A popular medical YouTuber tests various health claims and myths with the help of his elderly guest, "Grandma GB." They discuss and debunk several common misconceptions, including:
- Swallowing gum will stick in your stomach for seven years (false)
- It takes more muscles to frown than to smile (inconclusive)
- Chicken noodle soup helps when you're sick (true)
- Resting and not exercising when you have a cold is the best advice (partially true)
- Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis (false)
- Eating a black watermelon seed will make a watermelon grow in your stomach (false)
- Crossing your eyes for more than seven seconds will make them stay that way (false)
- No sugar before bed will make you hyper (false)
- Sitting too close to the TV will hurt your eyes (true, but with caveats)
- Snacking all day will ruin your appetite for dinner (false)
- Carrots are good for your eyes (partially true)
- Walking after a meal helps digestion (partially true)
- Going outside with wet hair will give you a cold (false)
- Swimming after eating will give you a cramp (possible, but not a guaranteed outcome)
- Drinking 7UP can ease an upset stomach (false)
- The flu shot can give you the flu (false)
- Sucking on your thumb will cause buck teeth (true, but only if done past a certain age)
The YouTuber encourages critical thinking and verifies the claims through scientific research.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Swallowing gum will not cause it to stay in your stomach for seven years, but it will pass through your body undigested.
2. It takes about the same number of muscles to frown and smile.
3. Chicken noodle soup has been proven to help alleviate symptoms of the common cold due to its warm temperature, electrolytes, and nutrients.
4. Rest and hydration are beneficial for people with viral illnesses, but mild exercise may also be okay.
5. Cracking your knuckles is not a cause of arthritis, but rather a result of nitrogen bubbles popping in the joints.
6. Eating a black watermelon seed will not cause a watermelon to grow in your stomach.
7. An apple a day does not prevent doctor visits, but apples are nutritious and contain fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients.
8. Cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis, and the nitrogen bubbles that form after cracking will reform after a few minutes.
9. Plucking a gray hair will not cause two to grow in its place.
10. Eating raw meat on a bruise will not help it heal and may lead to bacterial exposure.
11. Applying ice or letting a bruise heal naturally may be more effective.
12. Snacking all day will not necessarily ruin your appetite for dinner.
13. Eating healthy snacks is beneficial for overall health.
14. Carrots do contain vitamin A, which is important for eye health, but eating carrots will not improve existing vision problems.
15. Eating too many carrots can cause skin to turn orange due to excess beta-carotene.
16. Sitting too close to the TV can cause eye strain and potentially lead to myopia (nearsightedness).
17. Walking after a meal can help prevent gastric juices from flowing up into the esophagus and causing heartburn.
18. Going outside with wet hair can cause hair to become brittle and weak due to freezing temperatures.
19. Eating a large meal before swimming can cause blood to rush to the stomach, potentially leading to cramps or throwing up.
20. Drinking 7UP will not ease an upset stomach and may even irritate the stomach lining due to caffeine and sugar content.
21. The flu shot cannot give you the flu, but you may experience an immune response that causes fatigue, headaches, or a slight fever.
22. Sucking on your thumb past a certain age can cause jaw and tooth deformities like buck teeth.