OLD WIVES' TALES

***NINE OLD WIVES' TALES THAT AREN'T TRUE ***

Our parents told us all kinds of B.S. to make us behave when we were kids. But did you know that if you swallow your gum, it doesn't REALLY stay in your stomach for seven years? Here are ten more old wives' tales that don't hold up . . .

#1.) SITTING TOO CLOSE TO THE TV WILL RUIN YOUR EYES. You'll probably get a nagging headache, but sitting too close to the television won't cause any permanent damage to your eyes.

#2.) SWIMMING AFTER YOU EAT WILL GIVE YOU CRAMPS. Not true. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's perfectly safe to swim after a light meal. They DO suggest taking a break after eating a BIG meal, but it's not because you'll cramp up . . . it's because eating a ton of food makes you tired.

#3.) CHOCOLATE CAUSES ACNE. Nope. The American Academy of Dermatology says acne isn't caused by any specific type of food, including chocolate. Since it's linked to the levels of testosterone in your body, acne is beyond your control.

#4.) FEED A COLD, STARVE A FEVER. Starving yourself is never a good idea. When you're sick, your body needs nutrients. This old wives' tale may have started because, when you're really sick and have a fever, you usually can't keep anything down.

#5.) CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES CAUSES ARTHRITIS. False. The president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation recently said there's no evidence that cracking your knuckles increases the risk of arthritis.

#6.) CARROTS IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT. Actually, this one's partially true. Beta-carotene and vitamin-A CAN improve your night vision. But dark leafy greens like spinach actually work better.

#7.) AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY. There's a little truth behind this old wives' tale too. Apples certainly aren't BAD for you, but eating one every day WON'T keep you from getting sick.

#8.) LIGHTNING WON'T STRIKE THE SAME PLACE TWICE. Wrong. According to the National Weather Service, it happens all the time. In fact, the Empire State Building is hit an average of 25 times a year.--And a former park ranger named Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning SEVEN TIMES between 1942 and 1977 . . . which is still the world record.

#9) YOU'LL GET SICK IF YOU GO OUT IN THE COLD WITH WET HAIR. No. Colds are caused by viruses, and having wet hair in the cold doesn't make much of a difference. So, pay ttention to how often you wash your hands, not your hair. (WomansDay.com)