Medical myths that even doctors believe

[Azure]

Does shaving hair cause it to grow back faster or thicker? Does reading in dim light ruin your eyesight? Do we really use only 10 per cent of our brains?


These are just some of the common medical myths that it appears that even a lot of doctors still believe, even though none have ever been proven -- or have been proven to be completely wrong.


Researchers in the United States selected seven medical beliefs, long assumed to be true by both doctors and the general public and then searched for evidence to support or refute each of these claims.


The results show that all of the beliefs are actually myths. Here are a few from the list:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...220?hub=Health

[IgnitedSoul]

Blasphemy

[llama64]

Neat article, thanks!

The bit about not needing 8 glasses of water was interesting. After a litre of water, I'm pee'ing clear which is usually a good sign that you are hydrated. Another litre on top of that always seemed excessive to me.

And I'm gonna have fun disputing the turkey thing this Christmas. It's almost guaranteed that someone is going to go on about how Turkeys contain a magical chemical that makes you tired.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I always thought that many people drink waaaaay to much water. Don't get me wrong, having a couple glasses a day is health for sure but I have people that I work with that make a point of driking two litres of water/day. It's nuts. It almost seems like a fad, everyone walking/driving around with their waterbottles in their hands. Meanwhile, you get those crazy pygmy guys running around in the dessert in Africa getting by on a shot of water/day and are doing just fine.

[Russic]

Interesting read for sure. The water thing was the only thing that I didn't totally agree with.

I find drinking large amounts of water helps with weight loss just because my portion sizes decrease dramatically when I drink a lot throughout the day. I thought the part tacked on about water intoxication was a little sensationalized as it takes a ridiculous amount to get to that point.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Russic

Interesting read for sure. The water thing was the only thing that I didn't totally agree with.

I find drinking large amounts of water helps with weight loss just because my portion sizes decrease dramatically when I drink a lot throughout the day. I thought the part tacked on about water intoxication was a little sensationalized as it takes a ridiculous amount to get to that point.

Drink enough water, yeah you're appetite is going to go down. That's why weight loss centres stress. But they coat it in medical reasons stating that you must drink 8 glasses a day to be healthy. That's what is probably false.

But things differ from person to person. I don't expect a 105lb women to need as much water as a 500lb linebacker.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by llama64

Drink enough water, yeah you're appetite is going to go down. That's why weight loss centres stress. But they coat it in medical reasons stating that you must drink 8 glasses a day to be healthy. That's what is probably false.

But things differ from person to person. I don't expect a 105lb women to need as much water as a 500lb linebacker.

I like water. But I find that how much you need depends on what you're doing. If I'm sitting around typing all day, I don't need a lot. If I'm playing hockey later I'll drink water throughout the day and make sure I'm well hydrated before the game. I'm not shocked that the 8 glasses thing is overblown. On low activity days I can get by with a glass of water with each meal.

The one that drives my wife nuts is the "10 percent of the brain" myth. We've heard it stated bluntly as fact on radio and television more times than we can count--people really do believe that it's true. She's a neuroscientist, so she knows very well that if you only used 10 percent of your brain you'd be dead. Everyone uses their entire brain, even morons: nature doesn't usually accept inefficiency like giant nervous systems that run on massive amounts of simple carbohydrates if your body isn't using it. Simply put: if we only needed 10 percent of our brains, we would have smaller brains and need less food.

It's really shocking if a doctor doesn't know that, though.

[Bobblehead]

As far as water goes, I'll notice that some days I can drink lots, but the next day I usually only want a bit of water.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by llama64

Neat article, thanks!

The bit about not needing 8 glasses of water was interesting. After a litre of water, I'm pee'ing clear which is usually a good sign that you are hydrated. Another litre on top of that always seemed excessive to me.

Thats the only part I had a problem with it too.

8 glasses won't help you lose weight, but if you drink that much water, chances are you'll stay hydrated.

EDIT: Let me clarify by saying that drinking 8 classes might spurge your appetite, but just drinking 8 glasses won't in itself shed the pounds.

Weight loss is strictly centered around eating less calories than your body burns.

[Burninator]

Cool article. I always like reading about debunking and skeptical examinations. And there is lots to talk about, especially in the medical field.

[Hack&Lube]

So all my shaving hoping to grow facial hair is in vain!

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

So all my shaving hoping to grow facial hair is in vain!

Yes. Also, you're shaving the wrong parts.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Everyone uses their entire brain, even morons:

Even Oilers fans?

[CrusaderPi]

Next thing you know they'll be telling me a woman can get pregnant even if she's on top.

Like, hello? Its called gravity.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Even Oilers fans?

Yes. However, Oilers fans need less brain--and as a result their brains are smaller.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Next thing you know they'll be telling me a woman can get pregnant even if she's on top.

Like, hello? Its called gravity.

Yeah, everyone knows that.

[Rathji]

As I understand it, if your body is low on water it lowers your metabolism since it things there must be a water shortage, therefore making it harder to lose weight.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Russic

I thought the part tacked on about water intoxication was a little sensationalized as it takes a ridiculous amount to get to that point.

Less than you might think...

"On January 12, 2007, Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old woman and a mother of 3, from Rancho Cordova, California, was found dead in her home by her mother hours after trying to win one of Nintendo's Wii game consoles in KDND 107.9 "The End" radio station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, which involved drinking large quantities of water without urinating. No criminal charges were pressed.[6] The Federal Communications Commission has launched its own investigation to determine if the station violated the terms of its operating license."

"On October 12, 2002, 3-year-old Rosita Gonzalez died of water intoxication when her babysitter Nancy Gayoso punished her by forcing her to drink three quarts (2.8 liters) of water in a four hour period.[7][8] Gayoso was charged and arrested for murder in the first degree on March 10, 2003. After being declared incompetent to stand trial in 2004 and 2005,[9] Gayoso was found competent on March 26, 2007."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

The amounts/time that it was consumed in aren't THAT exuberant.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by Azure

Thats the only part I had a problem with it too.

8 glasses won't help you lose weight, but if you drink that much water, chances are you'll stay hydrated.

EDIT: Let me clarify by saying that drinking 8 classes might spurge your appetite, but just drinking 8 glasses won't in itself shed the pounds.

Weight loss is strictly centered around eating less calories than your body burns.

Actually, I find water to be an integral part of my weight loss. It keeps things moving along so you don't feel bloated. And I seem to loose more weight and actually keep it off when I'm drinking lots of water.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

Actually, I find water to be an integral part of my weight loss. It keeps things moving along so you don't feel bloated. And I seem to loose more weight and actually keep it off when I'm drinking lots of water.

I realize that.

But in the end, you have to eat at a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. Drinking lots of water will keep you from getting hungry, and you don't have the tendency to over-eat.

But by itself....no water will not shed the pounds.

Yet, like you said, its an integral part of weight loss.