Seasonal myths face challenge

Thursday December 18th, 2008

Hats are not as helpful and sugar not as harmful as often believed, according to a survey of seasonal "medical myths", published today.

There is no evidence that sugary drinks make children hyperactive, according to a report in the British Medical Journal.

And hats are not the most vital part of winter wear, according to two doctors from Indiana University School of Medicine, USA.

Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll say it is a myth that as much as 40 per cent of body heat is lost through the heard.

"If it's cold outside it makes sense to wrap up warm but covering your head does not make a big difference," they write.

Another myth is that avoiding eating food at night will prevent you from getting fat, they say.

People who eat at night may get fat because they eat more meals than others, they write. "The simple truth is that people put on weight because they consume more calories than they burn."

The belief that suicide rates increase over the holiday is also wrong - as is that any hangover cures work, they write.

Tags: General Health | North America | Nutrition & Healthy Eating

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