Health Myths That Every Woman Should Know Are Bogus

25. Can certain foods help you get pregnant? Sorry, no.

Unfortunately, no one superfood will make you more fertile. There are lots of old wives’ tales out there that will have you trying many different foods like yams or goji berries, promising increased fertility and your chances of getting pregnant. You don’t want these wives’ tales to get to your head. A much better approach is just becoming healthier overall, eating more vegetables and whole foods, and exercising regularly. While the woman needs to do this, it is equally crucial for the male to do this for both health reasons and support.

It is also important to be taking prenatal supplements if you are trying to get pregnant. Taking prenatal supplements is high in folic acid, which is essential for a developing embryo. Higher folic acid significantly reduces the chances of any neural tube defects and helps develop your baby’s brain and spine. If it is a whole, healthy food that someone suggests to try, it doesn’t hurt. Just know that it is your overall health that will be the biggest factor. If you are struggling to conceive, speak with your doctor, and they will be able to help you with the steps you can take.

24. Does the flu vaccine even do anything? Of course!

The flu vaccine is effective for most people and can lessen the symptoms of the flu considerably. The flu shot is usually administered in your arm area, and there is a new vaccine every year (the influenza virus is intelligent and changes year to year), so you will have to go back every year to get it. There are some side effects of getting the flu shot. However, not everyone experiences these, and they go away quickly for most people. Some people experience headaches, chills, or a fever after getting the injection. Others find it irritating at the injection site.

The flu shot isn’t for everyone. Babies under six months old should not get the flu shot, people with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and people with egg and mercury allergies. It is recommended to get the flu shot if you are in a vulnerable category, especially, for example, over 65 years of age or are pregnant. Getting the flu shot every year reduces your risk of staying at the hospital, which is lessening the strain on our healthcare systems. If you are worried about getting the flu shot, there is much information online, or you can speak with your doctor.

23. Do you think flip-flops are acceptable for your feet? You should think again!

Prolonged flip-flip wear can be terrible for your overall foot health. Wearing flip flops all the time can change the way that you walk, which in turn can be bad for your hips and back. Flip flops are fun in the summertime when you want to wear them to the beach or the lake, but they are not recommended for everyday footwear. If you are going to wear flip flops more frequently, it would be very beneficial to find a flip flop with a back strap to keep them on your feet and good arch support.

The problem with most flip-flops is that they are made cheaply. It is so easy to have multiple pairs of flip-flops around the house that you can slide into whenever you need to run out the door. You can even get flip-flops for your local dollar store now. However, these sandals are not great to wear all the time. Often you are changing the way you walk to keep the flip flop on your foot, and they are usually thin with no arch support. Another con to having a thin shoe is that you run the risk of objects puncturing the shoe, and in turn, your foot.

22. Yes, young people are experiencing more heart attacks in recent years.

While it is more likely for an older person to have a heart attack, the rate of younger people having heart attacks is on the rise and, unfortunately, more common in women. Many factors cause heart attacks in younger people and can include substance abuse, poor lifestyle choices, and health issues. People who smoke or abuse alcohol are more likely to have a heart attack younger. They probably have high blood pressure, too. The good news is there are steps you can take so that this is less likely to happen to you.

A great start would be to quit smoking and drinking. If you need help with this, reach out to your doctor or family members for support. Next, you will want to make healthier choices when it comes to your food and exercise. Weight and obesity are important factors in heart attacks happening in younger people, especially if your weight has made you have type 2 diabetes. If you have very low physical activity in your life, you will need to increase this. Start small and build healthy habits. That could look like going for a ten-minute walk every day then building up your time from there.

21. Heart attacks don’t only cause chest pain — look for these signs, too!

While chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, it is not the only sign. You can have a heart attack with no symptoms at all, which is more common in women than in men. You can take steps to prevent having heart attacks, like living a healthier lifestyle and quitting smoking. Heart attacks have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath and pain in your left arm and jaw. If you are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 immediately for help.

Unfortunately, other symptoms are more common for women and can look like symptoms of other issues. These include feeling nauseous, dizzy and lightheaded, and unusually tired. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoke, this will increase your heart disease risk and have a heart attack. If you experience these and think it could be because of a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately and advocate for your health. It is essential to try to reduce heart disease factors. Speak to your doctor about lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and quitting smoking if you need to.

