There are some health myths that just won’t die. Whether it’s because they were told to you by your mom growing up, or you’ve heard them over and over again, some myths are just wrong and downright ridiculous. Here we look at the ones that are simply not true.
1. Depression is something that you can pull yourself out of. This is a serious disease that has been very misunderstood until recent years. Though there is a greater understanding of this disorder and a variety of medications out on the market, people still feel that depression is like any other emotion that you can just change if you try hard enough.
2. Obesity is caused by a slow metabolism. Unfortunately an extremely overweight person is usually that way due to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. In some very rare instances, there is something else happening within the body that accounts for the weight gain, but this is usually the exception to the rule. Those individuals who wish to blame their weight gain or overweight physique on a metabolism issue may not want to get in touch with the real problem at hand.
3. Fad diets or diet pills can give me a jump start on my weight loss efforts. Oftentimes these weight loss methods will not only force you to gain back any weight you may lose with them, but you can pack on a few extra pounds in the process. Once you begin to reintroduce food or certain food groups into the body, you may have the urge to overindulge. Not only that, but the weight that you usually lose with these is water weight and is quite easy to put back on quickly.
4. You must drink eight glasses of water per day for proper health. You can actually substitute half of the required amount with natural juice, herbal tea, or coffee as they will help you to stay hydrated and keep your system running properly. Additionally if you are exercising rigorously, you may very well require additional water and fluids to help keep you hydrated, so the amount may fluctuate by weight and activity level.
5. Stress will make your hair turn grey. While stress can have a negative impact on our overall health, it is not scientifically linked to this condition. Grey hair is directly linked to genetics, so if you have a family history of it you can expect that it will come your way. Stress is not going to contribute to the likelihood of it, though it is a good idea to keep it in check for other reasons.
6. Feed a cold, starve a fever. Both a cold and a fever are usually caused by a virus which needs to run its course. This means that there is no medication to help get rid of it, nor is there any real eating pattern that can provide help any sooner either. Though this is something that mom may have told you growing up, there’s no scientific evidence to support it.
7. Fresh produce is the healthiest way to go. Though it may be the most appealing way to buy produce, frozen fruits and veggies offer the same amount of nutrients. Frozen vegetables and fruits are packed right after they are picked, and therefore hold in the nutrients. They may even hold them in longer as fresh produce can tend to spoil faster and even become less appealing in the process. Keep up with both, and certainly don’t shy away from frozen options.
Mary Frederick is a freelance writer and likes writing about healthcare career topics, such as how to research and choose among online nurse practitioner schools, medical career advancement tips, and more.
