Grandma may insist that gelatin is a wonder food and spicy foods make you sick. She and Granddad came by these mistaken ideas honestly. They probably learned them from their grandparents. But it’s time to come out of the dark ages and shine some light on these fake food facts.
Dark Liquor Is a Cure
We suspect Grandma just needed a wholesome reason to drink more. Maybe a Hot Toddy (or two or three) to cure a cold or a shot of Brandy to calm your nerves. Your grandparents may swear by it, but booze doesn’t cure what ails you. The idea of a nice warming shot of liquor became popular in our grandparents' day, but it actually decreases your core body temperature.
Drink Milk to Cure a Hangover
The flip side of believing bourbon or brandy can cure your cold is the incorrect idea that milk cures a hangover. Dairy can cause even more stomach upset for people who had one too many the night before. Maybe we’ll call this one ½ right; milk can help rehydrate you, but water is going to be the true star of hangover relief.
Carrots Make You See Better
“Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?!” No, Grandpa. No I haven’t, but that doesn’t prove carrots correct your vision. Carrots do pack a nice amount of vitamin A, which can support eye health, but it certainly doesn’t fix near or far-sightedness. When eaten in large amounts, carrots can turn your skin yellow. Not a cute look.
The Gelatin Effect
The older generation seems to believe that eating gelatin on the daily will keep bones strong for a lifetime. While gelatin-based foods can have healthy amino acids, it’s hard to tell what’s in your Jell-O bowl. That’s because gelatin is an animal product made from cow or fish bones, cartilage, and skin.
Spicy Foods Give You Ulcers
It’s actually bacteria that’s to blame when it comes to forming ulcers. Someone already suffering from ulcers may feel worse after turning up the heat in their favorite food. But eating jalapenos or sriracha will not burn a hole in your stomach.
You Have to Drink Cow’s Milk
If Grandma still wants to force a cold glass of milk into your hand whenever you visit, it’s because she thinks the calcium will make you big and strong. However, animal milk can cause digestive issues in a lot of people. And there are great sources of dietary calcium without the dairy, including broccoli, sesame seeds, edamame, and sweet potatoes.
Eating Fat Makes You Fat
At first glance, it seems like this could be true. But it’s not. Fatty foods that are highly processed can make the scale head in the wrong direction. But there are plenty of high-fat foods that are healthy and keep you more satisfied after eating them. Avocados, whole eggs, nuts, and olive oil are all on the “yes” list of fats.
Meat Is The Best Source of Protein
We’re talking about the OG meat and potatoes generation. The family dinner table wasn’t complete without some beef, pork, or chicken on it. That was then. Now, we know there are plenty of plants that pack a lot of high-quality protein. Lentils, almonds, black beans, and quinoa, to name just a few. Plus, the high fiber in plants helps you feel fuller longer. Bonus!
The Dumb Myth About Eating Fish
The old wives' tale goes that eating fish makes you smart. Eh, not so much. Fish is one of the best ways to get Omega 3 in your diet, which is good, but it won’t raise your I.Q. Beyond that, large ocean fish (tuna and mackerel) may have high levels of mercury. That’s a toxin that can damage the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
You Should Only Use Margarine
This food myth was born in the era when people decided all fat is bad. But it ignores the fact some fats are very healthy. Margarine is lower in fat than butter, but it’s higher in trans fats, which increase your risk of heart disease. And now we know the more processing it takes to make a food (hydrogenation of vegetable oils to make margarine), the less healthy it will be.
Sugar Makes Kids Bounce Off The Walls
How many times were we denied candy because of this mistaken food myth? There are plenty of reasons to avoid a lot of added sugar, but being an excited kid is not one of them. In the ’70s, one lone study suggested sugar made a kid hyperactive. That has stuck for decades even though there are now dozens of scientific studies that prove sugar doesn’t jump-start a child.
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