20. Health Myth: Fruit has sugar, so it’s bad for you.

Sugars that you find in fruit compared to the sugars you find in candy and other sweet treats are very different. Sugar in candy and baked goods is called refined sugars, which you should limit. These can also be called fructose, along with many other names, and should only be enjoyed as a treat. These sugars are essentially empty and don’t have any benefits for your overall health. Sugars found in whole fruits, such as apples and berries, should not be lumped into this category because they are natural and have other benefits. Fruits are an essential part of a balanced diet.

Fruits have other necessary things in them, like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fruit can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. However, it is not recommended to eat an excessive amount of it. You want to reduce the amount of blood sugar spikes in your daily life, and fruits are a better option than candy. Fruit has fiber in it, which reduces your blood sugar levels from spiking as much when compared to candy. Fruit can be just as satisfying for your sugar cravings and is a much better alternative. Plus, it is just as delicious!

19. Health Myth: Your cycle comes every 28 days.

An average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but that doesn’t mean that that’s what you should be too. It also doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you if it’s not 28 days long. Many women have cycles that are different days every time and not consistently the same month to month. It is also normal. A woman’s menstrual cycle can be anywhere from 21-40 days long. It’s the same with a woman’s period as well; it can range from 3 days to 10 days long. That is also normal and can change cycle to cycle.

Some women find that the older they get, the more regular their period and cycle become, but sometimes it is irregular for its lifetime. You can use apps to track your menstrual cycle to make it easier for yourself, or you can mark it on a calendar. Also, if you decide to take birth control, this can make your cycle regular, though the period you have while on birth control is different. It is a good habit to track your period even if it is irregular so that in the future, if there is a medical issue, you have this information on hand.

18. Cranberry juice cures UTIs? Not exactly.

Cranberry juice does not cure a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), but some say it can help prevent it. Several studies show an improvement in the frequency of getting a UTI. Other reviews come up inconclusive. If you are going to add cranberry juice into your diet, you can add pure, unsweetened cranberry juice (not cocktail) or take cranberry pills. Cranberry pills are relatively inexpensive, and if you suffer from frequent UTIs, it could be an additional measure to take that won’t break the bank. Cranberry juice and be expensive. However, you can mix it with one part cranberry juice and one part water.

There are other steps you can take to prevent UTIs from happening in the future. A UTI occurs when bacteria get into your urethra and sticks to the urinary walls. It makes it painful to urinate, and it can travel up to your bladder and further to your kidneys which can be fatal. UTIs are common, however(up to 60% of women experience them) and easy to treat, or they go away on their own. Make sure you go pee after having sex, and always wipe front to back after going to the bathroom to help prevent UTIs in the future.

17. Health Myth: It is dangerous to workout during pregnancy.

Previously, it was thought not to be suitable for the women’s health or the baby’s health to work out during pregnancy and rest during their whole pregnancy. We know that this is not the case, and most women are encouraged to work out when they can during their pregnancy. If you have underlying health issues, like asthma or diabetes, you should modify your workouts or avoid them if necessary. Talk to your doctor to recommend working out and monitoring how you feel when working out. If it becomes too hard or you start feeling dizzy, stop doing the workout immediately.

Some workouts that can be done during pregnancy are walking or swimming. Any lower impact or lower risk workouts can be done and encouraged throughout your pregnancy to continue a healthy lifestyle. Any movements that are very high impact should be avoided, along with any exercises where you could fall easily. You should avoid any activities that are also dangerous – for example, extreme sports – while pregnant. There are lots of lower impact exercises you can find online, and you can discover pregnancy-specific routines on websites like YouTube, where you can follow along. Take breaks throughout the workout if you need to.

16. Going in and out of air conditioning will not make you sick, but something else could happen.

When you are going in and out of air conditioning, your body temperature is fluctuating a lot. The temperature change isn’t specifically why you’re getting sick. However, if it is happening frequently enough, it can lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. To combat this, you may want to keep your air conditioning comfortable instead of very cold. Room temperature can be around 68 or 70 degrees. If you keep it closer to 70, your overall home bill will be lower as well because you won’t be cooling off your house as much.

If you’re still getting sick while keeping the temperature in your house milder, it could be another issue with your air conditioning. If your air conditioner hasn’t had the filter changed on time, then you could be blowing dust and other allergens around in your home. Also, if there is any mold in your home, this could be blowing around as well. You’ll want to check your air conditioner or have it serviced to ensure it is running optimally. Pay attention if you start feeling stuffed up or if you know you are prone to react to these types of triggering allergens.

