Credits: Social Media
Scientist busts 3 ‘incorrect’ health myths – benefits of red wine to what wellness really means
When it comes to health, there are all kinds of myths and misconceptions people believe that aren’t actually true.
From a drink that’s not really healthy to how to properly treat wounds, a doctor has busted three of them – so we can all live healthier.
Doctor busts three common health myths
“These are myths you’ve heard all of your life that are actually incorrect,” Morgan McSweeney, who goes by the name Dr. Noc online, said on TikTok.
1. Drinking red wine is healthy
There are all kinds of studies reeling the health benefits of drinking red wine, and the alcoholic drink is allowed in the Mediterranean diet, which is widely considered one of the best eating plans. However, newer analyses suggest this may not be true.
The older reports may have suffered from “sampling biases” and “overlooked” certain things, Dr. Noc explained. For example, the correlation between moderate wine consumption and socioeconomic status could have “skewed” the benefits.
As explained by the NHS, there is no “completely safe level of drinking,” and alcohol carries many risks, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, risk of stroke, cancer and liver disease. However, drinking less than 14 units per week lowers your risk of harming your health.
2. Dry wounds will heal faster
We are often told to keep wounds try to help them heal faster, although this is a myth too. Research shows that maintaining a moist environment actually “promotes faster and more efficient healing” with fewer scars, the doctor revealed.
This is partially because it’s easier for your cells to travel across the wound to do their healing when it’s moist. One study claims a moist environment�also aids the healing process by preventing dehydration and helping to break down dead tissue.
MedlinePlus recommends cleaning minor wounds, such as cuts, scrapes and burns, and covering them with a sterile bandage to prevent infections and scarring. Also, avoid picking or scratching the scab, but there is no need to keep it dry.
3. If you’re not overweight, you are healthy
Many believe if they are at a normal weight, that means they are healthy, but this is not true. It’s also wrong to say that a person who is overweight is not healthy, because there are so many more factors other than weight to consider.
Your overall health is determined by cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, body composition, distribution of fat and loads more metrics. Some of those are linked with body weight, but BMI alone is not very useful.
To stay healthy, you should eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients, do regular exercise, keep to a good weight, quit smoking and drink less alcohol. Also, ensure you get enough sleep each night, look after your dental hygiene and stay hydrated.
Morgan McSweeney is a PhD scientist with a bachelor’s degree in Biological and Medical Sciences and a PhD in Pharmaceutics, who uses his health expertise to educate more than 2.5 million followers on social media.
