TEN HEALTH MYTHS YOU SHOULDN’T STILL BELIEVE IN 2025

TEN HEALTH MYTHS YOU SHOULDN’T STILL BELIEVE IN 2025

In today’s world, information tends to travel faster and wider and is easily accessed with the help of the internet and the various social media platforms that aids active human interactions. Most of this information are hardly gate-kept, giving way for both factual and non-factual information to be easily accessed and shared. This includes viral TikTok videos, tales passed down from generation to generations which can lead to a lot of individuals being misinformed on what is actually good for their health and they end up engaging in wrong risky health practices.  

Some of these myths have been widely spread and has now been believed as the truth, even though this health information is unverified. Some of these myths includes;

1. Drinking 8 Glasses of Water a Day is Mandatory: This myth is actually untrue and unverified. The truth however is, your body’s hydration depends on age, level and mode of activity, body weight and even the day’s weather. The best indicator as to whether your body is dehydrated or not is through your urine color (pale yellow means you are well-hydrated, any other color says otherwise and should be checked). Do not self-prescribe gallons of water as excessive intake of water can lead to electrolyte imbalance. According to MSD (Merck &Co) manuals and university hospitals, they warn that excessive intake of water can lead to water intoxication also called hyponatremia.
2. Natural Remedies are Always Safe: While nature’s gifts (like herbs, fruits and the likes) are considered as God’s blessings to mankind, most people just swallow every single thing tagged ‘natural” without doing their due diligence to check whether or not that natural remedy is what their body needs. The truth is that, the word “natural” does not always mean “harmless”. For example, herbs like St. John’s Wort can interfere with prescribed medications, and too much intake of turmeric can cause the blood to become thin.  A research carried out by the National Institute of Health (NIH) agrees that regulatory policies on herbal medicines need to be standardized and strengthened on a global scale. Always be sure to consult your doctor before taking any natural medication or mixing with prescribed medications.
3. You Can Detox Your Body with Juices and Teas: This myth has led to so many people coming up with various mixtures and types of teas to sell to people for “detoxing” their bodies which is wrong. The truth is, your kidneys, lungs, and skin already have in-built detox machines. The WHO and other licensed health organizations warn that detox juices and teas lack scientific evidence for their claimed benefit as they may contain harmful ingredients and can cause serious health issues like liver damage, kidney problems, heart problems, and dehydration. Juice and teas cleanses “do not” flush out toxins, instead extreme cleanses often lead to blood sugar spikes and nutrient deficiencies.
4. Fat is Bad for You: This myth is false as only trans-fat and excessive processed oils are the real dangers to your health. The truth is, healthy fats like; fats from olive oil, avocados, fish and nuts, are essential for hormonal balance, brain function, and heart health.
5. Carbs are the Real Enemy: This myth is false, and the truth is in fact that, carbohydrates are your body’s main source of fuel. Whole grains, fruits, and legumes are vital for energy, gut health and for fiber. The real problem are the added sugars and refined carbs.
6. As Long as You Feel Fine, there is no Need for Medical Check-Ups: there is a myth that hospitals and clinics are only meant for the sick. This is not true, as the body should be treated with utmost priority and care. Many diseases like high blood pressure, early-stage cancers, diabetes and so on, are silent killers that show no symptoms until they are advanced and impossible to ignore. Regular checkups help to detect diseases at its earliest stage when it is easier to get ride of.
7. You Only Need Sunscreen on Sunny Days: This is false, as sunscreen is important on the skin on all season and weather. About 80% of UV rays still reaches your skin even on cloudy days.  Daily use of sunscreen lowers your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Sunscreens should be applied no matter the weather or skin tone. The NIH recommends the use of sunscreen for the protection of human skin from damage due to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) .
8. Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis: This myth is untrue and has no reliable source. No research or study has shown any link between knuckle-cracking and arthritis. The popping sound heard after a crack is just gas bubbles in the joint fluid. This sound might be uncomfortable for some people around you, but it causes no harm to your joint.
9. Vaccines Do More Harm Than Good: A lot of people have misconceptions about vaccines and fail to see the real purpose of it. The truth is, vaccines are used to prevent diseases and they remain one of the safest and most effective ways. These days, modern vaccine undergo strict testing and monitoring. There is a higher risk involved with skipping vaccine than the fear of possible side effects.  
10. Mental Health is a Gen-Z Thing: Before now anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions have always been a thing, but people rather ignored the signs and allowed it take huge tolls on their health until caused big damages to them. Now, a lot of awareness has been made for various mental health issues and solutions are given immediately at the earliest stages. These mental health issues have biological, social and psychological causes and these days, there are advanced professionals and medications available tackle any of such issues. Caring for your mind, is caring for your body.

In conclusion, you should realize that presently in this age and century, credible health information matters more than ever. Never let your health decisions be solely bound or guided by myths, rely only on verified medical sources, speak with qualified medical professionals and fact-check every viral health information or hacks. Your health is too important to be gambled with or to rely on misinformation.