Health Misconceptions to watch for in 2017

Good health is a complicated balance of good eating, ample rest and adequate exercise.  And with the plethora of health information available on the internet, misconceptions are sure to arise. Here are 4 misconceptions to avoid in the year 2017

1)      Drink lots of water - 'Drinking 8 glasses of water' a day is a thumb rule when it comes to water consumption. But there has been no concrete research that proves drinking lots of water can improve your health. Thirst is a good indicator that your body needs water.  And one should drink water only when they're thirsty and until their thirst is satisfied. Heinz Valtin in his paper published in the 'American Journal of Physiology ', stated that excess consumption of water can increase the build up of waterborne pollutants in the body. An article on the National Kidney Foundation website states that too much of fluid build up can cause health problems such as breathing difficulty and swelling.

2)      Eating a lot of carrots can enhance vision  - Vitamin A is necessary in order to maintain proper eyesight. But eating a lot of carrots (source of vitamin A) will not enhance eyesight nor can it repair a damaged eye. This is because vitamin A maintains healthy vision only if taken in small quantities. An article on MedScape also reports that excess vitamin A can lead to coloration of the skin. The same also states that the development of a fetus can be hampered by excess vitamin A.

3)      Sleep is not that important - There are a lot of people who claim to not need a lot of sleep. There's a common misconception that the human body needs a minimum of 6 hours of sleep.  But that cannot be further from the fact. According to a news report on CBS News, people who sleep about 7 to 9 hours have a significantly lower chance of health problems than those who get less than 7 hours of sleep.  The best way to sleep is to let yourself wake up naturally but since that is not possible in this fast paced world, averaging between 7 to 9 hours of sleep is the way to go.

4)      Detox Diets - Detox diets have gained popularity recently. With people following crazy diets to clean off toxins from their body, researchers and dieticians have pointed out some flaws in detox diets that are a cause for concern. A New York Times article states the body can handle toxins just fine on its own.  It also states that Detox Diets are overhyped and should be taken with a grain of salt.

It is important to be healthy but it is also important to stay clear of misconceptions.  The 2017 resolution should be to keep away from for misconceptions about health and research the facts before adopting any so called 'health practice'.