These Health Myths Turned Out To Be TRUE...
These health myths are anything but! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most well-known rumors, myths, or “old wives’ tales” about health that have actually been scientifically verified.
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00:00 10 years of scientific research has proven the age-old adage right.
00:04 Apples really do keep the doctor away.
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most well-known rumors,
00:11 myths, or old wives tales about health that have actually been scientifically verified.
00:16 Just how much can the cold really give you a cold like some of our moms told us growing
00:21 up?
00:22 Number 10.
00:24 Spinach makes you strong.
00:25 If you grew up watching the series of cartoons based on the fictional character Popeye the
00:29 Sailor Man, it probably left you with the idea that eating spinach will make you big
00:33 and strong.
00:44 After all, that was Popeye's saving grace against his arch-nemesis, Bluto.
00:48 But while your muscles may not puff up upon immediate consumption of the green fuel, it
00:52 turns out that the Sailor Man wasn't too far off.
00:55 And then how many cans of spinach you would need to actually get your recommended daily
00:59 intake?
01:00 Eight cans of spinach to get all your protein for the day?
01:03 But only two cans of spinach for your daily intake of iron.
01:06 Research has shown that spinach contains inorganic nitrates, which reduce oxygen demand and greatly
01:11 improve muscle performance.
01:13 It also contains ectisterone, a chemical with bodybuilding properties, which is used in
01:18 nutritional supplements marketed as enhancers of physical performance.
01:22 It's a triple threat.
01:23 It has potassium, magnesium, and folate.
01:26 And what potassium does, it's sort of the anti-sodium.
01:28 I just said that sodium draws in water.
01:32 Potassium flushes it out and flushes the sodium out.
01:34 Number nine, chicken soup can cure your cold.
01:37 For centuries, grandmothers worldwide have relied on a timeless remedy, serving steamy
01:42 bowls of chicken soup to their cold-addled grandchildren.
01:46 But is this homemade dish a miracle in a bowl or merely a generational myth?
01:50 A case of the sniffles often leads to a can of chicken noodle soup.
01:55 It's no myth.
01:56 Science leans towards the former.
01:58 Although the evidence remains somewhat inconclusive, studies suggest that chicken contains a chemical
02:03 called carnosine, which may combat inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.
02:08 Like any soup, the warm liquid can soothe a sore throat.
02:12 There have been studies that show chicken noodle soup has a mild anti-inflammatory effect
02:16 and can slow the spread of infection.
02:19 Also, when the joint tissue in chicken bones is broken down, it releases certain compounds
02:24 that repair our connective tissues, helping us quickly recover from an illness.
02:28 While it may not be the miracle worker your grandma touts it as, it seems a bowl of chicken
02:33 soup is one way to get you back on your feet faster.
02:36 Mmm!
02:37 That is a perfect bowl of chicken noodle soup.
02:41 Number eight, swallowed gum remains in your stomach.
02:45 As a child, you were probably told that if you swallowed gum, it would remain in your
02:49 system for seven years.
02:51 This myth is largely false.
02:53 The wad of chewing gum hits your stomach intact.
02:56 Your saliva enzymes and your stomach acid can't touch the butyl in the gum base.
03:02 But that doesn't mean it just hangs out.
03:04 As gum can't be fully digested, it eventually passes out of your system, pretty much unchanged.
03:09 However, there can be some truth to the tale.
03:12 Sometimes gum can become stuck in the esophagus, posing a life-threatening risk if it blocks
03:17 the airway.
03:18 The more gum your body has to process, the higher likelihood that it will build up.
03:23 Furthermore, when swallowed in large quantities, it can create what is known as a "Besor effect,"
03:29 which is the buildup of any material that can cause blockages in the gut.
03:33 This may require surgical intervention.
03:35 To stay safe, it's best to throw gum out when you're through with it.
03:38 To be safe, when you've chewed through all the flavor and fun, put gum in the trap.
03:44 Number 7.
03:45 Heartburn during pregnancy results in a hairy baby.
