Old wives’ tales. These are tales people used to follow when it came to their health. Most people nowadays hear these from their grandparents and maybe even their parents because that’s what they were taught. It’s okay to be a little skeptical of old wives’ tales, as you should. Many of these tales are untrue, and on rare occasions, they sometimes aren’t.
If you’ve partaken in any of the old wives’ tales, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Many Americans have participated in them, and an even larger percentage still believe they are real. So, let’s finalize whether or not these old wives’ tales are true. Take a look at some of the most common old wives’ tales and know whether you should follow them.
Commonly Known
Old Wives’ Tales
Wives’ Tale: Eating Chicken Noodle Soup Can Cure A Cold
- Chicken noodle soup tastes and feels nice when you have a cold, but it doesn’t necessarily cure it. Many think that because the healthier version of chicken noodle soup has more vitamins and nutrients, it boosts their immune system and eventually cures them. In reality, the soup broth, as long as it’s not very salty, keeps you hydrated when you have a cold.
Wives’ Tale: Taking a lot of Vitamin C Helps Get Rid of A Cold
- Your body needs a certain amount of vitamin C daily. It makes sense to believe that taking extra vitamin C will help you get better faster. The recommended daily amount will be more than enough to help you, so you don’t need extra. Additionally, taking the recommended amount does not promise that your cold will go away any sooner. So, take the recommended dose and take some cold medicine.
Wives’ Tale: Treat A Fever With A Cold Bath or Shower
- Having a fever is not fun, and while the initial reaction is to cool the body down, you may want to hold off on that. Fevers help fight infections, and the chills that come with them are your body’s way of telling you that it needs warmth. So, the next step should be to wrap yourself in a blanket or wear layers that will keep you warm. Stay away from the cold bath or shower, and take ibuprofen to help bring down the temperature.
Wives’ Tale: Wait At Least 30 Minutes to 1 Hour After Eating To Swim
- This is why people advise this: After eating, your body moves blood away from your muscles like your arms and legs and focuses on your digestive system. This process might result in you having cramps which may increase your risk of drowning. While this sounds like it could be true, there is no scientific evidence to prove it. Eat your lunch and take a dip whenever you’re ready.
Wives’ Tale: Sitting Close To The TV Will Make You Go Blind
- In 1967, there was a recall of colored televisions because the TVs released an amount of radiation that exceeded what the government said was safe for people. Modern televisions and televisions following that year produced little to no radiation. That was in 1967. In 2023 we can assure you that your TV is safe.
Wives’ Tale: Never Wake Up A Sleepwalker
- Sleepwalking is something that many people go through. If you’re in the house with a sleepwalker, you don’t necessarily need to wake them up, but you can if you need to for your safety. Sleepwalkers don’t know what they are doing during this time, so if your safety is threatened, you should wake them up. This will not send them into shock or cause them a heart attack.
Wives’ Tale: Reading in Dim Light is Bad for Your Eyesight
- Reading in dim light causes you to squint and put a little stress on your eyes. If you’re reading in bright light, this prevents your eyes from being tired from squinting. Ideally, you would want to read with a brighter light, but if you cannot, a dim light is fine and will not damage your eyes.
Be Careful What You Follow
As you can tell, most of these tales are false. It’s important always to research any health advice you get that isn’t from your provider. You want to make sure that there is a science to back it up, and if you’re not sure, you can always schedule an appointment with our doctors and ask them. Stay safe!
