Time-Honored Health Advice that Makes No Sense

Just because you've heard it a million times, doesn't mean that it's true. Here's the age-old advice that you should ditch—and the tips that you should follow instead for optimal health.

Fake news is harming your health

Some age-old wisdom about achieving and maintaining good health has withstood the test of time—and scientific study. For example, chicken soup really has medicinal properties, and an apple a day just might keep the doctor away. Other well-known adages have been debunked…but many people still believe in them. How do these health “facts” take hold? Sometimes, something’s been said so many times by people we trust (um, hi, Mom and Grandma), we just start to accept it as fact. And sometimes, something just sounds good and we want a quick fix.

“We’re more tired than ever before, we’re more overweight than ever before, and we have more autoimmune diseases than ever before,” says Kylene Bogden, RDN, a Cleveland-based registered dietitian nutritionist who works with NBA athletes and is the co-founder of FWDfuel Sports Nutrition. “People will do anything they can to get a step ahead and feel a little better. That’s why they can go nuts and jump on these bandwagons.” But for truly better health, you should jump off the following bandwagons.

Young Woman Sick At Home
vgajic/Getty Images

Feed a cold, starve a fever

It’s a catchy little catchphrase, but it doesn’t withstand scientific scrutiny. Well, not all of it, anyway. Elroy Vojdani, MD, a functional medicine practitioner and the founder of Regenera Medical in Los Angeles, explains that the first part is sound. “When the immune system is battling an infection, it uses a tremendous amount of energy, and the calories from food intake can certainly help fuel the immune response and ensure a speedy recovery.” Although it’s not encouraged to eat more calories, make sure you aren’t starving.

The second part, however, is where things go awry. “The amount of energy used to fight an infection goes up exponentially when a fever is involved,” says Dr. Vojdani. The smart path, he says, is to consume healthy calories—but without overdoing it and stressing your intestinal tract. He suggests easy-to-digest, nutritious, and hydrating foods like bone broth, and adds that you should also make sure to drink plenty of fluids and get ample rest. Whatever you do, avoid these 30 everyday mistakes that raise your risk of catching a cold.

doctor pouring prescription pills into hand close up
JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Take an aspirin a day to keep your heart healthy

For decades, the medical community insisted that everyone over a certain age should ward off heart disease with a daily dose of aspirin because of its blood-thinning properties. It’s no wonder that so many people still believe that claim, despite new studies debunking it and new guidelines from the American Heart Association. According to one study of nearly 20,000 people from the United States and Australia published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018, taking an aspirin a day does not prolong the lives of healthy, elderly people, and, in fact, it increases the risk of hemorrhage. Another study published in JAMA Neurology in 2019 found that daily aspirin use is linked to an increased likelihood of intracranial bleeding. For people who have had a stroke or heart attack or have undergone a cardiac procedure, popping an aspirin a day might still be a good idea, but that should be determined by your doctor. Don’t miss the warning signs of these five types of heart disease.

glass of water on table next to bed
elenaleonova/Getty Images

You need to drink eight glasses of water a day

While this isn’t a bad rule of thumb, it’s not 100 percent accurate either. How much water you really need is highly individualized and depends on body size, activity level, and even genetics, says Bogden, since sodium levels in sweat differ from person to person. Some people need less, but many people need more. How can you tell how much you need? “It’s about listening to your body and knowing how you feel,” says Bogden. “In regard to dehydration, are you going poop every day? Is your energy stable throughout the day without crashes? And if you’re highly active, do your muscles and joints feel good? That’s really how you gauge it.” Another good rule of thumb is to drink when you’re thirsty and to check if your urine is pale yellow. It’s also important to note that you don’t have to get all of your water from straight-up water. Foods like watermelon and spinach are comprised of nearly 100 percent water, and beverages such as milk, juice, and herbal tea, can count toward your daily intake as well. People who eat a diet rich in processed foods who may not eat enough fruits and vegetables need to drink more water.

collection of different sugar
Prostock-Studio/Getty Images

Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar

We hate to break the news to you, but all sugar is, well, sugar, which means it’s all equally problematic if you consume too much of it. “Brown sugar and turbinado (‘raw’) sugar do have slightly fewer calories per gram and a small amount of minerals (mostly calcium and potassium) that are likely inconsequential,” says Dr. Vojdani. “They do, however, have an identical glycemic index to white sugar, meaning that they have the exact same potential to do harm to your metabolism.” He recommends sticking to sweeteners with a lower glycemic index, like coconut sugar, maple syrup, or agave syrup. And, in general, do your best to limit your sugar intake. The American Heart Association recommends a maximum of 6 teaspoons (100 calories) per day of added sugar for women and 9 teaspoons (150 calories) for men. Here are 18 sneaky sources of added sugar you don’t realize you’re eating.

woman looking in refrigerator late at night
Moyo Studio/Getty Images

Eating before bed makes you gain weight

While studies have shown that regularly eating junk food or large meals late at night can indeed contribute to weight gain and other health problems, experts are rethinking their stance on more responsible nighttime snacking. Data suggests that small, nutrient-dense foods before bed can lead to positive physiological changes in terms of muscle protein synthesis and cardiometabolic health, according to an article published in Nutrients.