15. Will you get sick if you go outside with wet hair? No, but it could increase your chances of getting sick.

Similar to the previous point, the act of going outside with wet hair itself won’t make you sick, and this is an old wives’ tale. However, having wet hair when it is cold out can change your body temperature, making you colder. Therefore you could have a higher chance of catching a cold, but it is doubtful. Having wet hair in itself doesn’t make you more susceptible to catching a cold. Why? Because acquiring a cold requires transmission of bodily fluids, like breathing in the air after someone has sneezed. Those molecules can linger in the air and affect your health.

One thing that you should be aware of, however, is the cold can be damaging to your hair, and that is what you should worry about. When you go outside in the cold with wet hair, you risk your hair freezing and breaking off. When this happens, you will end up with very uneven hair, and to fix it, your layers will have to be cut to the length of the shortest piece. If you don’t have time to dry your hair in the morning, it is best to use some dry shampoo and avoid washing it until you have time to dry it properly.

14. Health Myth: Vegetarians and vegans need more protein than a regular diet.

Vegetarians and vegans don’t need any more protein than the rest of us, so this “rule” is a bogus wives tale that you can ignore. Everyone needs protein in their diet, but for most, it is usually an average amount. If you are trying to build muscle and working out a lot, sometimes it is better to incorporate more protein into your diet. You can research more about how much protein you should consume with specific workouts online or reach out to a nutrition specialist. A nutrition specialist will be able to tell you exactly how much protein you should consume and along with other foods as well.

For vegans and vegetarians, they will need to get their protein from sources other than animals. They will need plant-based proteins, which are very easy to incorporate into most diets. Some good protein sources include beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, and tofu. There are many meat alternative substitutes now as well that can be found at most grocery stores with very high protein. If you are trying to transition to eating a plant-based diet and eating much meat before, many people use these substitutes to make the transition much easier.

13. Are high-fat foods bad for you? The quick answer is nope.

That depends on what kinds of fats you are talking about. Trans fats are bad for you and are banned in The United States. Trans fat is the process of making fat a solid to prevent it from going bad, therefore lasting longer on our shelves. Saturated fats can also be bad, but that’s mostly because we consume too much of them. These can be fats from meats and dairy products like cheese. Saturated fats aren’t bad for you in small portions, but both of these types of fats can increase cholesterol, therefore, increasing your risk for heart disease.

However, there are quite a few good fats out there that we should include in our diet regularly. These are called monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. These two types of fats can be found in certain oils like olive and avocado oil, in most nuts and seeds, and fish like salmon. This type of fat should be incorporated into our diet and healthy for us, again in smaller portions. While these foods are good for us, their calorie count is much higher, so just be mindful of that.

12. Health Myth: If you are sexually active, you must get the HPV vaccine.

That is not true at all. If you can get the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, you should get it. In some cases, it can be expensive. However, some places do have payment options, and sometimes it is covered by your healthcare provider. If you are sexually active, then it is a good idea to get the HPV vaccine. HPV is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the United States. There are over 100 different varieties of this STD, but the most common strains cause genital warts and cancer. The most common type of cancer this causes is cervical cancer.

HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. You can transfer it to your mouth, genitals, or anus. Also, because this STD can cause cancer, it is crucial to get regular pap screenings or screenings for other types of cancer if other symptoms occur. Pap tests should be done every 1-3 years for sexually active women. Thankfully, when cervical cancer is caught early, it is very manageable and can often cause very few long-term issues. Talk to your doctor about HPV and the HPV vaccine on your next visit if you are sexually active.

11. Everyone gets sick at some point in their lives – no one is invincible! That is misleading, to say the least.

Have you ever noticed that one friend who is constantly avoiding the flu or colds going around while you, your friends, and family all suffer one after another? We are here to tell you that they are not invincible, and they do and will get sick. Saying some people just never get sick is more specifically a figure of speech than reality. Everyone can and will get sick at some point in their lives. You can do certain things to make this a less common occurrence for you, though, or you may have some luck on your side.

There are a couple of factors that can help you avoid the common cold or flu. You can get your annual flu shot, which does need to be received annually. Sometimes, it can simply be genetics running in your favor for how often you get sick as well. Adding certain foods to your diet can help avoid the flu or cold, such as garlic and foods high in vitamin C. Also, taking multivitamins can help you avoid getting sick while ensuring that you’re getting all the vitamins you need daily.

