The Danger of "Dr. Google"
In the age of the internet, everyone is a health expert. A quick scroll through social media will offer you cures for everything from fatigue to cancer, often involving exotic teas or restrictive diets. While access to information is a powerful tool, the spread of health misconceptions has become a significant public health challenge.
Doctors today spend nearly as much time un-teaching misinformation as they do treating patients. Believing in these myths isn't just a harmless mistake; it can lead to delayed diagnoses, dangerous self-medication, and unnecessary anxiety.
To help you navigate this noise, we have identified the most persistent common health myths encountered in daily OPDs and the doctor-approved health facts you should believe instead.
Key Takeaways: Quick Fact Check
1. You Need Detox Diets to Cleanse Your Body
Myth:
The idea that we are "collecting" metabolites or "toxins" from the food we eat or air we breathe, and that these same toxins must be removed from our bodies via expensive green juices, tea or fasting methods, is a common therapeutic approach marketed to individuals in the form of detoxification diets.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
You have a functioning Natural Detoxification System, which is more than sufficient to detoxify all of the chemicals, pollutants, contaminants and unhealthy materials in your body.
2. Natural Supplements are Always Safe
Myth:
All herbal products and supplements, due to being ‘natural’, can’t harm us in any way.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
The reality is that “natural" doesn’t equate to being safe. For example, arsenic is equally “natural" but it’s deadly poison. Herbal Supplements can cause severe complications or even death when mixed with other medications such as blood thinners and heart medications.
3. You Must Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day
Myth:
If you aren't drinking exactly 8 glasses (or 2 liters) of plain water daily, you are chronically dehydrated.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
There is no medical basis for the "8 glasses" rule; your needs depend on your weight, activity, and climate. You also get fluids from foods like fruits, vegetables, and dal.
4. Eating Fat Makes You Fat
Myth:
To lose weight and protect your heart, you must eliminate all fat from your diet.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
Fat is essential for brain function and nutrient absorption; eating fat doesn't make you fat, excess calories do. Focus on consuming "good" fats like nuts, olive oil, and fish that protect your heart, rather than eliminating fat entirely.
5. Antibiotics Cure Colds and Flu
Myth:
"Since I have a bad cough and fever, I need an antibiotic so it can kill my infection off quickly."
The Doctor Approved Fact:
Antibiotics only kill bacteria - thus, are CONSIDERED ineffective against the viruses which are the cause of colds and flu. When taken incorrectly, antibiotics kill off all your helpful gut bacteria and contribute towards antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria - making future infections more difficult to treat.
6. Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Myth:
Cracking your knuckles creates a popping noise that damages the ligaments and other connective tissues around your joints, resulting in arthritis when you are older.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
That noise is actually caused by the release of carbon dioxide gas bubbles from the synovial fluid that maintains the lubrication of your joints. It is not caused by the bones rubbing against one another.
7. Sugar Directly Causes Diabetes
Myth:
Eating large quantities of chocolates or sweets will result in developing diabetes.
The Doctor Approved Fact:
Excessive caloric intake through excess sugar ingestion may result in developing obesity, which leads to obesity as a result of prolonged eating habits.
Trust Science, Not Trends
Health is not about following the latest trend or fearing every bite of food you take. It is about balance, consistency, and evidence-based care. The next time you hear a shocking health claim, pause and ask yourself: "Is this a doctor approved health fact or just a marketing tactic?"
If you have questions about your diet, medications, or symptoms, do not rely on search engines. The Department of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is here to provide you with accurate, personalized medical advice that you can trust.
Book an appointment with SGRH today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Do detox diets help with weight loss?
A: You may lose weight initially on a detox diet, but it is mostly water weight and muscle mass, not fat. Once you return to normal eating, the weight usually returns.
Q2: Is it true that we only use 10% of our brains?
A: No, this is a total myth. Brain imaging (MRI/PET scans) shows that we use virtually every part of our brain, and most of the brain is active almost all the time, even when we are sleeping.
Q3: Is being wet from hair going out in the rain or after a shower enough to make one catch a cold?
A: When dry, the virus is not capable of infecting someone unless they have been exposed to it. However, extreme temperatures can increase your vulnerability to getting sick if you are exposed to a virus at that time, but being wet after taking a shower is not a cause of illness.
Q4: Should you starve a cold and feed a fever?
A: No! Both the cold and fever require energy from food to combat infection. Metabolically, the body's rate of energy used by the body increases while the immune system works overtime.
Q5: Is sea salt healthier than table salt?
A: Not exactly; sea salt and table salt contain a similar sodium content based on weight. Sea salt does have trace minerals found within it such as magnesium; however, the amounts are so small that they don't present a significant health benefit over table salt.
Q6: Is swallowing chewing gum safe for your stomach for seven years?
A: False. The base of chewing gum is not digested by your body; however, it does not sit in your stomach. Instead, it moves through your intestines and is eliminated from your body, along with other types of roughage, in about two days.
Q7: Is brown sugar healthier than white sugar?
A: Not really; they are about the same in health benefits. Brown sugar is white sugar plus molasses. The calories it contributes to your diet, as well as its potential to contribute to obesity and diabetes, are equal to white sugar.
Q8: Should I take daily multivitamins?
A: Usually, if you're eating a well-balanced diet, no; you do not need to take a multivitamin every day. You should talk with your physician if you have a specific vitamin deficiency (like Vitamin D or Vitamin B12) to find out what supplements to take.
