They spread like wildfire, repeated time and again in the workplace, on the playground and at home.<\/p>\n
Some change slightly over time, others remain the same for decades. Health myths are sticky little things that get passed on as fact.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to do a little fact checking.<\/p>\n
This myth is thought to date back to the middle ages when medicine wasn\u2019t exactly in its heyday. The general knowledge at the time was that a drop in temperature caused a cold and a spike in temperature caused a fever.<\/p>\n
To combat a cold, patients needed to eat to provide the body fuel and heat. In turn, abstaining from food starved the body\u2019s inner furnace and thus lowered the temperature.<\/p>\n
The best thing to do, whether you have a cold or fever, is to get plenty of fluids. And if you\u2019re hungry, eat.<\/p>\n
Those of us who have come down with the sniffles during the summer can attest to the fact that cold weather is not the only requirement for the\u00a0common cold<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, weather has no bearing whatsoever on colds. Colds are caused by viruses.<\/p>\n So why do we seem to get sick more often during the colder months? When it\u2019s cold outside, we stay inside causing us to be in close contact with other people, which in turn makes the spread of contagions easier.<\/p>\n What we recommend:<\/strong>\u00a0FluGo<\/a>\u00a0is a safe, non-addictive, FDA-registered homeopathic remedy containing ingredients especially selected to temporarily relieve symptoms of the flu or cold like cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat and fatigue.\u00a0FluGo<\/a>\u00a0works quickly to support the immune system and assist the body in its task of fighting invading germs.<\/p>\n What causes that awful sound when we crack our knuckles? By pushing and pulling joints in a certain way, air bubbles forms in the fluid surrounding the joint and cause a popping noise.<\/p>\n But does distending our joints in this manner regularly cause arthritis? The answer is no.<\/p>\n \u201cPlain old knuckle-cracking should not cause any damage. It does not strain the ligaments or the tissues, or overextend them enough to cause arthritis,\u201d says Sanjiv Naidu, Penn State professor of orthopedics.<\/p>\n This myth proves the importance for thoroughness in scientific studies. In the 1950s the US military conducted a study on heat loss in a group of volunteers. The participants were dressed in arctic survival gear an exposed to extreme cold.<\/p>\n However, the military scientists forgot to cover the heads of the volunteers. Naturally the results were skewed to show an inordinate amount of heat loss through the head.<\/p>\n The face, head and chest are sensitive to temperature change, so while we may feel the effect in those places more than others, in reality we lose body heat through any piece of exposed skin.<\/p>\n A half-truth can cause a lot of trouble. This myth started with the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council recommending \u201c1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food.\u201d<\/p>\n If you had a daily intake of 2000 calories, this would roughly equal eight cups. However, the study went on to say that most of this is contained in prepared foods.<\/p>\n The best advice is to listen to your own body and drink when you\u2019re thirsty. A 1984 study showed that volunteers became thirsty and drank long before their hydration levels showed signs of dropping.<\/p>\n What we recommend:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0AlkaPitcher<\/a>\u00a0water alkalizer and ionizer is a great way to start making pure, alkaline water instantly while helping to filter out chlorine, sediment, pesticides and organic pollutants. The\u00a0AlkaPitcher<\/a>\u00a0also improves taste and eliminates odors. If you want your pure, alkalized and ionized water on the go, learn more about\u00a0AlkaMate<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the portable water alkalizer, purifier and ionizer.<\/p>\n Most parents take this myth as gospel but they might be surprised to find that it\u2019s far from the truth. So why do so many people believe it\u2019s true? It\u2019s the\u00a0nocebo effect<\/a>\u00a0gone full tilt.<\/p>\n If we believe sugar causes a negative effect in children, we will see the negative effect whether it\u2019s there or not.<\/p>\n A study was done on children whose mothers labeled them as being sugar sensitive. One group of mothers was told their children had been given a large dose of sugar, the other group was told their children had received a placebo.<\/p>\n The mothers of the group given sugar rated their children\u2019s behavior as being noticeably worse than those given the placebo. The catch? All of the children had been given the placebo.<\/p>\n It\u2019s so important to think critically and seek knowledge at every point in life. Now that you are armed with counterpoints to some common health myths, you can help to spread the truth.<\/p>\n About the author:<\/p>\nIf you crack your knuckles, you\u2019ll get arthritis<\/h3>\n
You lose 80% of your body heat through your head<\/h3>\n
You need to drink eight glasses of water per day<\/h3>\n
Sugar causes kids to become hyperactive<\/h3>\n