Many times the things we think of as common knowledge are little more than myths. What might start as an incorrect observation can become a false “fact” that is widely accepted.
Here are 11 myths about the human body that you’ll be surprised to know are false. So hold onto your hats – it’s time to debunk the most widely believed myths.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
The morning meal doesn’t jump-start your metabolism or keep you from being hungry later. In fact, breakfast is no more or less important than any other meal of the day.
You should drink eight cups of water daily.
You should definitely stay hydrated, but every different person requires a different amount of water for that. Plus, you are getting water from your diet as well.
Cold weather will give you a cold.
While a plunging body temperature can hinder the work that your immune system does – which can make you more likely to catch a cold – the actual virus comes from germs, which will infect you no matter how hot or cold it is.
Sitting too close to the TV will hurt your eyes.
Sitting inches from the screen may cause your eyes to get tired quicker, but the only types of light that can do damage to your eyes are UV and laser light.
Wait an hour after eating to swim.
Sure, anything is harder after you’ve demolished six slices of pizza, but there is no evidence that you should wait until you digest to take a swim.
Brain cells can’t regenerate.
We all know that drugs are bad, but the rallying cry of them killing cells that cannot regenerate is exaggerated. But still, don’t do drugs.
Chocolate and grease cause acne.
Rubbing grease and/or chocolate all over your face can cause pimples by clogging your pores, but the cause of true acne has no base in eating that candy bar.
Gum sits in your stomach for seven years.
Not sure why we ever believed this one. Gum doesn’t even digest; it just passes through your system at the same speed of everything else.
Arthritis is caused by cracking your knuckles.
A crack is just a way to push the air out of your joints, and it doesn’t cause any lasting ill effects.
Coffee sobers you up.
Don’t get behind the wheel after that coffee, it definitely didn’t sober you up. It may have made you feel more alert, as caffeine does, but you are still the same amount of impaired as you were after that beer bong.
You only use 10% of your brain.
Not only do we not use only 10% of our brain, we actually use an impressive 100% of it. Good job, you guys.
Are you surprised to learn that some of the advice we have been following are actually myths? I must admit I had believed in more than a few of these myself. Share these debunked myths with others below.