9 Silly Things That We Do Without Even Thinking Almost Every Day

After having learned something once, a human’s brain rarely doubts that knowledge and acts just as it’s used to. Some of those habits are connected with our parents while others are developed naturally by following trends — which is why we gladly use anti-wrinkle cream and rub our hips with a brush to get rid of cellulite. But what if we said that all of the aforementioned habits, as well as many others, were complete nonsense?

We at Bright Side are sure that it’s normal to occasionally doubt and verify information for your own safety (and intelligence), no matter how convincing it sounds. That’s why we’ve busted 9 myths that have taken firm but unreasonable positions in many people’s lives.

Myth #1: You can’t boil water twice.

It’s believed that water shouldn’t be boiled twice because it can develop carcinogens this way. Moreover, it becomes heavier and “dead,” and releases deuterium, which leads to aging of the body. However, scientists’ new studies prove that this statement is a common myth. Water itself contains certain elements such as deuterium, fluorides, and nitrates. But the amount of these things is so small that it doesn’t affect our bodies and is in no way related to the repeated boiling. The only thing we should check on a regular basis is the limescale that appears in the kettle. Also, we shouldn’t neglect the filtration of tap water.

Myth #2: Dry massage brushes help get rid of cellulite.

Massages with dry brushes that have gained incredible popularity don’t actually help get rid of cellulite at all — in fact, they’re related to a number of contraindications that aren’t typically spoken about. The most you can expect from these brushes is scrubbing your skin and it’s impossible to break up fat lumps with such actions. Conversely, you can make it worse because if you keep rubbing your skin every day, it can lose its elasticity and become traumatized and dry. Traditional massage treatments are more effective in fighting cellulite.

Myth #3: You need to lift your phone up to improve cell reception.

Whenever we have a bad mobile internet connection, our hand seems to automatically move upward. But does this really help? The thing is, the level of the connection around the city is somewhat even. But, of course, there are some factors, such as the remoteness of the station from where you are or other buildings that stand in the signal’s way, that affect it. Therefore, raising your hands in an attempt to find a better signal while standing in the same place doesn’t make any sense. Taking several steps away from your current location might be a better idea.

Myth #4: You should stretch before workouts.

There are 2 types of stretching: static and dynamic. Researchers studied the first type and came to the unequivocal conclusion that static stretching is not a very good way to warm up before active workouts. Not only does it not decrease the risk of trauma (which can happen due to a lack of strength, not flexibility) but it also weakens muscle endurance, which leads to less intensity and a shorter duration of the training, especially when it comes to running.

Myth #5: You can’t swim right after a meal.

The old opinion that says one should wait at least 30 minutes after having a meal before going swimming is nothing more than a myth. It’s based on the idea that after having a heavy meal, our blood rushes to the digestive tract and doesn’t sufficiently supply the legs, arms, and lungs. However, there’s enough blood in the human body for it to function fully, even after overeating. But we should note that intensive workouts on a full stomach are never a good idea and it’s not necessarily connected with swimming. Therefore, experts don’t see an issue with staying in the water after you eat.

Myth #6: You can’t take baths while on your period.

Girls are usually afraid to take baths during their periods for one reason: they believe the exposure to hot water may increase bleeding. But the supposed negative effect of taking baths during a period hasn’t been proven — conversely, warm water can help relax the muscles and decrease period pain. The only thing you should care about is hygiene, which is why you should always get ready for taking a bath in advance.

Myth #7: Hydrogel patches remove wrinkles.

Hydrogel patches are able to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes with the help of a cooling effect but are useless at getting rid of wrinkles. This is because the useful elements in patches that are designed for skin rejuvenation are too big and can’t seep through the top layer of the epidermis in order to get to the deeper layers. That’s why they were replaced by patches with microneedles. But dermatologists warn about the short duration of the visible effect after their use.

Myth #8: You shouldn’t drink during meals.

People say that the main reason water can negatively affect digestion is because it dilutes gastric juice and interferes with the way the food is processed. Now, there are many nuances that make this opinion wrong. First of all, liquid in the stomach is absorbed quite fast; secondly, our body always produces enough gastric juice and takes all factors into account, like the volume and consistency of food. And finally, the presence of water in the stomach doesn’t contradict a human’s physiology.

Myth #9: It’s okay to wash chicken before cooking it.

Washing raw chicken before cooking it is quite a stable and seemingly logical tradition but it actually brings more harm than good. According to research, when washing chicken, we spread various bacteria (like salmonella or campylobacter) around our kitchen through splashes. This bacteria doesn’t die from water and can unnoticeably fly into our eyes or get on surfaces (like towels, clean dishes, and even food), which increases the risk of further infection/poisoning. Therefore, experts recommend avoiding washing raw poultry and suggest giving it a prolonged heat treatment in the absence of visible dirt on its surface. That should be enough to kill any harmful bacteria.

Which of these habits do you practice?