Top 10 Health Myths That Are COMPLETELY FALSE

Top 10 Health Myths That Are Completely False

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for very commonly held beliefs regarding our health that have either been disproven by science or don’t actually have the scientific evidence to back them up.

#10: Best Way to Decrease Sodium… Stop Adding Salt

Our bodies need sodium to perform certain tasks, but the amount most bodies require is anywhere from about 500 to 1500 milligrams a day. These days the United States Food and Drug Administration recommends you consume less than 2300 mg daily - whereas most Americans take in about 3400 mg. However, the fact is that most of the sodium we consume doesn’t come from the salt we shake onto our plates, but rather the stuff that’s on our plates to begin with - in the form of processed foods, fast food and ready-to-eat meals. Taking those out of your diet will probably reduce your sodium intake much more than just putting away your salt shaker.

#9: The Most Important Meal Is Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s a refrain that many of us grew up hearing from our parents. But is it true? The answer is, not necessarily. If you think that eating breakfast will help you lose weight, think again. While for some it does satiate them and stave off random snacking, some studies found no correlation to skipping breakfast and overeating later in the day. Also, there is some really good evidence to support the health benefits of intermittent fasting - which for most of us would mean extending the amount of time after waking up before consuming any food. So, if you’re not a hungry person in the morning you probably don’t need to force breakfast into your mouth.

#8: Cracking Your Knuckles Gives You Arthritis

That “pop” you hear when you crack your knuckles is the sound of gas bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid between the joints. And while the sound might be like nails on a chalkboard to the people around you, it isn’t going to give you arthritis. Now, frequent knuckle cracking can possibly lead to a reduction in grip strength - and if you feel pain when you do it you should obviously stop and ask your doctor about it. However, when it comes to the question of any cause and effect correlation between knuckle cracking and arthritis, the answer is no.

#7: Stop Eating Carbs

Stop eating carbohydrates! Carbs are bad! Carbs make you gain weight! For years there has been a wide-held belief that eliminating carbs was a great way to stay healthy and lose weight. The problem with that is that it makes no effort to differentiate between the two different types of carbs out there. That’s right, not all carbs are created equal. There are simple carbohydrates, which are higher in sugar and come in the form of candy, baked goods, chips and processed white bread. And there are complex carbs which are higher in fiber - we’re talking beans, whole grains, fruits and veggies. So, while eliminating simple carbs makes sense, complex carbs can be a very valuable part of one’s diet.

#6: Eggs Are Bad

In 1968 the American Heart Association recommended we eat no more than three eggs per week. That recommendation had a pretty big impact on our perception of our little white, oval friends, making us think that eggs have lots of cholesterol and raise one’s risk of heart disease rather significantly. But here’s the truth. Yes, eggs have cholesterol. But so do lots of food. Eggs also have healthy Omega-3s and other nutrients. The evidence seems pretty clear these days that eggs don’t cause an increased risk of heart disease. And while we don’t recommend going all “Cool Hand Luke” and eating 50 eggs in one sitting if you want to have one or two a day, go right ahead.

#5: Take 10,000 Steps a Day

Walking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your health. What many take issue with though, is the simple idea that if you just take 10,000 steps a day you will be healthy. Sure, it sounds good - everyone loves a nice round number - but the truth is exercise isn’t really one-size-fits-all, and when it comes to steps the ideal number varies with age. Also, it appears that time matters more than step count, as we should be getting about 150-300 minutes of moderate activity (think a good brisk walk) every week. But if the 10,000-step goal motivates you to move more, sit less and take the stairs instead of the elevator - then there’s definite value in it.

#4: Sugar Makes Kids Hyper

Who among us hasn’t seen a kid down a bag of gummy bears, eat a big ice cream cone or finish off a sleeve of Oreos and just go crazy with energy and hyperactivity? And what’s the first thing we all say, “it’s because of all the sugar.” Now this is gonna shock some people, but the truth is…. It isn’t because of the sugar! To be blunt about it… sugar has NO effect on a child’s behavior. This myth dates back to a study from the 70s - a study which has been pretty well contradicted by multiple other studies over the intervening decades. That’s not to say sugar is good for kids, but at least now you know it doesn’t make them hyper.

#3: Wait 30 Minutes After Eating to Go Swimming

As a kid there was no longer 30 minutes in our lives than the time between eating a meal and our mothers saying it was okay to get back in the pool. For a long time it was believed that digesting your meal diverted blood to your gut and therefore away from your arms and legs. And the thinking was that this could cause one to tire out faster in the pool - with potentially disastrous consequences. But while the concern came from a good place, we now know it has no basis in actual fact. Yes, diving back in right after eating might lead to a little stomach or muscle cramp, but that’s pretty much the worst that will happen.

#2: You'll Catch a Cold in the Cold

The confusion with this one probably comes from the fact that we named the coughing-and-sneezing sickness the same as the word for cooler temperature. But while the two “colds” will always have a connection via their nomenclature, they actually have very little in common as far as any kind of cause and effect. Despite what we’ve been told our whole lives, going out in the cold DOESN’T make you sick. In fact, there has been more and more research showing the positive health benefits of cold showers and cold exposure. So maybe you want to present some of those papers to your mother the next time she tells you not to go outside because you’ll catch a cold?

#1: 8 Cups of Water

Before we get into why drinking 8 cups a day is a myth, let’s take a quick look at where it came from. A 1945 recommendation by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council does suggest 8 cups, but those 8 cups include all the water ingested from both beverages and food. Also, the amount of water one requires to stay hydrated is dependent on the individual. Their age, sex, level of physical activity - these are all factors that need to be taken into account. But, don’t worry if you drink more than necessary - there's no negative effect from drinking more water - except maybe a few extra bathroom breaks throughout the day.

There might not be any scientific evidence to back it up - but we’re pretty sure that leaving a comment on this video is good for your health. Or, it’s at least better for your health than doing a juice cleanse, right? So, let us know what you think below.