If you’re hungry, Bogden suggests eating a snack that has a little bit of protein and a little bit of fat, and no added sugar—something like a handful of nuts, an apple with nut butter, or hummus with veggies. She also advises leaving at least an hour (ideally two) between your snack and your snooze. “There’s a saying, ‘Rest and digest.’ The gut needs to calm down, digest your food, and seal itself off before you sleep. [Otherwise] you’re half-digesting your food and then not sleeping because your body is struggling to do two massive tasks at once—digest and sleep—and you can end up sluggish and bloated the next morning.” Here are 28 healthy snacks to satisfy the munchies.

cracking knuckles
rfranca/Getty Images

Don’t crack your knuckles—it causes arthritis

Hearing that satisfying (or annoying, depending on your perspective) pop in your knuckles can’t be good for you, right? Well, it may not be good for you, per se, but experts agree that it doesn’t lead to arthritis. That “cracking” sound is actually caused by the bursting of gas bubbles in the finger’s joint fluid, according to Harvard Health experts. One study published by the journal Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation also found that knuckle-cracking didn’t negatively impact grip strength, something that had been an earlier concern. That said, there have been rare cases of tendon injuries and joint dislocations related to attempted knuckle-cracking. These are the 38 things doctors wish you knew about arthritis.

gluten free diet
Olivier Le Moal/Getty Images

Gluten-free foods are healthier

Gluten-free foods aren’t inherently healthier, and, in fact, they could be unhealthier than you think. “The majority of gluten-free replacement products at the supermarket are made with ultra-processed grains and powders and contain large amounts of stabilizers and gums, which are undoubtedly bad for you,” says Dr. Vojdani. “Be mindful of this and choose products that focus on whole foods rather than processed ones and you’ll be doing the gluten-free diet the right way.” By no means does everyone need to give up gluten, but if you think that you have celiac disease—in which the protein in wheat, barley, and rye causes gastrointestinal issues, joint pain, and fatigue—or a gluten sensitivity, talk to your doctor about being properly diagnosed and devising a healthy food plan. Dr. Vojdani adds that some people with autoimmune diseases might also benefit from a gluten-free diet and suggests following it for four to six weeks to see if there’s an improvement.

Midsection of man pouring milk in drinking glass at table
Maskot/Getty Images

You need to drink milk for strong, healthy bones

It’s not necessarily milk that does a body good—it’s calcium, and you can get that from a variety of non-dairy sources (though a glass of milk is an easy way to get a large dose of it). “Needing to drink milk for strong bones because of the calcium content is just plain false. There are tons of foods that are rich in calcium outside of cow’s milk: almonds, broccoli, chia seeds, kale, beans, and lentils, to name a few,” says Dr. Vojdani. “Choosing vegan sources of calcium can add anti-inflammatory properties to your diet and have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.” So how much calcium do you need? According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need 1,000 milligrams per day. Women over 50 and men over 70, however, should get 1,200 milligrams, while children’s needs vary depending on their age, with those between 9 and 18 needing the most (1,300 milligrams). If you notice any of these signs, you’re not getting enough calcium.

Popcorn in Theater Aisle
Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/Getty Images

If you drop food on the floor, it’s safe to eat as long as you pick it up within five seconds

We hate to break it to you, but the five-second rule is flat-out false. No matter how badly you want to eat that food you’ve dropped, you shouldn’t. It can be contaminated with bacteria the second it touches the ground, according to a study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and it will acquire more bacteria the longer it stays there. The researchers found that tile and stainless steel caused the most bacteria transmission, while carpet had a very low transmission rate. And of the foods tested—cut watermelon, bread, buttered bread, and strawberry gummy candy—the watermelon had the highest rate of contamination.

woman sitting on the beach applying sunscreen
Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images

You can skip sunscreen if you have dark skin

This advice is not only untrue but also very dangerous. Everyone needs to be smart about the sun and vigilant about sunscreen. While a higher concentration of the pigment melanin can block some UV rays and lessen your chances of developing a sunburn, according to the American Cancer Society, you can still absolutely get skin cancer (and a sunburn). In fact, a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that even though Caucasians are more likely to develop melanoma, African-Americans are more likely to learn that they have it in its later stages and to die from it. To protect your skin, check out the best sunscreen for every skin type.

bottles of detoxes
Wiktory/Shutterstock

Detoxes are important to get rid of toxins and jump-start weight loss

It’s the liver’s job to detox your body, and it can handle a little overindulgence. If you’re overindulging regularly, you’ll need a lifestyle change to make sure that it keeps working optimally. Plus, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, detoxes and cleanses aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means they haven’t been tested in clinical trials. A review of research published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that many of the studies on detoxes that do exist employed flawed methodologies, had small samples sizes, or were performed on animals. But what about possible weight loss? While you may initially see some pounds come off, it’s likely due to the detox’s restricted calories, and as a result, the weight loss likely won’t last. Read about 8 dangerous detoxes that could send you to the hospital.

Pasta background
Creativeye99/Getty Images

Carbs make you gain weight

All carbs are not created equal. Yes, some can contribute to weight gain—namely, refined carbs such as white flour, white bread, and white rice. But complex carbohydrates, found in foods like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-wheat flour, can actually help you lose weight, according to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the study, participants who consumed whole grains burned around 100 more calories per day, as well as had increased metabolic rates and fecal energy losses, than those who consumed refined grains. And don’t forget that fruits and vegetables are actually the healthiest whole food carbs of them all. “Good” complex carbs contain fiber or protein and keep you full longer. Of course, you shouldn’t go crazy with the carbs (or most other foods), but if you stick to the daily recommended intake, you could reap the benefits of weight loss and improved overall health over time. Read on to find out 11 health “myths” that turned out to be true.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Renata Chalfin, MD, on March 30, 2021