Ask The Doc | Common Health Myths Debunked
7 Health Myths Debunked
There is no shortage of advice when it comes to looking after your health. Friends and family members share news often about the latest diets and health topics via Facebook and other online platforms, this information can often be wrong.
The myths mentioned below have been researched and commented on by health professionals.
You shouldn’t lift heavy weights if you are a woman, it will cause you to “beef” up…
Fact: The truth is that women do not have the hormones or muscle mass to achieve those large, flexing muscles that body builders have. If you are wanting to change the way you look you need to push yourself harder at the gym by using weights that tire you out after 8 to 15 reps.
Cutting out gluten is the best way to loose weight…
Fact: if you are gluten intolerant it makes a whole lot of sense to shy away from anything that contains gluten. As for the rest of us, there is no reason why we should avoid it. The reason that people say they feel as if they have lost weight by cutting it out is that they are now forced to eat more fruits and vegetables and they have cut out high calorie, sugar fuelled foods. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, and other grains are great sources of fibre, which can help you feel full on fewer calories.
You can get the flu from a flu vaccine…
Fact: This myth endures roughly because of the timing factor involved. It takes a week or two for the full effect of the vaccine to kick in, so if you were unlucky enough to be exposed to the flu right before or after you got the vaccine, you’re probably still going to get sick. It is also normal to feel a little bit ill in the day or two after your vaccine. The vaccine “fools” your body into making antibodies against the flu, the response can make you feel achy and slightly feverish.
You cannot get pregnant while you are breastfeeding…
Fact: While breastfeeding may reduce fertility in women it does not mean that you should avoid using contraception.
Eggs are unhealthy…
Fact: New research reveals that eggs are not as high in dietary cholesterol as we’d previously thought. Experts now also believe that a diet high in saturated fats is much more likely to cause cholesterol and heart related issues. One egg a day is perfectly fine but avoid it if you run the risk of heart disease. An egg contains 185 mg of dietary cholesterol, your daily allowance should be under 300 mg or under 200 mg if you have high cholesterol.
You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day…
Fact: Water is one of your body’s most essential nutrients. Research suggests that men only need 3.5 litres and women 2.5 litres of water to regulate body temperature, prevent dehydration and all the other things water is needed for. However, beverages like tea and coffee (once thought to cause dehydration), as well as fruits and veggies with a high water content, such as oranges, watermelon, and lettuce, can count toward those goals.
Reading in dim light will damage your eyes…
Fact: It is true that reading in an ill lit room or darkened room causes your eyes to tire and become strained, it is however not doing permanent damage. As we age our eyes become more strained over time.
Source: Westchester Magazine, Madonnna Behen
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PLEASE NOTE (IMPORTANT)
The recommendations, symptoms and information provided does not apply to everyone. If you have any on-going or reccurring symptoms or illness contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Always check medication labels for side effects and contra-indications.
Always ask your Doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
Eat well, drink in moderation and sleep sound, in these three good health abound – Proverb