It’s easy to get caught up in fad diets and popular health opinions. Everywhere you turn, there is a celebrity endorsing their favorite juice cleanse or even a trusted neighbor raving about the difference they feel due to their all-organic lifestyle. There’s a lot of information out there, so let’s debunk some common health myths so that you can truly be living your healthiest lifestyle.
Cold air causes colds
The cold air of the wintertime has nothing to do with catching a cold. A cold is a virus. This means you can only get it through being in direct contact with the virus, which typically happens through tiny air droplets that are released when a sick person sneezes or coughs. It is theorized that colds are more common in the winter because people tend to be in closer quarters during this time so the spread of germs happens more easily. If you have a cold, take care of yourself and others by taking time to rest and keep your virus to yourself.
Eggs are bad for heart health
Eggs have gotten a lot of bad press in the past, but they are not as bad for your heart as they have been made out to be. One egg per day does not increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, and no more than three eggs per week for those with diabetes. Also be thinking about what you are pairing with your eggs. If you’re adding a lot of butter, cheese or bacon, then this is what will really spike your cholesterol. Switch those out for some fresh vegetables for a healthier start to your day. We also have some tips on how to help you lower your cholesterol.
Everyone should be taking a multivitamin
Turns out that eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight does way more for us than taking a multivitamin. Updated research has found that multivitamins don’t reduce risk for heart disease, cancer or improve cognitive functions. Multivitamins seem to be the most beneficial for women who are looking to start a family, but not for the population as a whole. If you do take a multivitamin, just make sure that you are also getting the nutrients you need through your diet since vitamins are not meant to fill in your dietary gaps.
You can get sick from a toilet seat
You may not love using public restrooms, but rest assured that getting sick from a toilet seat should be at the bottom of your restroom anxieties. While there could be disease causing microbes on a toilet seat for diseases such as strep and E. coli, all you have to do is wash your hands to eliminate the threat. This is because in order for these microbes to cause infection, they need to enter into the body and not just rest on the surface. So keep practicing good hygiene after using the restroom and you’ll stay in the clear.
Gluten is bad for you
Gluten-free diets are more popular today, but if you don’t suffer from a gluten related disorder then it’s not necessary for you to be on one. This diet is the most beneficial for those who do suffer a gluten related disorder, but for everyone else it is actually just more expensive and could be less healthy. There is no compelling evidence that removing gluten from your diet improves your health. Gluten-free food typically has less nutrients and more sugar and fat. If you do not have gluten sensitivity and you are living gluten-free, maybe go treat yourself to a sandwich with some whole-grain and gluten-filled bread today.
Sitting is the new smoking
The idea that sitting is the new smoking is very misleading. Yes, sitting for long periods of time on a daily basis with no physical activity is bad for your health, but to compare it to smoking is a reach. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. The risks for chronic disease and premature death are substantially higher for smokers than for sitters. Additionally, smoking can be addictive and be a danger to others. So while sitting all day isn’t ideal for your health, it is not nearly as destructive as smoking.
You can detoxify your body easily
A lot of diets claim to detox our bodies like doing a juice cleanse, taking supplements or drinking water with lemon. However, there is little to no evidence that any of these diets actually remove toxins from the body. Most of the companies that push these diets and products do not identify specific toxins that are supposedly being removed, or they use the word “detox” as more of a trendy adjective to push their products. Sure there are some benefits, like avoiding processed food and losing some excess fat, but you could also be limiting nutrient intake with such a limited detox diet. Rather than focusing on eliminating toxins, focus more on eliminating unhealthy foods and keeping up a healthy lifestyle. Your kidneys and liver will take it from there.
Natural foods are always healthy
Just because a food product is labeled as “natural” or “organic” does not always mean that it is healthy. It is important to know that food labeled as “natural” means it is free of artificial flavoring and color ingredients, but it is not organic and free of pesticides. Organic food is free of pesticides, but it is not necessarily healthier in terms of nutrients. The biggest benefit of eating organic foods is that there is less pesticide and antibiotic exposure, which can lead to neurodevelopmental issues associated with cancer. However, you can save some money and buy some nonorganic produce that have very low pesticide levels like avocados, broccoli and cantaloupe.
Antiperspirant causes breast cancer
The idea of aluminum in our deodorant causing breast cancer has been a popular fear that’s been instilled in us over the past few years. However, there are a few items to be aware of when it comes to how the body filters out toxins. Aluminum is more of a concern for those who have kidney problems because the kidney is what filters out excess aluminum. If your kidneys are functioning normally, then it should be able to process the amount of aluminum that would be absorbed through your skin via antiperspirant. Overall, the American Cancer Society finds that this claim of antiperspirant being linked to breast cancer does not have a solid scientific grounding, and the National Kidney Foundation only cautions individuals with extremely weak kidneys to be aware of using traditional antiperspirants.
If you want to make sure you are living your healthiest life style, give us a call to set up an appointment here at Community Access Network. Together, we can make sure that you are making the right choices for your personal health.