Common Myths about Health Your Mother Told You Dispelled

Don't fret. Most likely, she didn't know she was lying to you. And even if she did, she probably thought following her lies was in your best interests.

Conventional wisdom is a scary thought. Remember, even when something seems to make sense superficially, it may not be logical when you actually investigate it. In this age of the Internet and mass education, there is no reason not to question every piece of advice you've ever heard.

In fact it's even a proven fact that inquisition, the Socratic method, is the best way to learn, as you're far more likely to be interested in what you're learning and thus far more likely to retain the knowledge (Don't take my word for it).

1 - Cracking Your Knuckles will give you arthritis!

Nope, sorry mom. I know it's annoying, but harm is almost never done. The joints go through much 'wear and tear' every day. Cracking your knuckles doesn't compare. All cracking your knuckle does is release the nitrogen in your joints and stretch the ligaments a bit. The sound is caused by a rush of gas and is completely harmless. There are no scientific studies which show cracking knuckles causes any bone damage or arthritis.

2 - Dress Warm or You'll Get Sick!

Sickness occurs when viruses or bacteria infect your body. Literally, then, the temperature can't make you sick. Now there may be some truth to cold temperatures lowering the ability of your immune system to fight sickness, but there is probably no truth that it increases your susceptibility to sickness. There have been studies done on swimmers who enjoy the freezing water while naked and it was found that they are no more likely to get sick than the average person. Dress warm for comfort, not because you're scared you might get sick.

By the way, this one also dispels the common, "Don't go out with your hair wet," myth for similar reasons. Wet hair does nothing but make your head colder, which once again, can't make you sick!

Sorry mom, the worse cold weather can do is give you a temporary runny nose (unless you're standing half-naked in Antarctica; then be sure to avoid hypothermia).

3 - Shaving Your Hair Will Make It Come Back Thicker!

Mom, come on now. While shaving may make the tips of your hair pricklier, it in no way increases the amount of hair roots you have. You could have figured that one out on your own! How could shaving, which just cuts off the top part of the hair, never affecting the roots and barely affecting the skin, cause you to grow more hair roots and follicles?

The only thing that causes more hair growth is, of course, masturbation, but that's only on your palms...uh right.

4 - Reading in the Dark Will Make You Go Blind!

No ma'am. Though a more logical lie than the rest, reading the dark will not hurt your eyesight. Your pupils dilate or contract depending on the brightness of the light entering them. So, in affect, it actually becomes easier to read in low lighting. In severely low lighting, however, there may be some strain on the eyes that could cause a headache. But really, no study has ever shown eye damage because of reading in the dark.

Strike four mom, you're out...again.

So go on, kids: read in the dark, go outside naked, shave yourself bald, and pop those joints.