Debunking Health Myths

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
Eating eggs gives you heart disease. For decades, health myths like these have influenced consumer decisions. ​
Here is a list of the most persistent health myths that everyone needs to stop believing right now. 

Myth- It's good to go on a detox to cleanse your body of toxins
Fact
Detox diets, juices and treatments are hugely popular, but the very idea that we can take steps to detox our own bodies is a myth.
Our bodies are built to get rid of toxins way better than any diet or treatment can.

Myth- Drink 8 glasses of water a day
Fact
People who gulp a glass of water when they're thirsty get enough to stay hydrated. 
Water-rich foods like soup, fruit and vegetables help you get your fill
You might need to drink more water if your urine is dark yellow or you don't go to the bathroom regularly.

Myth- Eating too much sugar causes diabetes
Fact
Despite popular belief, sugar does not cause diabetes right away. 
However, eating too much sugar can make you put on more weight. 
Being overweight starts increasing the insulin requirement by the body. 
This increases your risk for type 2 diabetes. 
The best way to reduce your risk is to watch your weight even if it needs to reduce or stop sugar consumption.

Myth- Eggs are bad for your heart
Fact
Eating an egg or two a day doesn’t raise the risk of heart disease in healthy people. 
Yes, the yolks have cholesterol, but for most of us, the amount found in any one food isn’t as bad for you as the mix of fats from everything you eat. 
What’s more, eggs have nutrients, like omega-3s, that may lower the risk of heart disease.

Myth- Microwaving your food kills nutrients
Fact
There is no scientific evidence that microwaving food reduces nutrient levels. 
If you use your microwave right, it's actually a better way to retain vitamins and minerals. 
This is because lesser nutrients are lost from shorter heat exposure, and the minimal amount of liquid needed stops nutrients from leaking out.

Myth- Cracking joints leads to arthritis
Fact
It may drive you mad when your colleague cracks their knuckles, but it’s not physically doing them any harm. 
The cracking sound is caused by nitrogen gas being pulled into the joint when pressure is put on it. 
Painless cracking of joints is benign and does not cause damage or arthritis.
If you do experience pain, speak to a doctor to check for injuries or an underlying condition.

Myth- Chocolate causes acne
Fact
Doctors agree it just comes down to the individual. 
If you're prone to acne, you may want to limit your consumption of chocolate. 
But you shouldn't need to swear off chocolate all together. 
A good-skin diet is simply a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruits and veg as well as extra antioxidants.

Myth- Energy Drinks Contain Special Alertness-Boosting Ingredients
Fact
Despite containing a variety of vitamins and extraneous substances, these products exert their influence with that self-same ingredient, i.e., caffeine. 
Stick to coffee if you want. 
Forget the ‘energy drinks.’ They are a waste of money.

Myth- Crunches give you a six pack
Fact
If those hours of ab exercises haven’t resulted in a defined six pack, you might want to reconsider what you are doing. 
If you maintain a layer of body fat over those abdominals, you will never see your six pack.
If you really want a tight and defined core, combine strengthening exercises with a super clean nutrition plan that balances veggies, protein, complex carbs and healthy fats.

Myth- Going out with wet hair gets you sick
Fact
It turns out, though, that leaving the house just after a shower isn’t going to make you sick… unless you’re already sick, that is. 
In 2005, researchers tested the hypothesis that chilling your body increases your chances of being infected with the common cold virus. 
Their results found that, no, it doesn’t. But it can cause the onset of symptoms if the virus is already in your body. 
However, people with sinusitis or migraine can have a headache triggered.

Myth- Natural sugars are better for you than refined sugar
Fact
Coconut sugar, brown sugar, honey, raw sugar, jaggery, palm sugar are all sugar.
They just sound healthier, but still count toward your daily added sugar intake.
Sugar in fruit comes with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, which makes it more nutritious than sugar-laden snacks or candy.

Myth- Microwave ovens cause cancer
Fact
Microwaves heat your food: nothing more, nothing less
They do emit electromagnetic radiation, a form of non-ionizing radiation like the radiofrequency waves that come from your cell phone (which also won't give you cancer). 
Non-ionizing radiation isn't known to cause cancer in humans because it isn't strong enough to alter the structure of cells.  Myth- Everyone needs eight hours of sleep

Myth- Everyone needs eight hours of sleep
Fact
Everyone has a unique circadian rhythm that determines how much sleep is optimal for them. 
Seven to nine hours is still the standard recommendation for adults, but you should treat sleep like hydration and exercise. 
Get enough so you feel your best but not so much that it starts affecting you negatively.

Myth- Weight Training Makes Women Bulky and Manly
Fact
This is a myth that often keeps women from pumping some iron, worried that it might make them bulk up and lose their ladylike figure. 
Because 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. 

Myth- If You Stop Weight Training, Muscles Turn to Fat
Fact
Muscle and fat are two totally different types of tissue
What happens many times is that when people decide to go off their weight-training programs, they start losing muscle due to inactivity and they also usually stop their healthy diet as well. 
So, the bad eating habits combined with their lower metabolism (due to inactivity) and lower levels of muscle mass, give the impression that a person’s muscle is being turned into fat while in reality, what is happening is that muscle is being lost and fat is being accumulate.

Close-up neat Women’s hands hold and peel red apple

Myth- You should always peel fruits and veggies
Fact
The skin on fruit and vegetables like potatoes, apples, carrots and citrus fruits are packed with beneficial nutrients. 
The skins of fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and can help you feel fuller for longer, which is beneficial for weight loss. 
There is growing evidence showing that adequate fiber intake may benefit your digestion, improve blood sugar control and improve cholesterol and blood glucose control.

Myth: Exercising at night ruins your sleep
Fact
Not for everyone. 
Researchers have found that nighttime exercise may have no impact whatsoever on your sleep quality, and for some people, exercising before bed can even result in better ZZZ's.