Are you one of the many who can’t seem to get rid of those little white flakes that show up in your hair and on your clothes at the worst times? Many dandruff sufferers may be surprised to know that the flakes are not dry skin from the scalp, as this popular myth suggests. This […]
Medical Myths
Does Drinking Vinegar or Eating Garlic Help to Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Vinegar and garlic, while healthy foods, do not help control your blood pressure. During ancient times, both vinegar and garlic acquired reputations as curatives, able to allow people to live longer, healthier lives. These reputations have continued to modern times. Garlic and vinegar have been used by people throughout history, for both culinary and medicinal […]
Can Drinking Cranberry Juice Cure a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
Drinking cranberry juice is good for your body. Cranberry juice is a great beverage, with important antioxidants that help reduce your risk of heart disease. Antioxidants also strengthen your immune system, allowing your body to fight off infections. However, according to the Urology Clinic at UAMS, cranberry juice cannot cure a urinary tract infection (UTI) […]
Do People Only Use 10 Percent of our Brains?
It’s appealing to think we could be smarter if only we applied more of our brain power. Unfortunately, the idea that people only use 10% of our brains and could use more is not true. This persistent myth may have originated as early as 1908 when William James wrote, “We are making use of only […]
Will Rubbing Aloe Vera on Your Sunburn Help?
Aloe vera is touted as the “burn plant,” the perfect natural remedy for a bad sunburn, and according to some studies aloe vera can help. Initial research has shown aloe vera aids the skin in healing from sunburns and mild burns. In addition, aloe vera oil can moisturize the skin, helping you avoid the peeling […]
Will Drinking Warm Milk Make You Sleepy?
Drinking warm milk before bed may help you relax, but there is no evidence that milk makes you sleepy. The drowsiness some people experience may be more from the warmth of the milk or a full stomach than the physical effect of any compound in milk. The ‘milk myth’ may have persisted because milk has […]
Is Eating Carrots Good for Your Eyesight?
According to Dr. Joseph Chacko, director of neuro-ophthalmology at UAMS, your mom was right when she told you to eat carrots for your eyes. “I don’t think it is a myth,” he said. “Carrots and other colorful vegetables have lots of vitamin A which helps the retina to function. We want our patients to eat […]
Will Sucking Your Thumb as a Child Cause “Buck Teeth”?
Parents see their children sucking their thumb and may ask, “Will this cause problems later?” Thumb and finger sucking is a common behavior among children under 5 years of age. Thumb sucking normally does not cause a problem for young children and most children stop on their own. However, thumb sucking beyond the age of […]
Will Eating too Much Candy or too Many Sugary Foods Cause Cavities?
The answer is yes, but not for the reasons you think. On its own, sugar won’t hurt your teeth. Sugar is naturally occurring in most foods and is used by our bodies for energy. However, there is a lot of bacteria in our mouths. And it’s the bacteria that actually causes cavities. Bacteria feeds on […]
Is Chocolate Milk a Good Post-Workout Drink?
Ever thought about drinking chocolate milk after a hard workout? It may be more beneficial than you think. Dr. Charles Smith, UAMS family medicine doctor, said that some new research seems to suggest chocolate milk as good post workout drink. Recent studies have shown that drinking chocolate milk after exercising is advantageous because of its […]