True or false: Carrots help your eyesight

True or false: Carrots help your eyesight
TIMOLINA/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! Carrots get their vision-boosting reputation from the chemical that gives them their orange colour: beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A, which helps your eyes see better in the dark. But the conversion process isn’t very efficient, and once you’ve taken in a certain amount, the body stops converting it. For improved eyesight, eat vegetables high in vitamin A itself, including leafy greens such as kale and spinach.

 

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True or false: Coffee will dehydrate you

True or false: Coffee will dehydrate you
MARIE TSYGANOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! The idea that caffeine is a diuretic that leaves your body short of fluids doesn’t hold water. In fact, studies show that coffee and tea drinkers don’t use the bathroom any more than water drinkers. A cup of coffee counts as part of your fluid intake and can actually help you hydrate.

True or false: A person having a seizure is at risk of swallowing his or her tongue

True or false: A person having a seizure is at risk of swallowing his or her tongue
ANDREY_POPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! Following conventional wisdom and putting a spoon in the person’s mouth won’t prevent tongue swallowing, but it could harm the teeth or jaws. Instead, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking on saliva or vomit, and cushion the head with a pillow.

True or false: Frostbitten skin shouldn’t be warmed up by a heater

True or false: Frostbitten skin shouldn’t be warmed up by a heater
AXEL BUECKERT/SHUTTERSTOCK

TRUE! Frostbite numbs the skin, so it could be burned without your realising it if it’s next to a radiator, fire, or heating pad. Instead, immerse the area in warm water.

True or false: Stress will give you an ulcer

True or false: Stress will give you an ulcer
ANDREY_POPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! The two main causes of stomach ulcers are overuse of painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and infection from the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Stress might make an existing ulcer worse (and having an ulcer might trigger stress), but the current science shows it isn’t a direct cause.

Try these 10 habits of people who never get stressed.

True or false: You should return to working out after a heart attack

True or false: You should return to working out after a heart attack
ARSENII PALIVODA/SHUTTERSTOCK

TRUE! “Too often, heart patients use their condition as an excuse to cut back on physical activity when they should be doing the opposite,” says Dr Salim Virani, chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council. Hitting the standard 20 to 30 minutes most days can help strengthen your heart. Talk to your doctor about creating a safe routine.

True or false: Eggs are bad for your heart

True or false: Eggs are bad for your heart
NEW AFRICA/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! The old thinking was that cholesterol in food would raise blood cholesterol levels and in turn increase the risk of heart disease. A recent study of more than 400,000 adults found that eating an egg a day increased good cholesterol and cut the risk of cardiovascular death by 18 per cent.

True or false: Reading in dim light will harm your eyes

True or false: Reading in dim light will harm your eyes
AFRICA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! It might tire your eyes in the short term, but there’s no evidence that it will do any lasting damage. When reading, position light to shine directly on the page rather than from over your shoulder to reduce glare.

True or false: Coughing too much can make you throw up

True or false: Coughing too much can make you throw up
NEW AFRICA/SHUTTERSTOCK

TRUE! Little kids are especially prone to vomiting after coughing fits because their gag reflexes are extra sensitive, but it can also happen to adults. It usually isn’t a big deal, but if you keep puking, see a doctor.

True or false: Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis

True or false: Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis
CARLOS E. SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK

FALSE! Recent studies haven’t found a link between cracked joints and arthritis. But some studies showed that cracking your knuckles can result in soft-tissue damage (which can cause swelling) and a decrease in handgrip strength.

Even though this arthritis myth isn’t true, these 12 health “myths” actually turned out to be true.

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