Health misconceptions are all too common.
Writing November 2 in the journal PLOS Medicine, researchers in Germany found that there was no evidence of longer life expectancy in people who drank in moderation.
It’s one of many recent studies suggesting that, even in moderation, alcohol does more harm than good — and this harm outweighs any observed benefits.
Fact: While some brands use compounds that may influence hormones, no substantial research has uncovered a link between deodorants and cancer.
Fact: There’s no consistent scientific evidence to prove that men who consume soy products grow extra breast tissue.
Shutterstock
That myth can be traced back to an extreme case of soy milk consumption where a man was drinking a daily 3 quarts of the stuff and started to see his breasts become swollen and painful.
Jennifer A Smith/Moment/Getty Images
Soy also contains phytoestrogens or plant estrogens.
Exactly what phytoestrogens do to the human body is debated — but what’s known is that it doesn’t cause breasts to grow.
Fact: They have higher cholesterol than some foods, but eating eggs doesn’t contribute to higher rates of heart disease or mortality.
Shutterstock
Those types of foods can contribute to a higher risk of heart disease over time.
Fact: Several studies on frequent finger poppers found that it did not raise their likelihood of developing arthritis.
jpa1999/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images
While cracking your fingers may not put you at increased risk for developing the chronic condition, it can lead to decreased grip strength or even accidental injury.
Fact: This phrase, sometimes rearranged as “feed a cold, starve a fever,” doesn’t have much truth to it today.
Heritage Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The idea likely dates back to the Middle Ages, but science does not support the notion that fasting can fix either illness.
Fact: It might feel unpleasant on a cold day, but leaving your house freshly showered doesn’t make you more susceptible to illness.
Peter Cade/Stone/Getty Images
Exposure to germs is what makes you sick, not temperature.
But some viruses do survive better in dry, cold, conditions, such as Influenza A.