03:48 Heartburn is a common occurrence during pregnancy, which is mostly attributed to hormonal changes.
03:53 However, one old wives' tale has long suggested that it could be due to carrying a baby with
03:57 a full head of hair.
03:58 As hard as it may be to believe, your baby, in studies, if you have a lot of heartburn,
04:05 your baby has a greater chance of being born with lots of hair now.
04:09 Certainly, there's no way for a baby's hair to cross over into the mother's esophagus,
04:13 so this has to be false, right?
04:14 Well, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University, there actually is a connection
04:19 between the two.
04:20 The study found there is a correlation between severe heartburn and the hairiness of a newborn.
04:26 Turns out, the same hormones causing acid reflux into the esophagus also stimulate hair
04:31 growth in the fetus.
04:33 Conversely, women who experience little to no heartburn during pregnancy often have babies
04:38 with just as little hair on their heads.
04:40 The hormone estrogen causes the valve at the top of your stomach to relax, which means
04:45 those acids can flow up into your esophagus.
04:48 But estrogen has also been linked to hair growth in a developing baby.
04:52 Number 6.
04:53 Eating late will make you gain weight.
04:56 This rhyming statement is one that has left scientists conflicted for years.
05:00 Some posit that a late-night meal could indeed disrupt your natural circadian rhythms and
05:05 impair your body's ability to properly digest food.
05:19 Others believe that a calorie is a calorie totally unaffected by the time it is consumed.
05:24 Like many other theories, a consensus within the scientific community remains elusive.
05:28 However, one tightly controlled 2022 study seemed to provide some clarity.
05:43 It showed that late eating significantly increased hunger levels in the morning and prompted
05:47 storage of fat in the body while decreasing its breakdown.
05:51 It's best to stop eating three hours before bedtime.
05:54 And if you do need a snack, make it a small, easily digestible one like a banana or a protein
06:00 smoothie.
06:01 This suggests that taking that midnight snack could indeed be contributing to weight gain.
06:06 Number 5.
06:07 Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
06:10 You've probably heard that you need to drink between 6-8 glasses of water every day for
06:15 your body to function optimally.
06:17 But believe it or not, your size and metabolism also plays a role.
06:22 You'll need more water if you weigh 250 pounds versus someone who weighs 150 pounds.
06:27 And if you have a fast metabolism, you'll also need more water than.
06:31 This recommendation may seem ridiculous to some and reasonable to others, but it appears
06:36 to lean more towards fact than fiction.
06:38 In reality, when it comes to fluid intake, there is no universal formula because our
06:43 individual water needs vary depending on multiple factors.
06:47 It's important not to rely on thirst alone.
06:49 What I recommend is that you check your urine.
06:51 You want it to be almost clear.
06:53 That said, the adequate daily fluid intake for adults falls within the range of 2.7 to
06:59 3.7 liters.
07:01 While some of that liquid comes from other beverages, fruits and vegetables, taking a
07:05 few additional glasses of water could also help you flush out toxins and keep you properly
07:10 hydrated.
07:11 You can also get some of your water volume through food.
07:13 All of these fruits and vegetables right here are at least 90% water.
07:17 That actually helps you stay fuller longer and staying hydrated also just keeps your
07:21 metabolism at its max.
07:22 Number 4.
07:24 Exercise makes you smarter.
07:25 Hitting the gym offers numerous benefits.
07:28 It can make you stronger, increase muscle mass, and help burn fat.
07:31 Our bodies are hardwired for movement.
07:34 Early man had to move to survive.
07:36 Now exercise drives our desire to stay fit.
07:39 But scientists say there is one lesser-known advantage to working out.
07:42 It can boost your intelligence.
07:44 One Canadian study demonstrated that regular exercise significantly improves brain function,
07:49 mental stamina, and memory.
07:51 The ability to concentrate on a specific task.
07:54 Another one is flexibility.
07:56 So the ability to change one's concentration from one task to another.
08:00 The ability to make quick decisions and that also improved after the training.
08:05 Not only does it sharpen cognitive skills, it can also help preserve brain health as
08:09 you get older.
