holiday health myths

There are many health myths floating around, and here are a few relating to the holiday that I found on health.com:

Myth: Sugar makes kids hyperactive

Release the candy canes! Children who eat sugar act no differently than those who have none, according to 12 placebo-controlled studies.

One study found that when parents thought their children had been given a sugary drink (it was sugar free), they rated their child's behavior as hyperactive.

“A lot of occasions when kids are exposed to sugar are when they are most likely to be super excited, running around, and acting out,” says Dr. Carroll.

Myth: Suicides increase during the holidays

While the holiday season is a joyful for many, it can also be stressful or depressing. But a 35-year study on Minnesota residents found that suicides did not increase on or around Christmas or any other major holidays, including birthdays, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July.

Research from all over the world, in fact, shows that suicides are actually more prevalent in warm, summer months—a pattern that scientists can’t quite explain. While suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously at any time of year, there’s no reason to think that this month is especially dangerous.

Myth: Poinsettias are toxic

A 1996 analysis of 22,793 poinsettia cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers revealed no significant poisoning.

It's possible to become ill by consuming a large amount of the plant, but it’s rare, even in small children and pets, says Edward Krenzelok, PharmD, director of the Pittsburgh Poison Control Center and Drug Information Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

Some studies suggest that poinsettia sap can be irritating to the skin.

Myth: You lose most of your body heat through your head

An old military study found that people in Arctic survival suits (but no hats) did lose a great deal of heat from their heads. But if you wore a swimsuit, you'd lose heat evenly across exposed body surfaces—and no more than 10% from the head.

“We often hear parents say that as long as their kids are wearing a hat, they feel that they’re sufficiently dressed,” says Dr. Vreeman. “Of course they should bundle up for protection from the cold, but they should be equally concerned about gloves and boots as well.”

Myth: Eating at night makes you fat

There's no research to support the belief that eating before bed causes more weight gain. There are benefits of eating meals at consistent times, but only because it helps limit overall intake of daily calories.

“The time of day a person eats is not as important for overall weight gain as the amount of calories eaten during the day,” says Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo PhD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Avoid your favorite go-to comfort foods before bed, she says, but don’t fret if your dinner gets pushed back a few hours.