Health Myths

Health Myths

Myth: Reducing fat in one specific area of the body is possible.
Fact: False! Think about it. No action, no exercise, even allows you to use only a specific part of your body. Imagine doing pull ups. Your arms pull your chin up past the bar, yet your neck pulls your head back so you don’t bonk your forehead on the metal. Your stomach muscles also flex to spread the work out more evenly across your body, making it easier on your arms. Your breathing might even quicken, causes your heart muscles to beat faster. And your original plan was to only work out your arms.

Myth: Exercise allows you to eat whatever you want, whenever you want.
Fact: False! A positive cancels out a negative. You go jogging for a while, return home to sit on the couch and watch the tube as you stuff your face with Twinkies and those delicious Doritos. You just gained all of the calories, fat, and unhealthiness that you just burned off from your exercise. If you wish to lose weight, do some of both; exercise along with eating smart. Don’t starve yourself, and occasionally do grab that Dove bar. Small amounts of sugar and fat can be healthy for the body, providing energy and insulation or warmth.

Myth: Shaving causes hair to grow back darker and thicker.
Fact: False! Newly developed hair just hasn’t had time to lighten under the sun. You also haven’t given it enough time to grow and taper at the end. Women and men become irritated by the stubbles (the thicker end of the hair follicle) and shave it off before giving it a chance to grow in length, softness, and lighter color. Unshaved hair has had time to mature under the sun, which bleaches the harsh darkness out. It doesn’t make a difference whether you shave, wax, or cut your hair either.

Myth: Antibacterial soap is the best way to kill germs.
Fact: False! There is such thing as good bacteria. Good bacteria can fight off the bad bacteria (such as disease-causing germs). It is good to have oil on your skin; it’s a natural way to protect skin cells from sun burn. Also remember that if germs and bacteria are always destroyed, your body is unable to build immunities against it. This may promote antibiotic resistance. Using regular soap does a good enough job of ridding your hands of the bad germs while keeping the good bacteria.

Myth: Chocolate causes acne.
Fact: False! It is ironic to think that stress actually plays a large factor in acne, because while you’re worrying about that piece of chocolate you just gobbled up, it’s actually the fretting that’s causing those annoying pimples to fester. When oil glands make a lot of sebum (a substance that comes hand in hand with nervousness) they clog pores. Harsh cleaning and scrubbing of the inflamed, red area can sometimes worsen the break out. Be gentle with your skin, and don’t fret about it too much.