6 medical myths debunked just in time for Christmas.

Wow! I hate to out myself as ignorant but I believed that every single one of these myths was true.

1) Sugar causes hyperactivity in children

At least 12 double blind randomised controlled trials have examined how children react to diets containing different levels of sugar. None of these studies, not even studies looking specifically at children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, could detect any differences in behaviour between the children who had sugar and those who did not.

I swear I have seen anecdotal evidence to the contrary but I will admit that I may have been incorrect on this one.

2) Suicides increase over the holidays

While the holidays might, indeed, be a difficult time for some, there is no good scientific evidence to suggest a holiday peak in suicides.

One study from Japan that looked at suicides in 1979-94 showed that the rate of suicide was lowest in the days before a holiday and highest in the days after the holiday. In contrast, in a study from the United States of suicides over a 35 year period, there was no increase before, during, or after holidays.

Well this one has been what I considered common knowledge for as far back as I can remember. I have worked with the mental health community for the last twelve years and I can say with certainty that they also believe this myth to be true. And since they are in a position to know I will reserve my judgement on whether this myth is debunked or not.

3) Poinsettia toxicity

In an analysis of 849 575 plant exposures reported to the AmericanAssociation of Poison Control Centers, none of the 22 793 cases involving poinsettia resulted in considerable poisoning. No one died from exposure to or ingestion of poinsettia, and most (96%) did not even require medical treatment. In 92 of the cases, children ingested substantial quantities of poinsettias, but none needed medical treatment, and toxicologists concludedthat poinsettia exposures and ingestions can be treated without referral to a healthcare facility. Another study, looking at poinsettia ingestion by rats, could not find a toxic amount of poinsettia, even at amounts that would be the equivalent of 500-600 poinsettia leaves or nearly a kilogram of sap.

I swear I reinforced this myth just yesterday with one of my kids.

4) Excess heat loss in the hatless

As temperatures drop, hats and caps flourish. Even the US Army Field manual for survival recommends covering your head in cold weather because "40 to 45 percent of body heat" is lost through the head. If this were true, humans would be just as cold if they went without trousers as if they went without a hat.But patently this is just not the case.

I don't know how much I ever really believed this one. I rarely wear a hat, and am rarely as cold as the people who are all bundled up around me.

5) Nocturnal feasting makes you fat

As an ex-personal trainer I have long considered this incontrovertibly true. I think a lot has to do with exactly WHAT you eat late at night, but I certainly do think eating late right before bedtime is a bad idea. I just disagree that this is a myth.

6) You can cure a hangover

Well I have never found that ANYTHING helped my hangover except time, so I have no trouble believing this one is accurate.