Dispelling health myths

By Beelan Yonas

Coffee is bad for you

Truth: There are so many false myths about coffee- it stunts your growth, it causes heart disease and cancer, it dehydrates you- but in reality, coffee has more benefits than most people are taught to believe, and is actually healthy to drink.
"I drink coffee everyday," said sophomore Salma Kerfal. "My parents always told me not to drink it, but I didn't listen to them. I talked to my doctor and he told me that [drinking] it would have no negative effects on my body."
Coffee is high in antioxidants, which can battle such health concerns as cancer and Parkinson's disease. It has also been shown to relieve headaches, and even lower the risk of heart disease. However, too much of a anything is always damaging, so it is best not to drink more than three cups of coffee a day to receive the full benefits it provides.

Chocolate causes breakouts

Truth: This goes the same for any food that has been "proven" to cause acne. There is no connection between what you eat and the appearance of acne. Acne is caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells, overly oily skin, hormonal changes and heredity. So consuming chocolate, fries, soda, or any other junk food will not have an effect on your acne- just your weight.
Some studies have shown that chocolate actually has some benefits for the skin, improving its texture and reducing its vulnerability to UV rays. "Dark chocolate actually has antioxidants in it that are good for you. I eat it instead of milk chocolate," said sophomore Kaitlyn Mann.

African Americans' cannot get skin cancer

Truth: Many people with darker skin believe that just because sun tans or burns do not show as easily means that they do not have to be wary of the sun or even use sun block.
"That's ridiculous," said senior Jerry Solomon. "Skin is skin. I hate when people say that because I've burned before. I always get darker in the summer than in the winter; just like fairer people get tanned I just get darker."
Darker skin has higher levels of melanin, which is a dark coloring found in the skin and hair. It is true that melanin can resist the harmful UV rays of the sun, but it is still possible for those with darker skin to get skin cancer.

Eating fish is good for your brain

Truth: Fish seems to have been labeled as being a cure-all, capable of preventing any damage to the body known to man- and it just may.
"My parents have always encouraged me to eat fish because it has Omega-3 in it," said sophomore Salma Kerfal. "So I eat a lot of fish at home. If I don't eat it, I [will] take vitamins [that contain] fish oils."
Fish is full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are just as good for the rest of the body as they are for the brain. The fatty acids help with memory and, as you get older, slow down the process of mental deterioration. Fish oil has also been proven to cure depression, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and dyslexia. It is recommended that you eat fish twice a week.

Eating carrots improves eyesight

Truth: How many times have we heard from our mom to eat our carrots because they are good for our eyes? Carrots were thought for years to improve eyesight due to the fact that they are full of vitamin A, which is essential for healthy a eyesight as well as skin, but eating carrots will only improve your eyesight if you are suffering from a vitamin A deficiency.
"I used to eat a lot of carrots so I [would have] 20/20 vision," said senior Adama Fullah. "But [after] I had been eating carrots for a while and my eyesight never changed, I doubted [the myth]."
This myth is said to have been started during World War II by the British Royal Air Force. Germany was surprised at how well the RAF was able to shoot down the German planes in the dark, and Britain, not wanting to reveal its secret of using night radar, told them it was because its pilots ate an abundance of carrots. Germany believed the story.

Urinating on a jellyfish sting relieves the pain

Truth: Urinating on a sting has been the most handed down tip on beaches, most likely because anyone can urinate on themselves when other materials are not available.
"I've always thought that was really dumb," said senior Alba Fuentes. "Because when my brother got a jellyfish and someone peed on [his leg] the pain went away in the same amount of time as my cousin when he got a jellyfish sting and no one peed on his leg."
Though it may seem like the trick has worked because the pain does go away after a few hours, it is not because of the urine, the mustard or any other cure for the pain that you may have heard of. In reality, the pain of a jellyfish sting naturally lessens. Some people urinate on their stings as a way to clear the jellyfish tissue left on skin that contains the sting cells.
Thus, the myth may have been misconstrued as soothing the pain, when urination was simply a solution to getting rid of jellyfish gunk.

Toothpaste gets rid of pimples

Truth: Toothpaste can clear up pimples; however, if you have sensitive skin, this cure may not be so effective for you. Toothpaste dries out the skin and the methanol found in it can cause itching and inflammation.
So, while toothpaste may get rid of that pimple that has been bothering you, it may leave you with red and irritated skin. Unless you are out of acne cream, toothpaste is not meant for the face.
Though some may find it irritating, senior Mini Yupari finds that it is the perfect cure to get rid of her stubborn pimples that will not go away. "When I have a pimple," says Yupari, "I put toothpaste on it before I go to sleep and leave it on for five minutes. If I leave it on for longer it burns. [The pimple] gets smaller in two days and then I do it again and then it goes away."

By Alan Weintraut |  February 18, 2009; 12:56 PM ET
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