MYTH BUSTED

HERE'S THE REAL DEAL ON SOME COMMON HEALTH MYTHS:

Do you ever get the feeling there's so much misinformation floating around out there that you don't have a clue what's real . . . and what's made up? Well, I do. That's why we figured we'd give you the real dirt on a few of the more-common health myths out there . . .

#1.) Myth: It's OK to eat something you dropped on the floor, so long as you follow the five-second rule.

--FALSE: In a recent study, scientists contaminated a bunch of surfaces with Salmonella . . . then started dropping pieces of bologna on the floor. In just FIVE seconds, the bologna picked up 1,800 types of bacteria.

#2.) Myth: Double-dipping spreads germs from one chip to another.

--TRUE: According to researchers, double-dipping leaves thousands of saliva bacteria in a dip . . . which are then transferred to clean chips. Basically, eating from a dip after someone has just double-dipped will transfer as much bacteria as if you kissed them.

#3.) Myth: Cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis.

--FALSE: A recent study found no difference is the incidence of arthritis between a group of people who always cracked their knuckles . . . and a group of people who never cracked their knuckles. (--That said, the same study found that knuckle crackers have weaker grip strength and more hand swelling than non-knuckle crackers . . . so there's that.)

#4.) Myth: Cell phones interfere with medical equipment.

--MAYBE: According to a 2007 study, cell phones caused electromagnetic interference with critical care equipment 43% of the time. But a similar study . . . found that there was no interference at all. (--In other words, use a designated cell phone area just to be safe.) (Yahoo Shine)