|
Have you
ever heard...�Don�t go outside
in the cold with your hair
wet. You�ll get sick.�
Or...
�Don�t swim after you eat or
you�ll get stomach cramps."
Where do
these sayings come from and
are they really true?
First of
all, going outside when it�s
cold with wet hair or without
a jacket will not make you
sick. Being cold does
not make you sick. The
change from a warm environment
to a cold environment can make
your nose run...or from cold
to warm for that matter. But
that doesn�t mean you will get
sick.
In 'natural
medicine' we often use
temperature changes to
stimulate the immune system.
Some people jump into cold
lakes or oceans in the winter
time and this activity has led
to fewer colds and flus in the
people who made the plunge.
Also, ending your hot shower
with cold water has shown to
stimulate the immune system.
So it�s not all that bad to
get a little cold
sometimes...it�s actually good
for you!
What about
exercising after you eat?
Well...this is somewhat true.
Ideally you
should wait a little while
after you have a big meal to
do strenuous exercise. When
you are digesting food your
body shunts a lot of blood to
the digestive system (stomach
and intestines). If you
exercise real hard, your body
wants to move that blood from
the digestive system to your
muscles and that doesn�t go
over well with your stomach.
You will get indigestion and
possibly stomach cramps.
If you are lightly exercising,
like stretching or walking,
then you probably won�t have a
problem after you eat.
What other
health myths can you think of
that might or might not be
true? |
The selected Health Tip is
summarized below. An audio
clip of the tip as presented by
Dr. Leah on the Chat With Women
radio show is available at the
end of the tip.
Myths & Truths -
