From head to toe
Check out these 10 human body myths you didn't know were false
Published on January 22, 2025
Image: BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA
Is it true that we only use 10% of our brains? Do carrots really improve your vision? Science has spoken and said, "Fake!" There are many widely believed myths about the human body, but despite their popularity and long history, it has been proven that most of these claims are actually not true. Join us as we uncover 10 myths about the human body that have been debunked!
Cracking joints can cause arthritis
Image: GMB Fitness
What do you usually do when you're nervous? Some people tap their feet, others fuss with their hair, and some crack their knuckles like a fireworks show on the 4th of July. If you belong to the last group, this info will help you.
There's a common myth that cracking your joints can cause you to develop arthritis. However, while most doctors advise against making a habit of this practice, there isn't enough scientific evidence to establish a direct link between the cracking (caused by gas bubbles forming and collapsing) and arthritis.
Shaving body hair makes it thicker
Image: Helen Barth
You've probably heard that shaving makes body hair grow thicker and darker. But this is a myth!
While it may seem like the hair grows back thicker, there's actually a simple explanation for this. The razor cuts the hair at the surface of the skin, leaving a blunt tip. As the hair grows back, that tip feels sharp to the touch, which is why we tend to believe that the hair has become thicker. In contrast, when you wax, every hair is removed from the root, so it grows back with a softer tip.
We use 10% of our brains
Image: Milad Fakurian
This is one of the most famous myths related to the human body. Although it's quite interesting, it's actually false that we only use a small percentage of our brains.
Neuroscience has shown that we use all of our brain, with distinct parts dedicated to different functions. In fact, various tests, such as MRI and PET scans, reveal that different areas of our brain are active even when we're asleep.
Carrot improves vision
Image: David Travis
Carrots' high vitamin A content can help maintain eye health. However, this vegetable won't make you skip the eye doctor.
Perhaps this is bad news for Bugs Bunny, but the myth that eating carrots drastically improves vision has already been disproved. This idea is thought to have arisen during WWII when it was suggested that eating carrots helped British pilots see better at night. In reality, the pilots' improved vision was due to the use of radar, but the association between carrots and better vision stuck.
Image: Robina Weermeijer
Brain cells stop growing
There was a theory that the human body can't produce new neurons after a certain age. That's a bit scary, isn't it? Fortunately, neuroscience has once again put on its gloves to prove this is a myth.
It has been shown that our body is indeed capable of producing new neurons through a process called "neurogenesis." Although less frequent than in childhood, neurogenesis does occur in adulthood and is boosted by physical exercise and mental stimulation.
Seven years of chewing gum
Image: Marvin Meyer
Remember that time when you accidentally swallowed gum, and an adult told you it would stay stuck in your stomach for years? Well, thankfully, that's just a myth!
Although your body can't digest gum like other foods, the natural movement of your digestive system helps it pass through and eventually be expelled.
Eggs are bad for your heart
Image: Mustafa Bashari
For years, egg yolks have been viewed with suspicion. Many believed they were bad for your heart or could significantly raise your blood cholesterol levels.
However, recent studies suggest that if you're not at risk or don't have specific cholesterol-related issues, there's no need to worry much about egg yolks.
Waiting 30 minutes to go swimming
Image: Raphaël Biscaldi
There's a well-known idea that swimming after eating is dangerous to your health and can cause cramps. Remember those moments of staring longingly at the pool, counting down the mandatory 30 minutes after eating? Thankfully, this wait is no longer necessary, as that idea has been discredited as a myth!
While you may feel a little heavy if you go swimming shortly after a meal, the truth is, under normal conditions, swimming with food in your stomach is generally considered safe.
Waking a sleepwalker
Image: Harris Ananiadis
Often portrayed in movies, TV shows, and cartoons, there's this idea that waking a sleepwalker can have fatal consequences. But it turns out that there's no need to fear, as science has confirmed that as a myth.
However, while it's safe to (gently) wake a sleepwalker, it's generally better to simply guide them calmly back to bed instead.
Nails and hair continue to grow
Image: Oleg Ivanov
It has long been believed that a person's nails and hair continue to grow even after passing away. Although there are reasons to believe it, this creepy myth has been disproved.
What actually happens is that the skin dehydrates and retracts, creating the illusion that the nails or hair are longer. Both hair and nails require living cells and a blood supply to grow.
