Truth about sickness myths
As the weather cools, myths about being sick (or not getting sick) abound. How do they fare when it comes to science? Let us debunk the common health fables.
You get sick from being out in the cold or rain
It is easier to get sick in the autumn and winter months, but not because the temperature is dropping or you’ve let yourself get wet outside. Flu viruses circulate the air more when it’s cold, but it’s not actually the cold that will make you sick.
Flat lemonade is the best thing for an upset stomach
Fizzy drinks of any kind might feel advantageous when you’ve had stomach problems, because they both hydrate you and put muchneeded carbohydrates into your body via their sugar content. There’s nothing particularly special about flat lemonade though, despite what your parents probably told you when you were young.
Flat lemonade is easy to drink, therefore can be soothing when you don’t feel like eating anything. However, there’s no evidence to support that it could make you any better. The ideal option is actually a commercially-produced oral rehydration solution, which you can get from pharmacies.
A cold will turn into the flu if you’re not careful
A common cold is caused one of hundreds of variations of the adenovirus or the coronavirus. These are viral infections, but they’re not the same as the flu virus, although symptoms can appear similar.
The influenza virus is entirely different and much harsher; a virus cannot morph or worsen from one virus to another. How do you know which you’ve got? Cold viruses are usually concentrated around your head, while flu viruses can have all-over-body symptoms as well.
Chicken soup is a cure-all
When you’re sick and dehydrated, any liquids you can get into your body are beneficial. Chicken soup is warming and soothing for the soul, sure, but it doesn’t contain any magical properties in its ingredients.
Any kind of bone broth, however, might be good in preventing you from getting sick. First, they may improve the function of the cilia (your tiny nose hairs) that prevent viruses from getting into your body. Second, bone broths contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, silicon and sulphur – all nutrients that boost your immune system.
Feed a cold, starve a fever
Whether you have a cold or your temperature is rising, you need food to give your body the energy required to fight off your illness. You can feed a cold – you need to keep hydrated and have a constant flow of healthy nutrients come into your body – but starving a fever will get you nowhere.
You can get the flu from a flu vaccine
You should start thinking about getting your flu vaccine now, before flu season is in full force. Yes, it contains parts of the virus, but they are inactive and cannot transmit to humans.
It can take a couple of weeks for your body to get protected after having the vaccine administered, so if you do get the flu immediately after getting your shot, it’s only because of pure bad luck that you came into contact with the virus before your immune system was ready for it.
Avoid dairy
It’s an old wives’ tale that dairy, such as milk, should be avoided when you’re sick. It has been thought that it increases mucus production (‘‘phlegm’’) but there are no studies out there that have verified this.
In fact, some dairy – such as probiotic-rich yoghurt – will put good bacteria back into your intestinal tract which can be very helpful if you’ve been vomiting or had diarrhoea.
Don’t exercise when you’re sick
You shouldn’t exercise heavily when you’re sick, because it puts unneeded strain on the recovering body. However, light exercise, such as a walk, can do you some good.
Several studies show fit people recover from illnesses quicker than those who don’t exercise. Those who exercise mildly while they’re feeling under the weather are also more likely, however, to feel better for the hours afterwards than those who rest. But there are limitations. A good rule-of-thumb is following the ‘‘above the neck’’ guideline. If your symptoms are are targeting your head – eg, runny nose, sneezing, coughing – light exercise at about 50 per cent of normal capacity should be OK. ❚ Lee Suckling has a masters degree specialising in personal health reporting. Do you have a health topic you’d like Lee to investigate? Send us an email to life.style@fairfaxmedia.co.nz with Dear Lee in the subject line.