Raise your hand if you’ve ever seen someone eat something off the floor because of the five-second rule.
I am.
But according to this post by the New York Times, the five-second rule is actually a myth. When you drop food on the floor, and it touches germs, the germs stick to the food immediately. I guess it makes a lot more sense this way – it was kind of a stretch imagining the bacteria slowly making its way over to the fallen food. So, hold on to your viands, because if you drop it, there’s no going back.
Sugar makes children hyperactive? Turns out it doesn’t. Researchers have not been able to find a substantial link from sugar consumption to hyperactivity and cognitive behaviour.
I just want to add that eating dark chocolate actually helps to calm your nerves, according to my piano teacher. I like to take a few pieces with me to piano exams or performances. It also helps with stress.
I’ve always been happy about my high metabolism allowing me to eat as much as I want, but I was surprised to learn that this is a myth as well. A researcher investigated human metabolism in both thin and heavy people, and found that the heavier patient actually had a higher metabolism!
Dawn’s [heavier patient] numbers are actually higher because we find continuously is that people with weight problems who have obesity have a higher basal metabolism compared to people who are lean. Your basal metabolism is the calories you burn to keep your body going, so if your body is bigger of course your basal metabolism is greater. If your body is smaller your basal metabolism is less.
Eight glasses of water a day  = how much my mother tells me I should drink.
I actually believed this for the longest time, but I read that this was a misconception some while ago. I think it’s still important to drink lots of water, because it’s good for your health. It’s great for losing weight, and sometimes I find that when I’m getting drowsy, a drink of water can usually refresh me quite efficiently.
Here’s an in-depth explanation of why this is a myth, but essentially we don’t need to drink that much water because our food contains water as well. So, we don’t have to force fluids in order to gain their benefits.
And finally, here’s my favourite. I’ve always believed the story that Albert Einstein got horrible grades in math class (or even just classes in general) at school, but while I was researching this post, I found that this is an unsupported claim – there is no evidence to support this conclusion. Remaining records show Einstein receiving high grades and doing well in all his classes. I guess there’s no more consolation to be found in the story of Einstein – sorry.
Myth busted! Happy Thursday.
