Debunking Common Health Myths

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You need to drink sixty-four ounces of water every day

  It's been in the news a bit lately…studies recently have shown that
you really don't need to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water per
day.  It won't hurt you, but for a healthy individual the 8×8 doesn't
seem to improve the body's function.  Similarly, it is okay to hydrate
with beverages other than water…even coffee has been shown to
actually have hydrating properties!

It is never safe to swim after eating

  There is no reason why someone shouldn't head back into the water
after a light meal.  The fear that someone will develop muscle cramps
after eating has proven time and time again to be an old wives tale.
In fact, swimming without enough fuel is in itself a potentially
dangerous proposition.  That being said, it is a good idea to wait
after a heavy meal before jumping back in.   

    Of course, a child should never be left unattended while swimming, no matter what is- or isn't- in their bellies!

Getting cold can make you sick

    "Put a coat on!  You'll catch your death of cold!"  We've all
heard this at one time or another, but it simply isn't true.  A dip in
the thermometer won't make you sick; viruses (and bacteria, etc.) do.
Cold and flu season are in the chillier months because people tend to
spend more time inside, in close quarters, thus increasing the
opportunity for germs to spread.

Eating carrots improves your vision
   
While it is true that carrots contain beta-carotene which in converted
into vitamin A by your body, and vitamin A is important for healthy
eyesight, it is NOT true that eating carrots will improve your
eyesight.  The fact is that a modern diet in all likelihood already has
plenty of Vitamin A…eating MORE of it won't sharpen your vision.   

Feed a cold, starve a fever

I don't know where this one came from, but it's not accurate.  Do
what your body tells you to do…if you're hungry, by all means eat!
Even if you have a fever!   And stuffing yourself full of food isn't
going to cure your cold any faster.

When not debunking Common Health Myths, Dr. Diva can often be found ranting at her personal site, Watch me!  No, watch me!

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One response to “Debunking Common Health Myths”

  1. shannon

    Can i still tell my kids carrots give them super power eye sight? pretty please??:)

    shannon
    Rock Star Maternity
    The Domestic Engineer's Union

Will you see the new Twilight movie New Moon on Friday?

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