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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

The "Ancient Astronaut Theory"

Truth or hoax? 12 human creations attributed to aliens

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The world harbors some impressive relics of past eras, artifacts that seem anachronistically advanced for the times in which they were created. For this reason, some theorists have suggested that the achievements of the Egyptian Empire, prehistoric Japan, and ancient Mesoamerican civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial forces. While it's entertaining to wonder if aliens have visited Earth, in this article, we will debunk some theories that claim these 12 huge human achievements were not of terrestrial origin.

Image: Cazz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the centuries, certain artworks depicting enigmatic figures have contributed to the rise of the "Ancient Astronaut Theory." This hypothesis suggests that in ancient times, extraterrestrial beings visited prehistoric humans, possibly interacting with them and sharing knowledge.

Examples like the Wandjina rock art in Australia's Kimberley region, and an image of two figures in the Val Camonica site in Italy that resemble present-day astronauts, fueled the alien landing theory. However, academics and archaeologists characterize these claims as pseudoarchaeological or unscientific. Some authors also argue that these theories are used to diminish the achievements and abilities of indigenous cultures.

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It is common knowledge that with its enormous stones dating past 2400 BC, the purpose and construction methods of Stonehenge have long been contested. While it is widely accepted that ancient humans built the monument, proponents of the Ancient Astronaut Theory argue that the precise alignment of the stones suggests an advanced understanding of astronomical events, specifically, the ability to predict eclipses.

According to these theorists, this ability wouldn't have been possible without extraterrestrial influence. Mainstream archaeologists and astronomers, however, believe this knowledge existed among the early inhabitants of this area and was passed down from generation to generation.

Image: Maciej Cisowski

Teotihuacan, whose name means "the place where the gods were created," is a vast ancient city in Mexico built more than 2,000 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Aztec Empire. The site is renowned for its architecturally significant pyramids, such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.

With its well-preserved murals, fine obsidian tools, transportation system, and evidence of advanced agricultural practices, Teotihuacan is often viewed as more technologically developed than it was considered to be possible during its epoch. Although the city’s size and complexity make it seem somewhat otherworldly, it is undoubtedly a human creation.

Image: Laura Ockel

This mechanism is a clocklike instrument from around 85 BC, discovered in 1900 near the Greek island of Antikythera. Believed to have been used aboard ships as a navigation tool to accurately predict eclipses and the location of the sun and other celestial bodies. Although comparable technology did not reappear until the 14th century, this device is widely considered the oldest known example of an analog computer.

Because of the precision involved in its construction, UFO enthusiasts have regarded the Antikythera Mechanism as evidence of alien contact. However, ancient Greek literature mentions artifacts like this with no references to otherworldly visitors.

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Like many other megalithic sites around the world, the enigmas surrounding the moai, a set of huge stone figures on Easter Island, have long sparked curiosity and speculation. How is it possible that the Rapa Nui people were able to carve and transport these 13-foot-tall statues, each weighing up to 14 tons, more than 1,000 years ago?

The reasons why the moai were created are mysterious. Many may think they are the result of an alien encounter, but it is more likely that they were built for religious or ritual reasons. What remains uncertain is the fate of the artisans responsible for these statues. The main theory suggests the Rapa Nui civilization suffered a severe ecological collapse, likely caused by deforestation and overuse of natural resources.

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dogū are small humanoid clay figurines created during Japan’s prehistoric Jōmon period. Their distinctive appearance—featuring large eyes, exaggerated limbs, and ornate detailing—has led some Ancient Astronaut theorists to speculate that they resemble beings in space suits, complete with goggles and armor.

However, archaeologists have long noted that the figures' eye shapes closely resemble Inuit snow goggles, a design meant to reduce glare from sunlight on snow. While the precise function of dogū remains uncertain, their pronounced hips, buttocks, and breasts suggest they were likely used in fertility-related rituals or symbolic practices.

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The Nazca Lines are a collection of hundreds of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert plains of southern Peru. Some span more than 600 feet and are best viewed from the air, depicting animals, birds, fish, human figures, and various geometric shapes.

Ancient Astronaut theorists speculate that ancient Peruvians were trying to communicate with creatures capable of interstellar travel. Scientists, for their part, have claimed the drawings indicate ceremonial or ritual sites related to water and fertility, key concerns in the arid Nazca region. Also, historians have since replicated similar geoglyphs using primitive techniques without aerial assistance.

Image: Dawoud Khalil Messiha, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The ancient Egyptian civilization was remarkably advanced for its time. In 1898, archaeologists discovered a small wooden artifact in a tomb at Saqqara, now known as the Saqqara Bird. Made of sycamore wood and shaped like a bird, it has been cited by Ancient Astronaut theorists as potential evidence of early knowledge of flight.

These enthusiasts claim that the figurine’s vertical tail resembles the tail of an aircraft. The lack of legs and the wings’ angle has even led them to conjecture that the artifact is evidence of the Egyptians' knowledge of aerodynamics. Far from being influenced by space creatures, modern scientific studies suggest the Saqqara Bird is either a religious relic or even just a simple children's toy.

Image: Olek95, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

According to many UFO enthusiasts, the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt, contains what they claim is definitive proof of advanced ancient technology. Some of the hieroglyphs appear to resemble a helicopter, a jet plane, and even a flying saucer.

However, scholars explain that these glyphs are the result of a palimpsest—a layering of two inscriptions from different time periods. Over time, erosion and the gradual flaking of plaster have caused the superimposed carvings to create ambiguous shapes. What some interpret as a "helicopter" is a combination of the original hieroglyphs from Seti I’s reign and later modifications made during the rule of Ramesses II.

Image: Leonardo Ramos

The helicopter hieroglyphs and the Saqqara Bird are not the only Egyptian archaeological findings attributed to intelligent extraterrestrial beings. Throughout history, the Pyramids of Giza have been repeatedly ascribed to aliens, mostly because of the sheer magnitude of their construction.

According to Ancient astronaut proponents, the technology needed to build the pyramids was not available 4,500 years ago. The cuts and placement of the stones as well as their astronomical alignment are said to be so precise that we couldn't re-create them even in modern times. Although the Pyramids of Giza display a remarkable knowledge of engineering, there is plenty of evidence that these tombs are the work of thousands of human hands.

Image: Артем Дворецкий

In 1966, an Australian man reported seeing a saucer-shaped craft hovering over a field near Tully, Queensland. According to his account, the craft left behind a circular pattern in the crops where it had taken off. Years later, this story inspired two English pranksters to create their own crop circle designs using simple tools.

The phenomenon quickly grew in popularity, with crop circles becoming increasingly complex and intricate. While some believe these patterns are extraterrestrial messages or evidence of advanced alien technology, the vast majority have been proven to be human-made, products of hoaxes, artistic expression, marketing stunts, or tourist attractions.

Image: Jojo Tesini

In December 2009, a massive spiral of light appeared in the sky over northern Norway, sparking widespread speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. The unusual visual phenomenon lasted for two to three minutes, as evidenced by numerous amateur videos shared online.

UFO enthusiasts took it as evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, while the official explanation wasn't quite as spectacular. Apparently, a Russian military missile test went out of control. The spiral effect resulted either from a malfunctioning stabilizer engine or the missile spinning as it ran out of fuel before falling into the sea.