10. Health Myth: You need products to detox your body.

While you should be detoxing your body in the way of cutting out bad foods and eating more whole foods, it is a bogus statement that you should be “detoxing.” Any products marketed to you as a product that flushes out toxins and has you go through a “detox” is a bit more than gimmicky. You often see these products in teas or supplements, saying things like detox your body quickly or cleanse your body. You don’t need any of these products. Often they are costly for what you get as well, so save your money.

Your body naturally detoxes, and it does that through your liver. That is your liver’s primary function. You can help your liver by not making it work overtime every day. Also, you should not consume alcohol often, overeat red meat, or smoke. You will also want to avoid any harmful sugars or a lot of natural sugars, as this can be hard on your liver. If you are eating a pretty balanced diet with plenty of whole foods and heavy on the plants and vegetables, your liver will thank you.

9. Should you swap sugar for honey or maple syrup? Yes, and each has different benefits!

Consuming many of these things, sugar, honey, or maple syrup, is terrible for your no matter what. Generally speaking, they are all not great. You will want to limit your intake of any of these ingredients no matter what. If you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth craving, a better option is to have a piece of fruit or some berries. That, at least, is natural and has more fibers and vitamins. However, we know that sometimes you will have that candy or piece of cake, and once in a while isn’t going to derail your diet.

When looking at all three of these ingredients on the glycemic index, which rates how these foods affect your blood sugar levels, sugar is the worst. Next would be honey. Then the best one is maple syrup. If you are more worried about your fat intake and want more vitamin benefits, honey would be your go-to. Either way, whichever you chose, just know that moderation is key, and you can enjoy any of the three options. There are tons of recipes that include substitutions for sugar using both honey and maple syrup for whatever you have on hand.

8. Health Myth: STIs always have symptoms.

That is not true, and many STDs don’t show any symptoms at all. Some STDs also show symptoms in some people and not in others, and in some cases, you can contract STD, and it will show signs one time but not another. That is why it is imperative to get tested regularly if you are sexually active and to have open and honest conversations with your sexual partners. It is essential to use protection when having sex, like using condoms. If your partner does not want to use protection, you may not want to have sex with them.

Some of the more common STDs include Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes, and Trichomoniasis. All of these STDs can show symptoms and can also be asymptomatic. Often, these will present themselves, and you will notice a discharge, an unpleasant odor, itching, and a burning or uncomfortable sensation when urinating. If you experience any of these and are sexually active, it is essential to get tested. Millions of people are diagnosed with an STD every year in The United States, so it is nothing to be embarrassed about and is a very routine occurrence. Be sure to use protection with new partners to lessen the chance of getting an STD.

7. Should pregnant women get the flu shot? Yes!

That is the complete opposite of what is recommended for pregnant women. While pregnant, you are more vulnerable to things like the flu, and your immune system is not as strong. It is vital to get the flu shot as a pregnant woman to protect yourself and your baby. You don’t want to end up in the hospital from the flu. Like other flu shots or vaccines, if you have a severe allergy to eggs, you don’t want to get this. Talk to your doctor before getting the flu shot to make sure everything is okay.

There has not been any evidence to suggest getting the flu shot when pregnant can cause miscarriages or have any adverse effects on developing babies. Some women experience the same symptoms as anyone else getting the flu shot, which can be soreness around the shot injection site, headache, fever, and nausea. However, these symptoms usually go away within one to two days. Research more about what to expect when getting the flu shot or speak with your doctor before getting the flu shot. You can be more vulnerable postpartum as well, so you may want to get the flu shot after giving birth as well.

6. Can you get pregnant when you’re breastfeeding? Yes, you can!

It definitely wouldn’t be fair to say that you can’t get pregnant when you are breastfeeding because there is a chance of it happening. If you are only breastfeeding, you will need to do so roughly every 4 hours. If you are not supplementing with formula or solid foods when the baby is older, then it is unlikely that you will get pregnant while breastfeeding. When you breastfeed, your hormones that produce milk suppress the hormones that have you make an egg and ovulate. That doesn’t mean that it won’t happen because it certainly can and has before.

If you don’t want to become pregnant soon after having your baby, it would be a good idea to speak with your doctor or ob-gyn and plan to go on birth control. You can go on the pill or get an IUD while breastfeeding, and it is entirely safe. When you talk to your doctor, you can determine the best form of birth control. If you don’t want to take anything, you can continue to breastfeed and can use condoms as well. Just know that your chances of getting pregnant are greater.

