The Top Ten Medical Myths of the World
10- If you aren’t dressed warmly in winter, you’ll get a cold
A parent’s favourite saying is… well, false. Colds are caused by a virus, not from being cold. But because the virus can be transmitted through infected air droplets, it is more virulent in cooler temperatures, making winter a peak season for this ailment… and a reasonable origin for this myth.
9- Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight
Another saying in a parent’s arsenal has been proven to be medically incorrect. While reading in dim light does strain your eyes temporarily, experts say it has not been found to cause permanent damage to eyesight.
8- Getting the flu vaccine shot gives you the flu
Wrong. The vaccine itself does not carry live germs, rendering it impossible to cause the flu. However since the shot is usually given at a time when the virus is making the rounds, it is common for many patients to have picked up the virus before getting the shot. Shot-takers, rest assured: just work on nursing that sore arm.
7- Snacking at night makes you fat
As any dietician will tell you, as long as the amount of calories you consume is equal to the amount you burn, your body will not gain weight. Although this one is a myth, it is still important to note that snacking with abandon in the morning, afternoon or any other time of day will not help your waistline.
6- Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through your system
This myth originated from a time when gum-swallowers were considered to be of the low-class. In reality, a piece of chewing gum passes through the body not unlike any other food. However, since the human body’s enzymes cannot easily break down gum, it will take longer than the average process… but 7 years is a stretch.
5- People who crack their knuckles will develop arthritis
This will come as a relief to knuckle-crackers everywhere. Arthritis is most commonly caused by crystal formations such as gout forming around the bones; whereas cracking your knuckles bursts the gas bubble between the bones. So although cracking bones will cause it to weaken over time, it will not directly cause arthritis.
4- Eating turkey makes you tired and sleepy
Not surprisingly, this medical myth originated from the good ole’ Thanksgiving meal. The chemical found in turkeys that induces tiredness is tryptophan which is actually found in a variety of foods from chicken to cheese. One’s tiredness after Thanksgiving dinner is more likely due to the overall heavy meal which slows down blood flow in the body rather than consumption of the oft-blamed turkey.
3- It’s harder to lose weight than to gain it
Quite the contrary. Once a person has started a new, healthy eating pattern, it is usually much easier to lose weight and speed up your metabolism than to gain weight and slow the metabolism.
2- You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
The human body needs about 8 glasses of FLUIDS a day, not necessarily water. This may include fluids that are found in many of the foods we consume daily.
1- Sugar makes kids hyperactive
After extensive research by Dr. Vreeman and Dr.Carroll of Riley Hospital for Children, it has been ascertained that the consumption of sugar in children does not directly correlate with hyperactivity.
The Top Ten Must-See Cities of the World
1. Bangkok, Thailand The floating market called Damnoen Saduak
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Burj Al-Arab Luxury Hotel
3- Las Vegas, USA The Mirage Hotel & Casino
4- Hong Kong, China The Mongkok shopping center & restaurants
5- New York, USA The Statue of Liberty
6- Paris, France The Eiffel Tower
7- Tokyo, Japan The Sensojo Temple
8- Venice, Italy The Grand Canal
9- Sydney, Australia The Sydney Opera House
10- San Francisco, USA The Alcatraz
The Top Ten Most Expensive Cars in the World
1- Buggati Veyron ($1,700,000)
2- Lamborghini Reventon ($1,600,000)
3- Ferrari Enzo ($1,000,000)
4- McLaren F1 ($970,000)
5- Pagani Zonda ($740,000)
6- SSC Ultimate Aero *only 25 models ever produced ($654,000)
7- Koenigsegg CCX ($600,910)
8- Saleen S7 Twin Turbo ($555,000)
9- Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster ($495,000)
10- Porsche Carrera GT ($480,000)
The Top Ten Richest People in the World (as of 2010)
1- Carlos Slim Helu ($53.5 billion) [Telmex, America Movil]
2- Bill Gates ($53.1 billion) [Microsoft]
3-Warren Buffett ($47 billion) [Berkshire Hathaway]
4- Mukesh Ambani ($29 billion) [Reliance Industries]
5- Lakshimi Mittal ($28.7 billion) [Arcelor Mittal}
6- Laurence Ellison ($28 billion) [Oracle Corporation]
7- Bernard Arnault ($27.5 billion] [Louis Vuitton, LVMH]
8- Eike Batista ($27 billion) [EBX Group]
9- Amancio Ortega ($25 billion) [Inditex Group]
10- Karl Albrecht (23.5 billion) [Aldi Sud Supermarkets]
