Many people easily believe things that just aren’t true. These are often ideas and old myths that have been around for ages. They get told to you by your parents or friends, and it’s easy to just believe them. This list reveals the truth about 18 common myths many folks think are real.
Chewing Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Years
It’s said that if you swallow gum, it stays in your stomach for seven years, but Duke Health completely debunks this popular myth. Granted, your body can’t digest it, but it moves through your body in the same way food does.
Waking Sleepwalkers Is Dangerous
You might have heard that you should never wake someone who is sleepwalking because it can shock or harm them. While the sleepwalker might be confused for a few minutes after you’ve woken them, there’s no reason to believe that waking them causes any danger.
You Lose Most Body Heat Through Your Head
This myth often comes up in winter: you must wear a hat because you lose 90% of your body heat through your head. You lose body heat through any part of your body that is exposed; it’s not just the head. The best way to stay warm is to cover as much of your skin as possible.
Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Many folks are told that cracking their knuckles will lead to arthritis, but that’s just another example of a myth. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles comes from bubbles bursting in the fluid inside your joints. So, feel free to crack them if you so wish.
Reading in Low Light Will Ruin Your Eyes
Parents often tell their kids not to read in low light, claiming it will damage their eyes. However, reading in bad lighting does not cause any harm to your eyes. It can make them feel tired more quickly or cause eye strain, but it won’t worsen your vision or lead to any diseases.
Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker
It’s a widely held belief that shaving your hair will make it grow back thicker, darker, and faster. Actually, shaving cuts the hair off at the surface, which might make the hair appear coarser as it grows back, but it doesn’t actually change the texture, color, or speed of growth.
We Only Use 10% of Our Brain.
The Association for Psychological Science states that the idea that humans only use 10% of their brains is one of the most prevalent myths around. Brain imaging studies have shown that all parts of the brain are active at various times throughout the day and every part of the brain has a known role.
Sugar Makes Kids Hyper
One well-known myth is that sugar makes children hyperactive. Despite widespread belief, scientific studies have not found a consistent link between sugar and hyperactivity in children. Limiting sugar intake is a good idea for overall health, but it’s not directly responsible for making kids bounce off the walls.
Bats Are Blind
The saying “blind as a bat” isn’t accurate because bats are not blind. Bats actually have quite good eyesight, but they rely more heavily on their well-developed echolocation abilities to navigate and hunt in the dark and in poor-lit areas.
A Penny Dropped from a Tall Building Can Kill You
Another myth is that a penny dropped from a skyscraper could kill someone walking below. They can hurt or possibly cause a minor injury if they hit someone, but they are not lethal. The air resistance limits the penny’s speed as it falls, making it far less dangerous than many might think.
Eating Turkey Makes You Sleepy
The belief that eating turkey makes you sleepy stems from the fact that turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can promote sleepiness. The drowsiness people feel after a big Thanksgiving meal is more likely due to consuming large quantities of food and possibly alcohol, not just the turkey.
Touching Toads Gives You Warts
The idea that you can get warts from toads is a complete myth. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is not carried by toads or any other animals. Burke Museum explains that the bumps on a toad’s skin are glands that help it produce protective secretions, not signs of warts.
Alcohol Keeps You Warm
Drinking alcohol might make you feel warm inside, but it doesn’t actually raise your body temperature. In fact, alcohol can lower your core body temperature because it causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the surface of your skin, which makes you lose body heat more quickly.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible From Space
It’s often claimed that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space to the naked eye. However, this is a myth. Astronauts confirm that the Great Wall is actually quite difficult to see from space without aid. The misconception stems from its scale and historical significance.
Dogs Sweat by Salivating
A common misunderstanding is that dogs sweat through their saliva by panting. Panting helps dogs regulate their body temperature more through respiratory cooling rather than through sweating. This method allows them to efficiently release body heat by evaporating moisture from their lungs and airways.
Eating Before Swimming Causes Cramps
It’s a long-held belief that you should wait an hour after eating before swimming to avoid cramps. This caution is based on the idea that digestion diverts blood away from the muscles used for swimming, which could lead to cramping or drowning. Medical experts, however, do not support this claim.
Cell Phones Cause Cancer
Many people worry that using cell phones can lead to cancer, particularly brain cancer, due to radiation emissions. However, research has found no evidence that cell phone use increases cancer risk. Cell phones emit non-ionizing radiation, which is not powerful enough to damage DNA directly.
You Need to Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day
The advice to drink eight glasses of water daily lacks specific scientific backing. The amount of water a person needs can vary widely based on many factors. Mcgill says it’s as simple as this: if you’re thirsty, drink; if you’re not, don’t! Everyone gets the right amount from daily food and liquid intake.
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