Are Poinsettias Really Toxic? Does Sugar Make Kids Hyperactive?

Recently in the news there have been reports about certain holiday myths and old wives tales that researchers are now stating that there is no validity to them. According to a report on CNN and the Canadian Press there is no real evidence to these myths.

Holiday Myth #1 - Are Poinsettias Toxic?

According to these reports poinsettia ingestion made to the U.S. poison control found no deaths and no one needed any medical care when data was collected from 22,793 calls. And although public health officials have reported that these plants are safe, many still have a belief that they are in fact toxic. It was stated that it is possible to become ill only by consuming large quantities of the plant but even then that would be rare. However, I say just to be safe ingestion of poinsettias should be reported immediately because I am not sure how this myth was started anyway.

Holiday Myth #2 - Does Having a Holiday Midnight Snack Make You Fat?

I think we have all pondered this whether it is during the holiday season or not. Research according to CNN states that eating before bed does not cause more weight gain than eating at other times. According to the American Dietetic Association it does not matter the time of day that a person eats for overall weight gain what does matter is the amount of calories eaten during the day. And that the real danger in eating at night is that it tends to be "mindless eating." I wonder if that means Santa's cookies. I'm not to sure about this one...

Holiday Myth #3 - Does Sugar Make Kids Hyperactive?

Well yeah. But according to research children who were given different amounts of sugar did not react any differently than those who had none. An interesting note on this one is that it was noted that although sugar is associated with misbehavior it is not the real culprit. It is most often that kids are exposed to the sugar during exciting events that would make them more hyperactive such as birthday or holiday parties. So according to this myth we can load them up with candy during bedtime. Not!

Holiday Myth #4 - Is There An Increase In Suicides During The Holidays?

According to the research on this it showed that worldwide suicides are actually more prevalent during warm summer months that scientists can not explain. And that suicide did not increase on or around the holiday season or any other major celebration. Even though people often associate suicide with the time of year that should be joyful it also a depressing time for those in hardship or without family and that is why I think people are just more aware of it during the holiday season since it is a time that should be fun and festive.

Holiday Myth #5 - Can A Hangover Be Cured?

Been there, done that. And the answer to that is NO! According to research on this myth there is no magic bullet. There may be remedies to help with some symptoms, but other than letting time take its course there is no true solution to a hangover other than not getting one. There were no large studies that have found any truth to all the internet options for hangover cures other than time. So in other words don't drink too much simple...

Holiday Myth #6 - Is Most Of Your Body Heat Lost Through Your Head?

I know we have all heard this one. But according to experts any part of the body that is exposed to cold weather will lose heat at the same time and that there is nothing special about the head than any other part of the body. So in other words keep all body parts covered during the winter months as not to lose any body heat. Gloves and boots are just as important as hats. Bundle up is the lesson here.

Whether you believe in these holiday myths or not most importantly is to enjoy the festive season and be safe in doing so. Don't over indulge but don't prohibit yourself either. Happy Holidays!

Resources:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jjFPLydDqc4pS9kI_T7Rj1eX4PsA

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/18/holiday.myths/?iref=mpstoryview