It seems like when we are younger, we hear certain myths about food – ones that get passed on to us by our parents and grandparents, and we grow up believing them because when we are young, we will believe just about anything our parents tell us.
Here are some commonly believed ideas about food that we may have grown up believing, even though they are not entirely true.
Swimming after eating
Since we were little kids, many of us have been told that we shouldn’t swim right after we eat. The truth is, there is nothing really harmful about doing this. The thing that has been known to happen is that we might get a stomach cramp, much like we would if we do any other vigorous activity immediately following a meal. It might not be the most pleasant feeling, but there are no actual health risks involved.
Swallowing bubble gum
We have also been told growing up that we should never swallow bubble gum and that if we do, we will have to go to the hospital to have our stomach pumped. This is untrue. While bubble gum has a tendency to not digest and exit exactly like regular food does, it eventually will without posing any health issues.
Coffee stunts growth
Many of us have been warned, “Don’t drink coffee, it will stunt your growth.” It is simply not true. This myth may have come from the belief the excessive amounts of coffee had a negative effect on bone development, but there is no evidence that shows that it has any affect on a person’s height.
Don’t eat after 7 pm
You may have once or twice read some diet tips that advise people to not eat after a certain time in the evening, usually around 7 or 8 pm because it promotes weigh gain. The truth to this is that it’s actually not good for us to eat a big meal right before we go to sleep because the food we just ate will be sitting dormant in our stomachs all night instead of being worked off through physical activity. It doesn’t have anything to do with the actual time of day though.
Chocolate causes acne
Parents may warn their children to not eat chocolate because it causes acne. The truth about this one is that it is no more a cause for acne than any other fatty or junk food. The reason why this may have come to be a rumor is that there is evidence that excessive amounts of junk food can can increase sebum production which is believed to play a role in inflammatory reactions in the body. It does not, however, directly cause acne.
Drink 8 glasses of water a day
It is believed that we should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. While getting enough water to keep our bodies properly hydrated is essential, that amount is not true. It actually depends on the person’s size and activity level. A larger person will need to drink more water than a smaller person, and someone who is very physically active is going to need more water that someone who is more sedentary.
These are very common myths, and there are plenty more out there. Consider doing some research the next time you hear a myth to find out the truth behind it.
