Truth about Some Common Myths

Astound friends and family with a vast worldly knowledge. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, however it’s possible to be quite entertaining with a few trivia facts and truth about common myths. There are many things people think they know which simply aren’t true.

For example, take the common cold. Some old myths say one can get a cold from cold weather, getting chilled or overheated. Actually, people are more likely to get colds during the colder months because they are inside closed in spaces with little ventilated fresh air around others who might have one. Also, cold weather has a tendency to dry out the inside lining of the nose making people more vulnerable to viral infection.

And large doses of vitamin C will not prevent or relieve cold symptoms. Actually taking large amounts of vitamin C for an extended period can be harmful. Many also are under the impression antibiotics have an effect on the cold virus. Antibiotics are only effective on bacteria, not viruses.

Most common beliefs about the cold virus are wrong, except for one…chicken soup. Chicken soup helps clear mucus from bronchial tubes and nasal passages by providing warm vapors that loosens thickened secretions.

Remember all the TV and magazine ads about how to get rid of belly fat in a targeted specific area?” Most are just big fat lies. Wouldn't it be great if all one had to do use a simple little gadget and miraculously lose weight? Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. The best way to lose weight is by exercise and diet.

Or what about the fitness nut who says it doesn’t matter what somebody eats as long as they exercise? The fact is if more calories are consumed than burned the result will be a fat body.

There are also many myths about food that just refuse to die. Some of the most persistent are ones considered common knowledge, but have been long disproved. They were big news when "discovered" but never formally rebutted when debunked. For instance, the idea any food ate before going to bed will all turn to fat because the body’s metabolism slows down. While it's true metabolism slows down during sleep, it doesn't stop. If a person sits at a desk all day and gets little exercise eating at 5 pm versus 7 pm isn't going to change anything.

There are still a lot of people who believe aluminum foil and cookware is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.This myth began during the 1960s and 70s with studies that showed elevated levels of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Since then, a great deal of research has failed to show any substantive connection between aluminum and risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Eggs also hatched the myth of eating them jacks up cholesterol levels. Eliminating eggs because of concerns about cholesterol will do absolutely nothing. Rather, it may actually be harmful because they have many health benefits including 13 naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.

Another falsehood is dairy products are the best thing for healthy, strong bones.It’s true they contain calcium, but so do dark-leafy greens. Milk may be fortified with vitamin D, but to maintain healthy bones more is needed. Vitamin K is also important. Dark leafy greens have it, dairy products don't. Magnesium, found in foods like almonds, cashews, oatmeal, and potatoes, is missing in dairy products. Magnesium also plays a major role in bone health.

In recent years there’s been much said about search engine optimization (SEO). It’s been said the more search engine terms used the more money one will make. They might draw more traffic but it’s likely to be just surfers not buyers. Additionally a search engine could penalize users for keyword stuffing.

Consider the popular notion it's healthy for cats to drink cow's milk. The reality is most cats are lactose intolerant and can't break down the sugars in milk. They should drink their mother’s milk, but once weaned, other milks are not recommended.

Dogs also have a share of misconceptions concerning their behavior. Who hasn’t heard “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Older dogs not only learn new tricks but thrive with the experience. As long as a dog is mentally and physically capable, it’s entirely possible to train them. Wouldn’t it be great if some people could do the same?