Buzz
At List Universe, we are passionate about debunking myths. Once again, we present a collection of widespread misconceptions that should be corrected and left behind for good. This time, we focus on medical myths, of which there are countless. Here are ten of the most common, but feel free to share your own in the comments.
10. Sugar and Hyperactivity
The Myth: Sugar causes hyperactivity in children
Dr. Vreeman and Dr. Carroll, pediatricians at Riley Hospital for Children, recently stated: “In over 12 double-blind, randomized, controlled trials, researchers have studied children’s behavior in response to diets with varying sugar levels. None of these studies, including those focusing on children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, found any behavioral differences between children who consumed sugar and those who did not.” This applies to both artificial and natural sugars. Interestingly, parents who were misled into believing their children had consumed sugar reported increased hyperactivity, even when no sugar was given. This suggests the effect is largely psychological.
9. Body Heat
The Myth: Most of your body heat escapes through your head
A decades-old military study examined heat loss in soldiers exposed to extreme cold. Researchers observed significant heat loss from the head, leading to the myth that we lose most body heat through our heads. However, the soldiers were fully clothed except for their heads, which skewed the results. In reality, if you were completely naked, only about 10% of body heat is lost through the head, while the remaining 90% is lost through the rest of the body.
8. Water Consumption
The Myth: You need to drink eight glasses of water daily
This myth likely stems from a 1945 government recommendation stating that the body requires approximately eight glasses of fluid per day. This recommendation included fluids from all sources, such as food, tea, and coffee. Over time, the term 'fluid' was misinterpreted as 'water,' giving rise to the modern myth. This misconception also led to misleading claims like 'if you’re thirsty, it’s too late,' which seems to benefit water bottlers promoting excessive water consumption. In reality, drink water when you’re thirsty, and don’t force it if you’re not.
7. Gummed Up
The Myth: Swallowed chewing gum stays in your system for seven years
Many of us have been warned by adults not to swallow gum because it supposedly takes seven years to leave the body. This myth is as absurd as the idea that fruit seeds can grow into trees in your stomach. While most adults recognize the tree story as fiction, they often believe the gum myth. Although gum is indigestible, it doesn’t cling to your insides. Instead, it moves through your digestive tract like any other food and exits naturally. This misconception may have roots in the outdated belief that swallowing gum was a sign of poor manners or ignorance.
6. Arthritic Knuckles
The Myth: Knuckle cracking leads to arthritis in later life
The popping sound when cracking knuckles occurs as the bones separate, creating a gas bubble that bursts. While many people warn knuckle-crackers about developing arthritis, the most significant risk is potential weakening of finger joints over time. Arthritis stems from various factors, such as crystal formations in gout, but knuckle cracking is not one of them.
5. Baby Teeth
The Myth: Teething causes fever in babies
Scientific research on teething has found no link between teething and fever. If your baby is teething and has a fever, it’s important to investigate other potential causes. The same applies to diarrhea, which is often mistakenly attributed to teething. When it comes to children’s health, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
4. Cancer Treatment
The Myth: Cancer treatment is painful, ineffective, and cancer is incurable
While this might have been somewhat true decades ago, medical advancements have made cancer treatments more effective and less painful. For example, 30 years ago, 90% of children with leukemia died, but today, 80% survive. Although there’s no universal cure for all cancers, many people are completely cured. Various drugs target specific cancers, and many treatments are highly effective and worth pursuing if diagnosed.
3. Midnight Snacks
The Myth: Eating late at night causes weight gain
Nighttime snackers, celebrate! This is entirely false. The timing of your meals doesn’t affect weight gain; what matters is the total calories consumed versus burned daily. Consuming fewer calories than you burn leads to weight loss, while eating more results in weight gain. While maintaining a routine of three daily meals can offer other benefits, such as improved productivity, late-night snacks are no more harmful than those eaten earlier in the day.
2. Turkey Sleep
The Myth: Turkey induces sleepiness due to its tryptophan content
This myth resurfaces every Thanksgiving, but it’s far from accurate. Chicken and ground beef contain nearly the same amount of tryptophan as turkey, while foods like cheese and pork have even more. The drowsiness people feel after eating turkey is likely due to the large, heavy meals typically consumed during the day, which slow blood flow and cause fatigue. Additionally, the psychological expectation of feeling sleepy after such meals plays a significant role—it’s mostly in your mind.
1. Back Pain
The Myth: Bed rest is the best treatment for back pain
In reality, the opposite is true. Bed rest can hinder the recovery of lower back pain or significantly delay it. Patients who maintain normal activities tend to recover faster and experience fewer issues with recurring pain. Research shows this principle applies not only to back pain but also to various other medical conditions. Thirty-nine independent studies have concluded that bed rest is often more harmful than beneficial for a wide range of illnesses.
+ Weight Gain
The Myth: Losing weight is more difficult than gaining weight
In reality, once you adapt to a new eating routine, math and science are on your side. Losing weight is mathematically simpler than gaining it. For instance, consuming 3,500 extra calories leads to a 0.3-pound (0.14 kg) gain, while burning 3,500 more calories than you consume results in a 1-pound (0.45 kg) loss. Additionally, exposing yourself to extreme temperature changes can boost your metabolism, aiding weight loss. Note that these calculations assume a pure fat diet—introducing other food types can alter the results.
