6 Health Myths That Everyone Needs to Know About
Eavion Richardson
29/07/2022
There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to health. People tend to believe things that they hear without verifying the information. This can lead to some dangerous misconceptions about health and wellness. In this article, we will discuss six of the most common health myths and provide you with the facts so that you can make informed decisions about your health!
Myth: Cracking Knuckles Leads to Arthritis
One of the most common myths about health is that cracking your knuckles will lead to arthritis. This is simply not true! There is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, cracking your knuckles can actually help relieve pain and stiffness in the joints. Your joints are surrounded by a fluid called synovial fluid. This fluid helps to lubricate the joints and protect them from damage. When you crack your knuckles, you are simply releasing this gas from the synovial fluid. This does not cause any damage to the joints and will not lead to arthritis.
Arthritis happens when the cartilage in the joints breaks down allowing the bones to rub together. This can be caused by a few factors including age, injury, or genetics.
Myth: Bottled Water is Better for You Than Tap
Another common health myth is that bottled water is better for you than tap water. This is also not true! There is no evidence to suggest that bottled water is any cleaner or safer than tap water. Tap water it often contains the useful minerals, magnesium and calcium. In fact, most bottled water is just tap water that has been put through an extra filtration process. Though many people believe bottle water is the best option for hydration, it is actually more expensive and environmentally-damaging than tap water.
If this hasn't convinced you that tap water is fine to drink, invest in a filtered tap or jug and a reusable bottle to help reduce your plastic waste.
Myth: A “Detox” is the Best Way to Jumpstart a Change in Diet
Many people believe that going on a “detox” diet is the best way to jumpstart a change in their diet. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. A “detox” diet is usually a very restrictive diet that eliminates certain food groups or nutrients. These diets are not sustainable in the long-term and can actually be harmful to your health. If you are looking to make a change in your diet, it is best to do it gradually.
Firstly start by setting yourself an achievable goal. Whether it is by adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet and reducing your intake of processed foods or simply eating breakfast in the morning. If you think it might be hard to start this new diet by yourself, then why not get a friend to start it with you, therefore you can both be accountable for each other.
Myth: Going out with Wet Hair Gets You Sick
Another common health myth is that going outside with wet hair will make you sick. This is also not true! You are not more likely to get sick if you go outside with wet hair. Research shows that the only time you might be more susceptible to getting sick is if you are already sick and your body is trying to fight off the infection.
Myth: The Bigger You Are, the Less Healthy You Are
Many people believe that the bigger you are, the less healthy you are. However, this is not always the case. While it is true that being overweight or obese can increase your risk of developing chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes, there are also many overweight and obese people who are perfectly healthy.
The key to being healthy at any size is to make sure that you are eating a balanced diet and getting enough physical activity. We as a society need to accept other peoples bodies as well as your own and recognise everyone comes in different shapes and sizes. People will start to discard myths like this once they start to accept themselves in their own body.
Myth: Weight Training Makes You Bulky and Manly
Many people believe that weightlifting will make them bulky and manly. This is not true! This is a myth that often keeps women away from going heavy on the free weights. Weightlifting can actually help you to slim down and tone your body.
“Due to the fact that women do not, and cannot, naturally produce as much testosterone as males do, it is impossible for a woman to gain huge amounts of muscle mass by merely touching some weights,” states by Kennihan, a NASM Certified personal trainer, RRCA Certified Distance Run Coach, USATF Run Coach, USA Cycling coach and a fitness instructor
It can also help to improve your bone density and reduce your risk of injuries.
How?
As we do weight bearing our muscles and tendons will apply tension on our bones which help stimulate the bones to produce more bone tissue. when our bones become stronger and dense it decrease the risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in the bones. Weightlifting is a great way to get fit and healthy!
Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many myths about health and wellness. It is important to be informed about the facts so that you can make the best decisions for your health! If that means conducting your own research or simply talk to your GP before making any health decisions, then it will be worth staying healthy over.