5. If you have itching and discharge, it could be more than a yeast infection.

Itching and discharge are common symptoms of many STDs and other vaginal infections, so to say that those two symptoms are only signs of a yeast infection is false. If you are sexually active, then there is a good chance it could be something else, especially if you are unsure if your partner has had other partners. Sometimes symptoms for STDs don’t present themselves for several weeks. If you are unsure, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. If you leave it untreated, there could be further complications down the line and significant discomfort for you.

There are over-the-counter yeast infection medications you can take. However, when you take these, it can be harder to diagnose another STD than it could be. The cultures in your vagina need to be present, and the medication for yeast infections gets rid of these. It is best to wait for a diagnosis from your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications. Sometimes, if you have had a yeast infection before and haven’t been sexually active recently, your doctor will just tell you to take over-the-counter medications. If you are unsure, make sure you advocate for your own health and get checked out to be sure.

4. Health Myth: You need to go carb-free to lose weight.

With the ketogenic diet being one of the most talked-about and hyped up diets right now, it’s no wonder you see headlines like “you need to be carb-free to lose weight!”. The ketogenic diet is very similar to the Atkins diet, where carbohydrates are limited, and you burn fat instead to lose weight. The ketogenic diet works very well for many people and isn’t as restrictive as some other diets. However, you don’t need to cut out carbs or eat only small amounts of carbs to lose weight. You can still enjoy your carbohydrates and lose weight.

Weight loss is as simple as calories in versus calories out; however, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is one of the best ways to lose weight healthily. Living a healthy lifestyle involves exercising regularly and eating well, so it is a no-brainer that this would also allow you to lose weight. If you want to lose weight, you will need to eat in a caloric deficit, which doesn’t restrict carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. It is often better for your health to avoid refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice, but natural ingredients like potatoes are good in moderation.

3. Health Myth: Women don’t need to worry about heart disease as much as men.

Men and women both need to worry about heart disease more now than ever. With more and more people gaining weight and being overweight, heart disease risk is much greater. Higher cholesterol due to poor diet and lifestyle choices are a common cause and worry for heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in The United States, so everyone should be looking to prevent it. There are multiple heart disease types, and using the term ‘heart disease” is just an umbrella term for all of them.

Heart disease includes arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), and other heart infections. These can lead to heart failure, which also causes heart attacks. Women, in particular, need to be careful when it comes to heart disease, as this is often called “the silent killer.” Many women can have complications with their heart and have heart disease and not know it. Sometimes no symptoms are present. That is why women need to lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly.

2. Health Myth: You don’t need to have your cholesterol checked in your early adulthood.

More and more young adults are experiencing higher cholesterol, so it is something that both men and women should be worrying about as early as their early 20’s. More elevated cholesterol can have extremely adverse effects on the body, and you might not even know it because there are usually no symptoms. It is vital to get your cholesterol levels checked regularly, especially if high cholesterol runs in your family. High cholesterol can be one of the causes that lead to heart attacks and strokes. The good news is you can do things now to lower your cholesterol.

If you need to lower your cholesterol, you will want to avoid unhealthy foods, especially trans fats and saturated fats. Focus on healthy fats that you will get through nuts, seeds, and fish. If you are going to have saturated fats, have them in moderation. Also, quitting smoking and lowering or quitting alcohol will help reduce your cholesterol levels as well. Sometimes higher cholesterol can be linked to your genetics, so eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can be even more essential. Also, for women, after menopause, your risk of having higher cholesterol increases, so it is recommended to have your cholesterol levels checked more frequently.

1. Are hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap both needed in handwashing? No, not at the same time!

Now more than ever, we are constantly reminded to wash our hands with the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to be diligent with this to protect ourselves and our loved ones. What is the difference between these soaps and sanitizers, and which ones are better for us? While neither one is more crucial than the other, they are all critical now, but they serve different purposes. It can be best to use all of them throughout the day. We should be washing our hands multiple times a day.

Regular and antibacterial soaps are used to wash out hands of any dirt or debris. Soap is used to get soiled hands clean, and antibacterial soap has the added benefit of killing more bacteria. Regular soap can do this, too, as long as your washing your hands properly. Hand Sanitizer is not meant to actually “clean” soiled hands but rather only kill bacteria and germs on our hands. It’s not meant to wash the dirt off. Hand sanitizer is great for when your hands aren’t soiled and when you want to make sure your hands are free from bacteria, for example, after you’ve touched door handles.

Where do we find our stuff? Here are our Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol

womenshealthmag.com/…1805/40-health-myths

cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Colon cleanses

healthline.com/…rition/is-soy-bad-for-you