True or False: Old Wives’ Tales

Instructions

•Read each old wives' tale and decide if you think its true or false. •Once you have your answer, go to the next slide and see the correct answer and the reasoning behind it.

True or False

Never open the door

when baking a souffle.

TRUE

It is more likely to bake a successful souffle if you keep the over door closed while it bakes. For the souffle to increase in volume like it is supposed to it must cook at the correct temperature. When you open the oven door it causes a sudden drop in the oven temperature.

True or False

Put some brandy on your baby’s

gums.

FALSE

Medical professionals strongly advise to not use brandy to help a teething baby. A very small amount of alcohol can be toxic to a baby.

True or False

Don’t go outside with

wet hair. You’ll catch a cold.

FALSE

Colds are caused by viruses so you can not catch a cold by going outside with wet hair. Wet hair also will not make you more attracted to germs. The common cold is transmitted through bodily fluids and not having wet hair outside.

True or False

Feed a cold, starve a fever.

FALSE

Not eating will weaken you. Even if you don’t feel like eating you should try bland foods such as chicken soup. Medical experts say that eating strengthens your immune system and helps your body fight infections.

True or FalseYou can’t swim after

eating, or you may drown.

FALSE

This old wives’ tale believes that after you eat your body takes blood away from your limbs and takes it to the digestive tract. Which makes it difficult to swim. Digestion does require extra blood. However, blood is not taken away from your arms and legs. Duke Health states that the worst thing that could happen from swimming after eating are small cramps.

True or FalseIf you’re carrying high, it’s a girl. If you’re carrying low, it’s a boy.

FALSE

According to medical experts how a woman carries is based on the size and position of the baby. The only way to find out the gender of the baby is to ask your doctor or wait until the baby is here.

True or False

If you cross your eyes for too

long, they will get stuck that

way.

FALSE

Children usually cross their eyes for fun. They can’t hold the position for very long and it is not dangerous. Medical experts say they will see double, but it will not leave any permanent damage.

True or False

It takes 7 years to digest a

piece of gum.

FALSE

Bubble gum does contain parts that are indigestible by the human body. However, gum does not sit in your stomach for years. It usually takes bubble gum a week to digest and leave your body.

True or False

Coffee stunts your growth.

FALSE

Johns Hopkins says that caffeine in coffee will not impact children’s growth patterns. Drinking coffee has various health benefits. It can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, strokes, some cancers, and abnormal heart rhythms.

True or FalseCracking your

knuckles will give you arthritis.

FALSEScientists have never actually found a link between cracking your knuckles and arthritis.

True or False

Spilling salt brings bad

luck.

TRUE

If you want to believe in this superstition, then its true. Salt use to be a form of currency. Therefore spilling salt was a big waste. This is also where the expression “not worth one’s salt” came from.

True or False

An apple a day keeps the doctor

away.

FALSE

Apples are nutritious and healthy. However, an apple a day will not ward off any illness. If you want to keep the doctors away, you might have to do more than just eating an apple a day.

True or False

Terrible things come in threes.

TRUEAlmost anything can come in threes if that is what you believe.

True or FalseIf your ears are ringing, then somebody is talking about

you.

FALSEYour ears can not tell when someone is talking about you behind your back.

True or False

Eating carrots will improve

your eyesight.

TRUE

Carrots contain a high amount of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a nutrient that is essential for good vision. Eating carrots can help provide a small amount of Vitamin A to help with your eye health. Vitamin A can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolks, and liver.

Resources

•https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/popular-old-wives-tales-fiction-or-fact/•https://bestlifeonline.com/old-wives-tales/•https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/fact-fiction-myths-about-eyes#1•https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-is-it-bad-luck-to-spill-salt.htm•https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/can-wet-hair-make-you-sick