Boring Research Terms That You Might See in This Book
Part I: ‘Look at the size of his feet!’
Myth: Men with big feet have bigger penises
Myth: You use only 10 per cent of your brain
Myth: Your hair and fingernails continue to grow after you die
Myth: If you shave your hair, it will grow back faster, darker and thicker
Myth: If you pull out a grey hair, two grow back in its place.
Myth: You’ll ruin your eyesight if you read in the dark
Myth: If you don’t shut your eyes when you sneeze, your eyeball will pop out
Myth: The average person swallows eight spiders a year
Myth: You should move your bowels at least once a day
Myth: Your urine should be almost clear
Myth: You lose most of your body heat through your head
Myth: You can beat a breathalyser test
Myth: You should never wake a sleepwalker
Part II: ‘Do you want to catch pneumonia out there?’
Myths About Illnesses and Injuries and How We Treat Them
Myth: Cold or wet weather makes you ill
Myth: You can get a hernia by lifting something heavy
Myth: You can catch poison ivy from someone who has it
Myth: You should put butter on a burn
Myth: If you have allergies, you should own only a short-haired or non-shedding dog
Myth: A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s
Myth: If you get stung by a bee, don’t squeeze out the stinger
Myth: If you get stung by a jellyfish, you should get someone to urinate on the sting
Myth: Citronella candles effectively repel mosquitoes
Myth: Mosquitoes that buzz by your ear don’t bite
Myth: Green mucus indicates a sinus infection
Myth: Using underarm antiperspirants causes breast cancer
Myth: Flu jabs can cause the flu
Myth: You should stay awake if you’ve had a concussion
Myth: If you agree to donate your organs, doctors won’t work as hard to save your life
Myth: If you use the highest SPF sun cream, you won’t get burned
Myth: Vitamin C, echinacea and zinc will keep you from getting a cold
Myth: Breast milk can cure ear infections
Myth: Acupuncture doesn’t really work
Part III: ‘But I was on the pill!’
Myth: Men think about sex every seven seconds
Myth: Condoms protect you from all STDs
Myth: Semen is loaded with calories
Myth: Single people have much better sex lives than married people
Myth: Women lose interest in sex after menopause
Myth: Virgins don’t have openings in their hymens
Myth: A doctor can tell whether you are a virgin or not
Myth: You can’t get pregnant using the ‘pull out’ method
Myth: You can’t get pregnant during your period
Myth: You can’t get pregnant if you have sex in water
Myth: Birth-control pills don’t work as well if you’re on antibiotics
Myth: You can’t get pregnant when you’re on the pill
Myth: You’re more likely to have a baby boy if you conceive in the middle of your cycle
Myth: You can predict the sex of your baby without a doctor
Myth: Flying on a plane is dangerous for your unborn baby
Myth: Bed rest prevents pre-term labour
Part IV: ‘He won’t get into Oxbridge without Baby Einstein®’
Myths About Babies and Children
Myth: Baby Einstein® makes your baby smarter
Myth: Adding cereal to your baby’s diet helps him sleep longer
Myth: Propping a baby upright helps with reflux
Myth: Teething can cause a fever
Myth: It’s possible to spoil a baby
Myth: Women who are breastfeeding can drink alcohol
Myth: Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines are safe for babies and toddlers
Myth: Walkers help your baby learn to walk earlier
Myth: The iron in baby formula causes constipation
Myth: Babies need water when it is hot outside
Myth: Sugar makes kids hyperactive
Myth: Eat your spinach to grow strong like Popeye
Part V: ‘Don’t swallow your gum!’
Myths About What We Eat and Drink
Myth: Chewing gum stays in your stomach for seven years
Myth: Eating turkey makes you sleepy
Myth: Eating bananas attracts mosquitoes, while eating garlic repels them
Myth: At a picnic, you should avoid foods with mayonnaise
Myth: Eating grapefruit burns calories
Myth: Eating at night makes you fat
Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day
Myth: If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated
Myth: Caffeinated beverages are dehydrating
Myth: You can cure a hangover with…
Myth: Beer before liquor, never been sicker
Myth: If you pick up food within five seconds of it hitting the floor, it’s safe to eat
Myth: You can chew gum instead of brushing your teeth
Myth: You should wait an hour after eating before you go swimming
Part VI: ‘Vaccines made my baby autistic’
Myths That Spark Controversy and Debate
Myth: The fluoride in your water is dangerous
Myth: It is safe for babies to sleep in bed with their parents
Myth: More people commit suicide around public holidays