How many questionable things have you been told by your parents and other authority figures, only to find out years later that they weren't true? Back then, there was no way to verify information without doing your own research. And no ten-year-old would spend a Saturday in the library trying to figure out how long it takes for chewing gum to digest when they could be out with their friends at the mall. While everyone has their own childhood, the popular childhood myths below may sound familiar. Chances are, you've heard at least some of these from your parents!
ContentPopular childhood myths: coffee slows down growthHealth myth: TV will ruin your eyesHealth myth: you will get sick if your hair gets wetPopular childhood myths: you can't swim after eatingPopular childhood myths: chewing gum takes 7 years to digest
WomanEL decided to dispel them so that you no longer say these phrases to your own children. Why? None of this is true.
Popular childhood myths: coffee slows down growth
No, sorry, that's false. “There is no scientific evidence that coffee can slow down a person’s growth,” says Harvard Health. This idea may have originated from the misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis (a disease that can be associated with loss of height).”
Another problem with the “coffee stunts growth” theory is that growth occurs long before most people start drinking coffee regularly. By adolescence, most people have almost reached their full height. For girls, this usually happens by the age of 15-17, for boys a little later. You can’t “undo” bone growth once it’s finished.”
Health Myth: TV Will Ruin Your Eyes
No, Sitting Too Close to the TV Doesn't will hurt your eyes. But it could be a sign of poor eyesight. “Sitting too close to a TV or computer screen is not bad for your eyes,” says vitreoretinal surgeon Ethan Stern. However, it can be uncomfortable for some people with farsightedness, a condition in which near objects appear blurry.”
If your child is sitting close to the TV, it could be a warning sign that they have developed strabismus, a problem with eye alignment, or that they may need glasses.
Health myth: You'll get sick if your hair gets wet
No, going outside with wet hair will not automatically cause you to catch a cold. “Sorry, Mom, but the short answer is no,” says Dr. Carmen Dargel. “Wet hair in a cold room and place can make you feel cold and uncomfortable. But it will not cause you to catch a cold.
Viruses transmitted through body fluids cause colds, flu and COVID-19. To get infected with viruses, you need to come into contact with fluids. This usually happens when sick people sneeze, cough or sneeze. Having wet hair will not make you more attractive to viruses or increase your risk of getting sick.”
To avoid getting sick at all, we suggest learning how to prevent a cold. Nothing complicated, but it's important to know.
Popular myths from childhood: you can't swim after eating
Will you be comfortable? Maybe not. Is it really dangerous? No. “No major medical safety organization currently recommends waiting to bathe after eating.”
Swimming within an hour of eating does not increase the risk of drowning in adults and children who swim recreationally or competitively,” the American Red Cross says.
Popular childhood myths: Chewing gum takes 7 years to digest
Usually, chewing gum is eliminated from the body within 48 hours, but definitely not seven years! “It used to be said that swallowed chewing gum stays in the stomach for seven years before it can be digested,” says Elizabeth Rajan, MD.
“But that’s not true. If you swallow chewing gum, it’s true that your body can’t digest it. But chewing gum doesn’t stay in the stomach. It passes through the digestive system relatively intact and is excreted in the feces.”
Have you heard of such a thing as empty nest syndrome? Here we shared its signs and definition.