5 Common Health Myths Busted

Throughout your life, you are sure to hear a plethora of health advice from everyone under the sun that ranges from somewhat practical to the downright bizarre. Some of these might be medical facts but a lot of them are just an accumulation of old wives’ tales. Some of them are actually dangerous enough to put your health at serious risk.

Here are five common health myths busted so that you can understand facts instead of believing in hearsay:

#.1 The Five Second Rule

How often have you heard that if you drop food on the floor it’s okay to pick it up and eat it before 5 seconds of impact? The supposed logic behind this is 5 seconds is the minimum amount of time it takes for bacteria to infect it.

However this is completely bogus because it has been proven in countless studies that bacteria swarms your food upon impact, which means that once food has touched the floor, should be tossed even if it has been lying there for just one second. Over 1800 bacteria can accumulate over food on the floor in one second, which means that you can easily get Salmonella poisoning amongst other diseases.

#.2 Tilting Your Head to Stop a Nosebleed

This myth probably started from TV. One can see the logic behind it. By tilting your head back you’re reversing gravity which would prevent blood from excessively flowing out of your nose which can cause major blood loss.

However, this is completely bogus because tilting your head back will cause blood to go down your throat, which is more likely to make you vomit and make matters worse.

#.3 Hot Air Hand Dryers Remove Germs Better than Paper Towels

The bathroom is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria which make you sick, which is why it is essential to wash your hands after you use the toilet. Many people install hot-air hand dryers so that they do not have to touch any surfaces in the bathroom after they have sanitized their hands. The supposed logic here is, germs transfer through physical contact.

However, bacteria thrive in heat which is why hot air dyers are the perfect home for it. This is why it’s always better to dry your hands with a paper towel.

#.4 Fried Food Causes Acne

Fried food seems to be the root of all evil when it comes to food. Loaded in cholesterol and fat, since it is cooked in oil, it’s bound to make your skin oily as well. The supposed logic behind this is that oily skin is more prone to acne breakouts, which is why consumption of oily food would increase our chances of getting acne.

However this is bogus because oily food is actually beneficial for the skin in moderation because it helps skin retain moisture and elasticity. Besides, there has been no scientific study that has yet been able to prove that there is a connection between the oily food and oily skin.

#.5 Cracking Knuckles Cause Arthritis

This myth is probably a result of people’s irritation at hearing the sound of cracking knuckles. However the supposed logic behind this myth is that you weaken your bones when you put pressure on them which can cause arthritis.

This is bogus because arthritis is caused by reduced bone density. Researchers compared two groups of people, one that did crack their knuckles and one that didn’t and found no difference between the two over a study which lasted decades.

Allan enjoys blogging. Over the last 3 years, he has contributed several articles on health related topics in various online publications and blogs such as Franks blog. Aside from blogging, Allan loves spending time with his family and friends.

Tags: common health myths, health myths

Category: Holistic Living