08:10 Another study involving older people in Germany found that those who didn't engage in mild
08:15 exercise regularly were twice as likely to experience cognitive decline.
08:20 Our brain circuitry improves.
08:22 It creates an environment for brain cells to grow.
08:25 We can learn better, we can remember better, we can be more creative.
08:29 This is thought to occur because exercise increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain
08:34 and may potentially foster the growth of neurons.
08:37 Number 3.
08:38 Going out in the cold will give you a cold.
08:41 Like some of the other entries on this list, this long-standing myth may not be true in
08:45 its entirety.
08:46 When you think of cold, it's hard not to mix it with getting sick.
08:50 After all, where did the common cold get its name?
08:53 But it's also not completely baseless.
08:55 Influenza viruses, not the cold itself, are the true culprits behind the flu.
08:59 However, frigid conditions play a role by fostering a conductive environment for viral
09:04 transmission and survival.
09:05 These viruses tend to spread easier, they thrive, they love that cold, dry air.
09:09 Indeed, the viruses replicate faster and are able to remain viable for much longer in colder
09:14 temperatures.
09:15 To make things worse, chilly air could significantly weaken the immune response in the respiratory
09:20 tract, rendering us more susceptible to infection.
09:23 So perhaps your mom was onto something when she insisted you bundle up before heading
09:27 out of the house.
09:28 But as the weather turns cold and we spend more time inside in close contact with other
09:32 people, experts recommend washing your hands often, covering your mouth when you cough,
09:37 and getting a flu shot as a precaution.
09:39 Number 2.
09:40 You can catch up on sleep over the weekend.
09:43 Many people believe that if they lose sleep during the weekdays, they can just make up
09:47 for it by snoozing longer on the weekends.
09:49 "Usually I catch up on the weekend."
09:51 "You're so tired, you need it."
09:53 "But on weekends, I do like to stay and get a little extra shut-eye."
09:57 For a long time, that claim has been disputed.
10:00 But a 2018 Swedish study seemed to confirm its validity.
10:04 The study found that participants who slept for five hours or less every night faced a
10:08 higher risk of premature death than those who slept for one or two hours more.
10:13 However, this increased risk was largely mitigated when they compensated with extended weekend
10:18 rest.
10:19 "To get enough sleep each night of the work week, set aside enough time to sleep.
10:24 That's seven to nine hours uninterrupted.
10:27 Wind down before bed by avoiding stress and light exposure."
10:31 While aiming for seven hours of slumber remains ideal, this study proves that it is possible
10:36 to pay off your sleep debt one weekend at a time.
10:39 "The preferred way to catch up on sleep is to go to bed a little earlier.
10:43 The quality of sleep that you get that late in the morning is not as good as the quality
10:48 of sleep that you can get when you go to bed earlier."
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11:07 Number one, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
11:10 You've most likely heard this saying at least a thousand times since you were born.
11:14 It first originated in the 19th century and has only grown increasingly popular since.
11:19 But just how true is it?
11:21 But experts say it doesn't necessarily cut down on trips to the doctor.
11:25 Still, apples do have a lot of benefits.
11:28 While a daily intake of apples may not totally shield you from disease, they pack essential
11:32 nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which contribute to several health
11:37 benefits.
11:38 "Dietitians agree that the fiber in an apple can contribute to reducing blood pressure
11:42 and cholesterol levels, which are both factors that can lead to heart disease."
11:47 Studies have shown that the popular fruits promote cardiovascular health and can protect
11:51 against diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels.
11:54 Moreover, apples also reduce the risk of cancer in people who consume at least one every day.
11:59 "But you've got to eat the whole apple.
12:02 It's in the skin where the goodness lies, and the darker the skin, the greater the benefits."
12:07 It may not guarantee perfect health, but an apple a day sure can keep sickness at bay.
12:12 What other health myths do you think have some truth to them?
12:15 Let us know in the comments.
12:16 "Isn't that great?
12:17 A little bonus?"
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12:26 [Music]