Smart Woman: Debunking Summer Myths
By: Maxine Ridling
Updated: July 10, 2012
These are all good summer myths...or are they?
Doctors say most of them are myths.
So, let's break down some of the more popular ones and see if science agrees.
You can catch poison ivy from someone else. False.
You get poison ivy from the oil of the plant.
Although doctors do warn, if the oil from the plant gets onto clothes, or even pet, it is possible you can pick it up from there.
Eating watermelon seeds can make you sick. Still false.
Doctors say the idea that the seed will sprout inside your body and cause a problem is a myth.
Tanning one time in a tanning bed can protect from the sun's damaging rays. Definitely false.
Tanning does not protect you against developing skin cancer. In fact, tanning does not protect the skin from the sun's rays.
You should wait thirty minutes after you eat to go back into the pool. Well, it depends.
The digestive process requires blood flow to the stomach. If you distract your stomach by exercising and leading the blood flow to the muscles instead of the stomach you might get some stomach cramp.
And one more, going in and out of air conditioning can cause you to catch cold. False again.
Cold indoor air in the summer does not cause cold. Viruses cause colds.
The best advice for a safe summer? Doctors say just use common sense.







