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7 Health Myths Debunked
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Dayna Davis | DivineCaroline
December 05, 2008
4. Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis.
My grandma had arthritis, and I remember asking her if she cracked her knuckles when she was younger. Though she wasn’t a knuckle-cracker in her youth, she did tell me that cracking was one cause of arthritis. (Clearly her arthritis was caused by something else.)
A 1990 study in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease found compulsive knuckle crackers had no more tendency to develop arthritis than those who did not crack their knuckles.
Of course there are some people who have arthritis and are admitted knuckle crackers, but there’s no scientific evidence that the cracking and popping leads to arthritis.
Keep in mind, however, that while it may not cause arthritis, it may annoy more than a few people at the dinner table.
5. Chocolate causes acne.
Dermatologists tell us acne is caused by our genes, our hormones, or our skin type.
The National Institute of Health recommends antibiotics and other medications for treating acne, not dietary changes. Of course, some people do see improvements with diet changes, so if you think your acne might be a result of your chocoholic tendencies, cut chocolate out of your diet for a few weeks and see what happens.
6. Chicken soup is the best medicine.
This one has a little truth to it. Although it may not be the best-tasting soup, chicken soup can be good medicine if we’re sick. Why? When we get sick, we tend to become dehydrated and the fluid in chicken noodle soup can help. The yummy feel-good favorite is also packed with tons of vegetables that can help us get back on track.
7. Going out in the cold with wet hair will make you sick.
We’ve all heard this advice more than a few times, but is it really possible to get sick by going out in the cold with wet hair? The answer is no. Colds and flues are caused by bacteria and viruses, not cold weather. While going out in the cold with wet hair may make you chilly, it won’t make you sick … unless of course you happen to run into someone who has a cold.
So do you still have to eat your carrots and stop cracking your knuckles? Of course. But only because your mother said so.
BetsyGray
4 months ago
58 comments
I've read in a medical article that apples have something to help prevent flu - good news that my fave Red Del. is so well rated. Love carrts, good eyesight or not. Doesn't really make sense thought about the RAF making it up that carrots help vision. What purpose did that serve?
kbtordai
4 months ago
708 comments
I am a knuckle cracker and I knew the whole arthritis deal was a myth and not to mention, it just feels good after a day of typing! Thanks!
TCompagnet
11 months ago
34 comments
I crack my knuckles all the time out of habit and for fun too! Though now I can stop feeling guilty about causing future joint pain. Thanks!
freecherry
11 months ago
30 comments
About #7 I want to say that there may be some truth to it. I always went out or even went to bed with wet hair for decades.Then I got a headche every month. One of my friends suggested me drying my hair after shower. You know what? My headache is gone!
fatimah
11 months ago
88 comments
OMG how true!! until now I use believe in that carrot myth and also very firmly in going out in the cold with wet hair will make you sick...How true these things are only because we don't question and we are so use to it that we have accepted it completely and never bother to research on it at all...thanks for sharing!