Is it really that bad to go to bed with wet hair? Myth-busting things our mothers told us

Most mothers usually speak very reasonably. But sometimes – just sometimes – they come out with utter garbage.

These “mother myths” have been repeated over and over for generations. We look at some of them and ask experts to reveal the truth…

1. If you go to bed with wet hair, you will catch a cold

While it doesn’t feel good to lay your wet head on a pillow before bed, it definitely won’t give you a cold, no matter what your mom says.

“Catching a cold this way seems to be the most common myth among mothers,” says Dr. Natalia Bogatcheva, General Practitioner at The London General Practice.

She explains that you can catch a cold if someone with a cold sneezes or coughs nearby, and that cold viruses can also be transmitted through bodily fluids, but stresses, “Wet hair has nothing to do with that!”

Going to bed with wet hair can damage your hair, however, and Bogatcheva adds, “One of the problems that can arise is that if the skin is kept damp for a long period of time, and wet hair, you can get scalp infections also breaks easily so can lead to hair damage in the long term.”

2. Going out without a coat makes you sick

Similar to the wet hair myth, being cold doesn’t itself lead to a cold – it means exposure to a virus that can make you sick, explains Asda-Online doctor Dr. Babak Ashrafi. But he continues, “Cold weather often leads to exposure to viruses because you’re likely to stay indoors and some viruses benefit from multiplying in colder, drier weather.”

Some studies also show that the immune system has a harder time fighting off disease during a cold spell, he adds.

3. Cracking knuckles causes arthritis

Caroline Aylott, director of research at Versus Arthritis, says, “The simple answer is that there is no evidence that cracking knuckles lead to arthritis.”

Ashrafi agrees, explaining, “When you crack an knuckle or any of your joints, there comes the sound of bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid. Many find relief from cracking joints, but it doesn’t directly lead to arthritis. “

He points out that there are many different types of arthritis, and osteoarthritis can be linked to cracking knuckles, but emphasizes, “It’s largely genetic and age-related.”

4. Eating crusts makes your hair curly

It’s a neat idea, but a curling iron would work better than crusts, the experts say. “Unfortunately, if you want to make your hair either curly or even curly, eating crusts won’t help,” says Ashrafi. “Although the crust may contain more nutrients than the bread itself, there’s no evidence that they cause you to get curls.”

5. Sitting too close to the TV will damage your eyes

Your mother may have told you that if you sat too close to the TV as a child, you would either get “square eyes” or permanently damage your vision. “But that’s not true,” emphasizes Ashrafi. “Excessive exposure to screens will only cause eyestrain and not permanent damage.”

To prevent eyestrain, take breaks from watching TV or staring at screens for long periods of time, and get your eyes tested regularly, he advises.

6. Eating cheese before bed gives you nightmares

Your mother may have told you that eating cheese before bed gives you nightmares, but that’s not really true, Ashrafi observes. “Medical experts agree that this is an urban myth, and there’s no real evidence that cheese causes nightmares,” he says.

Some cheeses, like brie or blue cheese, may keep you awake or alert because they contain tyramine, which triggers the brain to produce stress hormones, he explains, but emphasizes, “There’s not really a direct link between eating cheese and having nightmares. ”

7. Eating carrots helps you see in the dark

This is an urban myth believed to date back to World War II, but Ashrafi says, “Unfortunately, eating carrots will not fix your eyesight or suddenly allow you to see better in the dark.” “

However, he points out that carrots are high in vitamin A, which is good for your eyesight as it helps convert light signals sent to the brain. “While it may not cure vision problems, carrots are still a healthy and inexpensive option as part of a balanced diet,” he adds.

8. You shouldn’t swim right after eating

Ashrafi says there’s really no safety concern about swimming right after eating, although he points out: “Many argue that a full stomach prevents blood flow in the body or causes cramps. But if you got a stomach or muscle cramp, it would be uncomfortable, as opposed to a real danger.

“It’s up to you whether you feel fit to swim after eating – listen to your body.”

9. Chewing gum takes seven years to digest when you swallow it

Bogatcheva says, “This one always makes me smile, and as a mother of a young child, I fully understand why the myth continues to circulate. I think it was scare tactics used to create a myth that it will stay in the stomach for years in hopes that it will deter some kids (and adults) from even chewing the gum.

“The truth is that the chewing gum – once swallowed – passes safely and intact through the intestines and does no harm – unless, of course, a large amount is swallowed and, if it clumps together, could cause a blockage in the very small ones.” Children.”