falling asleep. Counting sheep might keep the mind active longer.
Alcohol Keeps You Warm
The warming effect of alcohol is purely temporary and superficial, as it causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the skin. Despite the initial warm flush, this actually lowers core body temperature. Drinking alcohol in cold conditions can actually increase the risk of hypothermia.
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