4. Myth: You are better off cutting all sugar from your diet.
What those people do not realize is that natural sugar can be found in a lot of the foods we eat every day, including fruits, dairy products, grains, and vegetables. They naturally contain it so cutting sugar entirely is not something that you can just do. Moreover, sugar is not necessarily bad for you, as the body needs all minerals and nutrients, but rather eating too much of it can be bad for your health and your teeth.
If you want to go “low sugar” or are thinking about eliminating it from your diet, nutritionists and dieticians recommend you cut down on your intake rather than attempt a no sugar diet. Think about what you are eating that has too much sugar and eliminate those. The easiest way is to cut off sodas if you find yourself drinking too much of them. Believe us, your body will thank you and it will limit the excess sugar in your diet, which can also lead to a bit of weight loss.
5. Myth: If you crack your knuckles, when you are old you will have arthritis and your hands will shake.
The most you are going to get for cracking your knuckles is people leaving your side because they cannot stand the sound. Otherwise, you will not develop early arthritis because of it or anything else. It is probably a myth invented because the sound of the cracking is upsetting to some people and they wanted it to stop. It is created because in between your bones there is a liquid that helps the joints move easily and there are bubbles that form in it. When they are popped, the sound is produced.
While you cannot get arthritis from cracking your knuckles, if you do it too often there are some side effects. You can end up with swollen hands or reduced grip strength, so try to not make it a habit.
6. Myth: The goal is 10,000 steps per day to keep your activity levels high.
If you have ever checked your health app or you have a smartwatch, be it Apple or FitBit, you probably got used to seeing the 10,000 step goal right in the middle of the screen. That is because someone calculated the number of calories one burned when walking 10,000 steps and decided it is a good number. Much like 8 glasses of water, it is an arbitrary number that will not work for everyone due to different needs and body compositions.
In 2004 a study showed that the number is right only for those adults who seem to be in good health. Yet, it does not apply for people who have chronic diseases or for older folks, as the number might need to be higher in order to be considered active.
Even if you think you get enough exercise in a day, you should still strive to go for a walk if you find yourself stuck behind a screen all day. Not only will it help to keep up your activity levels, but you will see an improvement in your mood as well. Some much needed downtime.
