Common health myths: Separating fact from fiction


From speaking to friends and family to reading articles and watching TV, we’re bombarded with health information all the time. But how many of the medical ‘facts’ we read and hear are grounded in reality and how many are fiction? Here, we take a look at three widely believed statements that turn out to be myths.

The pill will make you put on weight
Since it first came into use in the 1960s, the combined contraceptive pill has become a popular method of birth control. Many women consider it to be convenient, reliable and safe. However, one thing that puts some people off this type of contraception is the belief that it will stop them from staying in shape. This is because it’s often said that the pill causes weight gain. In fact, this is not true. While early versions of the pill, which contained significantly higher levels of oestrogen, may have had this effect, there is no evidence that modern combined contraceptive pills lead to weight gain. If you want to find out more about this type of birth control, you can speak to your GP or look at trusted information sources on the internet, such as Online Doctor Lloyds Pharmacy.

‘Low fat’ foods are always a healthy choice
If you’re trying to stay fit and healthy, you might be drawn to foods that are labelled ‘low fat’. The diet food industry is huge and shop shelves are packed with products that appeal to consumers in this way. After all, it’s widely assumed that reduced fat foods are automatically a healthier choice than their alternatives. However, this isn’t always the case. Although they must contain less fat than their full-fat counterparts, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better for your figure or overall wellbeing. Some of these foods contain high levels of sugar, and this can be just as bad or in some cases worse for you. So, when you’re deciding whether to purchase a particular product, take a careful look at the nutritional information and don’t just rely on eye-catching labels.

Makeup can cause spots
Many girls and women who struggle to control their spots avoid wearing foundation and other types of makeup because they’re told that these cosmetics can make the problem worse. In reality, there’s no evidence that makeup can cause spots or make them worse. As long as people take care to wash their hands thoroughly before applying makeup to ensure they don’t spread bacteria to their skin, there is no increased risk.

By making sure you’re clued up when it comes to medical matters, you can avoid making a whole range of mistakes.

Do you have any health myths you would like to share?

5 comments:

  1. Thanks
    My skin isn't great at the moment
    Try to avoid makeup because of this
    It's been shown that diet meals are not always the healthiest choice
    Best to stick with fresh where possible or frozen

    ReplyDelete
  2. There have been so many health scares about food that I remember that I take no notice of any of them now. At one point I seem to remember Corn Flakes gave you cancer, and I won't start on the dangers of eggs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The daftest "health advice" I ever heard was when my friend's youngest child was not yet walking at his first birthday. One of her elderly Spanish relatives told my friend that she should boil some garbanzo beans (chickpeas), then rub the froth on the baby's legs and this would miraculously make him start walking!

    ReplyDelete