Don't swallow that!

Here's what carrots really do for your eyes! 10 little-known food facts

Image: Thought Catalog

There are some common beliefs about food that, despite their popularity, are actually fake. While science has already done its job and debunked them, many of these myths have an explanation! If you want to know the story behind these myths and the truth revealed by nutritionists, don't miss this article!

Image: Jonas Jacobsson

There's a common misconception about coffee and tea that many people still believe. It has long been said that these delicious infusions cause dehydration. Luckily for all coffee lovers, this is a myth!

It turns out that the caffeine present in coffee and tea is indeed a diuretic, which causes you to go to the bathroom more often. However, you'd need to consume large amounts —far more than most people typically drink— to become dehydrated.

Image: Franco Antonio Giovanella

We know that white potatoes are delicious, but why do many people leave them out of their diet? Well, because there has always been a misconception about this vegetable.

We should give the poor potato another chance and let it defend itself! This vegetable is actually a good source of nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, especially if you eat the skin. What caused them to be accused of being "bad" is their higher glycemic index compared to other vegetables, which can lead to a fast rise in blood sugar levels. But if you don't have any health conditions related to sugar in your blood, potatoes can be part of a balanced diet. Just remember to leave the oil out of the recipe!

Image: Jessica Loaiza

Who can say no to a little piece of delicious chocolate? But this tasty treat hasn't escaped the fake news either.

For a long time, it has been accused of causing acne on the skin of those who eat it. However, there's no scientific evidence directly linking chocolate with the skin condition. The skin's reaction to certain ingredients varies from person to person, and acne is more often associated with products high in added sugar or dairy rather than chocolate itself.

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Although you may feel that your body is in urgent need of a detox after a heavy dinner, you don't really need special juices for that. In recent years, "detox" recipes and diets have gained a lot of traction, especially in social networks. However, the human body naturally "detoxifies" itself through your liver, kidneys, lungs, and digestive system as long as you mantain a healthy and balanced diet.

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Nothing bad will happen if you eat something after 7 p.m. While it's true that heavy meals close to bedtime can make you feel a little sick or give you a stomach ache, the "nothing after 7" rule is actually a myth.

Fortunately, our stomachs can't tell time; what matters is eating healthy and trying to finish meals at least 2-3 hours before going to bed, regardless of your bedtime.

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During WWII, it was said that British pilots had great eyesight and aim thanks to the large amount of carrots they included in their diet. However, over time, it was revealed that their advantage came more from the use of radar technology rather than from carrots.

Although this vegetable is indeed a good source of vitamin A —which is very beneficial for your eyes— eating carrots alone is not enough to keep your eyes healthy, let alone cure any eye condition.

Image: Brooke Lark

Every meal of the day is important, but what you eat matters more than when you eat it.

The idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day gained fame following cereal advertising campaigns in the early 20th century. However, science shows that it depends on each person's needs, with the quality of your food being more important than the time of day you eat it.

Image: Haley Phelps

If you're like us and love summer, here's some good news for you: It has been shown that there is no evidence to point out that swimming after eating is harmful.

The wait to swim after lunch is over! While eating too much might make you feel a bit heavy, the truth is that a break in the pool won't harm your digestion.

Image: Anna Pelzer

Many people still believe that eating healthy is expensive, and that's why they don't give it a chance. But that's actually a myth associated with the high prices of some products labeled as "Low fat" or "Light in calories."

While it's true that the least healthy foods are often the quickest and cheapest, there are many healthy options that are also affordable. Whole grains (rice, oats), legumes (beans, lentils), and frozen, canned, or fresh vegetables are great options to start!

Image: Jessica Lewis

Although delicious, sugar often gets a bad reputation, which is why fruits are sometimes viewed with suspicion by those trying to lose weight. However, the truth is that not all sugars are the same.

As products given to us by nature, fruits are rich in sugar, but the natural kind, which your body digests differently than artificial and refined added sugars. Plus, fruits are rich in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants!

What’s in a name, anyway?

Few people know that these countries used to have other names. Do you?

Image: Helena Hertz

It is always a delicate matter when a country changes its name, as it signifies a shift not only for the geographical area but also for its inhabitants. The very identity of a nation is affected, which is why such changes are relatively rare. But they do happen. Did you know that Iran was once known as Persia? Or that Colombia was once called New Granada? Not many people remember the original names of these 12 countries. Do you?

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A well-known historic name, Persia was Iran’s official name in the West until 1935, when the new denomination was formally adopted by the government. This new name, Iran, was the name of the country in its own language, Persian.

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Until 1939, Thailand was known as Siam. The name was changed by the government following the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, as part of a broader effort to modernize the country and promote a unified national identity.

Image: Saw Wunna

In 1989, the military government of Burma officially changed the country’s name to Myanmar in English, stating it was intended to improve the nation's image and to "promote ethnic unity." In the Burmese language, Myanmar is a more formal, literary version of Burma, so the change did not affect the native name.

Image: João Guimarães

If you remember calling the Netherlands Holland, you're not alone. However, in 2020, the Dutch government officially stopped using Holland as a promotional name for the country. This rebranding effort aimed to present a more unified national image and move away from recreational associations, factors that have long drawn tourists to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, which is located in the province of North Holland.

Image: Chathura Anuradha Subasinghe

To distance itself from its colonial past, Sri Lanka changed its name from Ceylon, a name given during British rule, to Sri Lanka. The name Sri Lanka is derived from the Sinhalese language and means "resplendent land."

Image: Chloe Evans

The African country of Zimbabwe changed its name from Rhodesia after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1980. The name Rhodesia came from Cecil Rhodes, the British imperialist who played a major role in the colonization of the region.

Image: Martin Krchnacek

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries in 1993: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2016, the Czech government officially adopted Czechia as the country's short-form name, recommending its use in international contexts, so that it can expand on business by having an easier name.

Image: Khara Woods

After gaining independence from the British Empire in 1922, the Irish Free State existed as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. In 1937, a new constitution was adopted, and the country officially changed its name to Ireland (Éire in Irish), signaling a move to assert greater national identity and distance itself from its colonial past.

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The country formerly known as East Pakistan changed its name to Bangladesh after separating from West Pakistan in 1971. This change reflected deep cultural, linguistic, and political differences between the two regions and marked the culmination of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to Bangladesh’s independence.

Image: Yonatan Tesfaye

The region now known as Ethiopia was historically referred to as Abyssinia, a name commonly used by foreigners for many centuries. The term Abyssinia broadly referred to the Ethiopian Empire, which was ruled by various dynasties dating back to at least the 13th century. The name Ethiopia has ancient roots and was officially adopted as the country’s name by Emperor Haile Selassie in the 20th century, emphasizing Ethiopia’s longstanding heritage and identity.

Image: Flavia Carpio

Modern-day Colombia was once part of the territory known as New Granada during Spanish colonial rule. After independence, the country went through several name changes: it became the Republic of New Granada, then the United States of Colombia following a civil war, and finally the Republic of Colombia in 1886. The name Colombia is derived from the surname of Christopher Columbus.

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The country formerly known as Swaziland officially changed its name to eSwatini in 2018. The name change was intended to shed traces of its colonial past and to reduce confusion with Switzerland, a landlocked European country. Notably, eSwatini is one of the few country names that begins with a lowercase letter.