7 Health Myths Debunked (Spoiler: You Don’t Have to Take 10,000 Steps a Day)

Not always pseudoscientific myths can be debunked by real facts. They say, for example, that we need to take 10,000 steps a day, buy gluten-free products and only drink liquids half an hour after each meal. However, none of these beliefs are supported by science.

O awesome.club gathered 7 misconceptions that many people believe to have a scientific basis.

Researchers compared more than 650 gluten-free products with their traditional analogues and found that the former contained more calories, sugar, fat and less protein. There are people who are forced to consume gluten-free products because they have an allergy or because they have celiac disease, since gluten, in these cases, can harm the small intestine (The problem affects approximately one in every 100 people in the world.

But for those who are healthy, limiting the amount of whole grains in the diet can increase the risk of suffering from heart disease.

Hangover symptoms appear as a result of the fact that, in the liver, alcohol is transformed into a toxic substance, acetaldehyde, which is then passed into the blood. Activated charcoal binds toxins in the human body due to its absorption power, and contributes to their faster elimination through the intestines, but it is only efficient during the first hour after intoxication. Therefore, taking activated charcoal the morning after drinking turns out to be a meaningless idea.

To relieve the headache, you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen (but never paracetamol, which is contraindicated in cases of alcohol abuse), in addition to a large amount of water to dilute the toxins.

Celery, grapefruit, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumbers are considered by some to be negative calorie foods, but there is no scientific evidence to support this idea. Because they are low-calorie foods (from 7 to 30 kcal per 100 grams), the body needs less energy to digest them, since they are rich in water and fiber. To process these nutrients, the body spends few resources.

Water consumed during a meal “drags” food particles to the esophagus and then to the stomach; breaks down food build-up and facilitates access of acids and enzymes to food particles. In addition, the liquid dilutes the enzymes of gastric juice, but this does not interfere with the functioning of the stomach. The latter, on their own, are able to adjust the composition of gastric juice. For all these reasons, having a glass of water during meals only benefits the process.

Soap does not transmit infections. Even if the product has been used by a person with the Ebola virus, bar soap will still be safe. Scholars conducted a survey: they intentionally infected their own hands with bacteria, used soap to wash them and then passed the same soap to another person also participating in the experiment. The conclusion was that the bacteria were not transmitted from one person to another.

Antiperspirants work because aluminum salts clog the pores that secrete sweat. In the 1960s, aluminum was believed to cause Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the International Alzheimer’s Association reported that studies have not confirmed the thesis that aluminum is related to the onset of the disease, which means that it makes no sense to give up antiperspirants.

Also, for some time there were those who considered that antiperspirants caused kidney disease. This myth was debunked by researchers at the National Kidney Foundation (“National Kidney Foundation”🇧🇷 They explained that it would be impossible to absorb enough aluminum through the skin to cause kidney damage.

Still, aluminum and parabens in antiperspirants have been found to be responsible for breast cancer. The myth was also debunked after research carried out by experts from the American National Institute of Oncology and the National Society of Oncology.

Ten thousand steps is a totally arbitrary number, determined in Japan to promote a pedometer released in the mid-1960s. , a large and sudden increase in physical activity can cause adverse effects.

Some studies reveal that, to maintain good health, it is enough to take at least between 5,000 and 8,000 steps daily. Experts who have tried to calculate the exact number of steps needed per day have stated that it is desirable to strive for 7,500.

Do you know other pseudoscientific myths? Let’s take them down together! Leave a comment sharing your knowledge.