Grandma’s Wisdom in America — Myths and the Science Behind Them
Note: This fact-check result was generated by AI… which means someone should probably fact-check the fact-check.
1. “Soup cures a cold”
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Myth: Chicken soup will heal a cold.
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Truth: It doesn’t cure the virus, but warm soup can soothe the throat, keep you hydrated, and ease symptoms.
2. “Going outside with wet hair gives you a cold”
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Myth: Wet hair directly causes colds.
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Truth: Colds are caused by viruses, not wet hair. However, being cold may temporarily weaken immunity, making you more vulnerable.
3. “Carrots let you see in the dark”
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Myth: Eating carrots will give you perfect night vision.
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Truth: Vitamin A is essential for eye health, but carrots won’t give you superhuman night vision. This myth actually came from WWII propaganda.
4. “Chewing gum stays in your stomach for seven years”
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Myth: Swallowed gum remains inside you for years.
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Truth: Gum is indigestible, but it passes through the digestive tract in a few days like other food.
5. “Milk makes your bones unbreakable”
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Myth: Drinking milk means you’ll never break a bone.
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Truth: Calcium supports bone strength, but exercise and vitamin D are equally important. Milk alone doesn’t make bones unbreakable.
6. “A broken mirror brings seven years of bad luck”
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Myth: Breaking a mirror curses you for seven years.
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Truth: There’s no science behind this. But broken glass is dangerous—so the “bad luck” is really just the risk of injury.
7. “Standing while eating helps you digest faster”
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Myth: Food digests quicker if you eat standing up.
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Truth: Digestion speed doesn’t change with posture. In fact, standing often leads to eating too quickly, which can stress the stomach.
8. “Swimming after eating will make you cramp and drown”
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Myth: If you swim right after eating, you’ll cramp up and risk drowning.
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Truth: You may feel discomfort if you swim vigorously right after a meal, but serious risk is very low.
9. “Chocolate causes acne”
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Myth: Eating chocolate always makes acne worse.
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Truth: No strong evidence links chocolate directly to acne. Overeating sugary or fatty foods can contribute, but hormones are the bigger factor.
10. “Metal objects attract lightning”
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Myth: Holding metal during a storm guarantees a lightning strike.
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Truth: Metal doesn’t attract lightning, but it conducts electricity. If lightning strikes nearby, metal makes injury more severe.
11. “Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis”
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Myth: Popping knuckles will give you arthritis.
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Truth: No link to arthritis. The popping sound is just gas bubbles in the joints.
12. “Feed a cold, starve a fever”
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Myth: Eat plenty when you have a cold, but eat little when you have a fever.
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Truth: Both require fluids and nutrients. Starving yourself can slow recovery.
13. “Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker”
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Myth: Hair grows coarser and darker after shaving.
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Truth: Hair regrows blunt-tipped, which only looks thicker.
14. “Sitting too close to the TV ruins your eyesight”
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Myth: Sitting near a screen damages eyes permanently.
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Truth: It may cause temporary eye strain, but not lasting damage.
15. “Cold weather causes colds”
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Myth: Being in the cold directly gives you a cold.
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Truth: Colds are viral. Cold air may weaken defenses, but the virus causes illness.
16. “Swallowed watermelon seeds will grow inside you”
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Myth: Seeds will sprout in your stomach.
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Truth: Impossible — stomach acid destroys seeds.
17. “If your ears are ringing, someone is talking about you”
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Myth: Ringing ears means gossip.
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Truth: Tinnitus is a medical condition, not a social signal.
18. “If you cross your eyes, they’ll get stuck that way”
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Myth: Making silly faces can permanently freeze them.
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Truth: Eye muscles won’t lock in place. They move back normally.
19. “Don’t go outside right after a shower — you’ll catch pneumonia”
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Myth: Wet skin and cool air cause pneumonia.
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Truth: Pneumonia comes from bacteria/viruses, not from being damp.
20. “Pregnant women should eat for two”
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Myth: Double portions are required.
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Truth: Extra nutrients matter, but overeating is unhealthy. Only ~300 extra calories/day are needed.
21. “Carrying your keys between your fingers makes a good weapon”
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Myth: Keys can effectively protect you.
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Truth: Keys may injure you more than an attacker. Better options exist for safety.
22. “You lose most of your body heat through your head”
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Myth: Up to 80% of heat is lost from your head.
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Truth: Heat escapes evenly. A bare head just feels colder.
23. “Spicy food causes ulcers”
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Myth: Eating hot peppers damages your stomach.
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Truth: Ulcers are caused by H. pylori bacteria or NSAID drugs, not spicy food.
24. “Green mucus means you need antibiotics”
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Myth: Green or yellow mucus means bacterial infection.
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Truth: Color alone doesn’t prove bacterial cause; most colds are viral.
25. “Don’t read in dim light — it ruins your eyesight”
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Myth: Poor lighting permanently damages vision.
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Truth: It may cause temporary eye strain, but no long-term harm.
26. “Starving helps you detox”
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Myth: Fasting flushes toxins from your body.
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Truth: Kidneys and liver do the detoxing. Extreme fasting can be harmful.
27. “The five-second rule makes dropped food safe”
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Myth: Food is clean if picked up within 5 seconds.
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Truth: Bacteria transfer instantly on contact.
28. “A spoonful of sugar cures hiccups”
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Myth: Eating sugar stops hiccups.
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Truth: It sometimes disrupts the diaphragm reflex, but results vary. Not a guaranteed cure.
29. “If you shave your gray hairs, more will grow back”
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Myth: Cutting one gray hair makes more sprout.
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Truth: Hair color is determined by pigment cells. Shaving doesn’t increase gray growth.
30. “Chicken soup is the best hangover cure”
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Myth: Soup magically heals a hangover.
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Truth: Hydration and electrolytes help, but only time fully cures a hangover.
31. “If you sleep with a fan on, you’ll get sick”
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Myth: Fans blowing at night cause illness.
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Truth: Fans may cause dryness or discomfort, but don’t spread viruses.
32. “Eating before bed makes you gain weight”
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Myth: Late-night meals always cause weight gain.
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Truth: Weight gain depends on total calories, not meal timing.
33. “Cracking your back is dangerous”
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Myth: Stretching or cracking your back causes injury.
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Truth: Gentle stretching is safe. Pain or excessive cracking, however, may signal issues.
34. “You must drink eight glasses of water a day”
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Myth: Exactly 8 glasses daily is required.
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Truth: Needs vary by person, diet, and climate. Hydration comes from food and other drinks too.
35. “Lightning never strikes the same place twice”
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Myth: Once a spot is hit, it’s safe.
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Truth: Lightning often strikes tall objects repeatedly (e.g., Empire State Building).
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