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Vashi2Panvel: Navi Mumbai: May 17: Picture this: Your kid has caught cold and you treat him your way, instead of taking him to your doc, only to find out later that your treatment has had an adverse effect on your dear one. The cold was not really as innocuous as you believed it was and this one might take a toll on his life. You don’t know where, what went wrong and you don’t realize that, though unknowingly, you’ve caused it all.

It happens with all of us. There are several myths in a layperson’s mind regarding a plethora of health-related issues. It could either be due to misinterpretation of facts or due to little knowledge; and as we know, having little knowledge is often more dangerous than not having it at all. There are several hundreds of myths that people hold regarding disease, diet and nutrition. Read on and find out which myth has taken you for a ride on various occasions and bust them instantly!

1.Myth: If I chew pan or tobacco I would be relieved of a tooth-ache. Brushing teeth with tobacco also helps.
Reality: Pan and tobacco are like poisons to teeth. They only harm the teeth. Using tooth-pastes or tooth-powder are the best alternatives for brushing teeth.

2.Myth: Heart problems are a result of obesity. Slim people do not suffer from cardiovascular problems.
Reality: Even slim people can suffer from heart ailments. It largely depends on your lifestyle, eating habits and genetic build-up, though obese people are more vulnerable to the disease more than there slim and fit counterpart.

3.Myth: For a strong physical build-up, I must depend only on non-vegetarian diet.
Reality: It’s a myth that only non-vegetarian diet can fulfil all the bodily requirements. Nutritionists suggest that lacto-vegetarian diets are a good option for body-building.

4.Myth: Women reach their sexual peak only when they reach 28.
Reality: It can be considered true as far as the supply of hormones is concerned. Women’s oestrogen hits its high point in their mid-20s. But peak hormones don’t mean peak sexual performance.

5.Myth: If I fast, I can reduce my weight and appear slimmer and fit.
Reality: Dieticians say that nothing can get more harmful than a binge-eating pattern. If you eat at odd hours and do not follow a proper diet regime you might gain more weight than what you wanted to lose.

6.Myth: Diet foods are as good as health foods.
Reality: Categorizing health foods and diet foods together is wrong. Diet foods can be refined, filled with artificial colours, preservatives and artificial sugar while health foods are not adulterated.

7.Myth: A diabetic must thrive on a low carbohydrate diet.
Reality: It’s only a myth that diabetes patient must have a low carbohydrate diet. In fact, it’s often suggested to patients that they should intake foods with high carbohydrates content, low fats and an adequate amount of proteins.

8.Myth: Using tooth-pastes with extra-whitening add brightness and gleam to teeth.
Reality: Toothpastes with extra-whitening agents only bleach the teeth. As far as possible they should be avoided as they remove the outer-most layer of the teeth making them weak and prone to cavities tooth-ache.

9.Myth: I should not eat chocolates and junk foods as it would cause acne and pimples on my skin.
Reality: It’s wrong to believe that chocolates and junk foods cause acne. A major factor affecting pimples is hormones and hereditary.

10.Myth: Many diabetic patients do not have fruits as they believe it would only harm them more.
Reality: It’s not recommended by doctors to avoid any fruits for such patients. A diabetic patient can have 100gm fruits on a daily basis.

11.Myth: I should use sunscreen lotions to avoid the UV rays only during summer seasons. It’s not a problem if I avoid it during winters or monsoons.
Reality: Indian seasons are such that we see the sun round the year. So, though we might feel it unnecessary to use a sunscreen lotion, avoiding it might cause sunburns.

12.Myth: Mostly people in metropolitan cities believe that avoiding breakfast is not a big deal. A heavy dinner or lunch would make up for skipping the breakfast.
Reality: One must never skip breakfast. In fact, the famous word among the docs is have breakfast like a king and dine like a pauper! This is the one of the best ways to healthy living.

13.Myth: People generally hold on to a pole or a nearby object in case they feel giddy due to stress or vertigo for support.
Reality: If one suddenly feels giddy or unconscious, instead of looking for a support, one must instantly sit down and relax. It relaxes a person both physically and mentally.

Swati Pandey
India News Feature Service