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by Pamela Kramer Childress
As soon as I placed the steaming bowl of cooked carrots on the dinner table, my three-year old turned up her nose and said, “yuck.” Always taking the opportunity to one-up his baby sister, my five-year old chimed in, “carrots help you see better, right, mom?”
I started to answer my wide-eyed little boy and then I stopped myself. I really don’t know if carrots make you see better. So why does my five-year old believe it?
I find myself repeating my mother’s words all the time. “Adventures in eating.” “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” And the most common one used at our house, “Can’t didn’t do a thing; Try did it all.” (Actually, I think my girl scout leader used that one.) However, never do I recall telling my kids that carrots will improve their vision.
Myths like this are common in our culture. We pass them down from generation to generation without even knowing it. Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a quick answer for the barrage of questions a five-year old hits you with on a daily basis. Maybe that’s how it all started. Parents needed something to say.
The other day, my son got his hands on some bubble gum. He was dying to try it. I typically don’t let my kids chew my private stash of Orbit gum, so this particular day he actually came across some Bubbaliscious. I let him stuff the giant rectangle in his mouth. As he chewed and chewed, I heard myself telling him not to swallow it or it would remain in his stomach for seven years. He was astonished and quickly tossed it in the trash. Turns out my threat was pretty empty. According to www.medicinenet.com, gum is rather indigestible, but it will pass in a mass without sticking for years to your insides. Can’t say I’ve ever heard a story of anyone going in for gum removal surgery.
So, did the Old Wives get any of it right? Over the years, we’ve heard so many do’s and don’ts. When I was a kid, eggs and bacon were considered a hazard, which led to the launch of Egg Beaters and turkey bacon. Today, there’s a million-dollar diet industry based on eating fried eggs and bacon — just make sure you omit the toast. According to www.nutritiondata.com, eggs are a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B12 and phosphorus, as well as a very good source of protein and selenium. But most of us already know the bad news. Eggs are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
And when my child gets a fever — which is about the only thing that will slow down a rowdy five-year-old boy — should I starve the fever but feed the cold? My pediatrician says that cold medicines and cough syrups do no good. Nothing cures a virus — you just have to ride it out. Those remedies might soothe the symptoms of the cold but they don’t cure it. Conventional wisdom — and webmd.com —says that starving yourself is never a good plan. Eating healthier foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins are always better for you and certainly a better choice for a fever or a cold. And by all accounts, the mantra: “drink lots of fluids” still rings true when you’re sick.
Speaking of colds, does going out in bad weather really give you a cold? When we force our kids to wear the big floppy hat in the winter, is it really to ward off the flu or more about keeping his ears from falling off from frostbite?
My mother also warned me against cracking my knuckles, claiming it would cause arthritis. She never did it, yet today she has arthritis in her thumbs. Cracking actually causes your bones to pull apart and form a gas bubble, breaking the adhesive seal in the joint, which creates the crack. The habit might weaken the fingers but most experts agree there is no evidence that it contributes to arthritis.
The newest health advice among mothers these days is sunscreen. When I was a kid we never had sunscreen. We played in the sun all day and got sunburned. I remember the immense heat that my skin would radiate, coupled with the chills, as my body tried to cope. And once the pain subsided, the peeling skin took over. My siblings and I would take turns gingerly peeling away layers of skin from one another’s backs. Looking back, it was a gross ritual. Today, at every pool across America, moms are lathering up their kids with SPF 50. But the truth is, a little sun is good for us. We need vitamin D, and recent reports even say that SPF ratings over 30 don’t improve your protection.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola from www.mercola.com, “Exposure to the sun provides many benefits such as promoting the formation of vitamin D. We also have strong evidence that sunlight is protective against MS and colon, ovarian and breast cancers.” He says to gradually exposure yourself to sunlight and, of course, never get burned.
With so many opinions out there, new research studies, and of course our mothers’ constant unsolicited advice, it’s a wonder any of us ever step foot out of the house. We’re constantly bombarded with information, every day, all day long. So, I guess the best advice might be, “Moderation in all things.” There has to be some common sense applied to our daily living.
By the way, carrots don’t literally make you see better. They do contain a carotenoid called beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A. According to www.mainlinehealth.org, vitamin A helps the eye to adjust to light changes and also helps to moisten the eye which can enhance visual acuity. However, only a small amount is needed to maintain good vision. Foods that are high in beta-carotene and vitamin A will only impact your vision if your body is deficient in vitamin A.
So, it’s still a good idea to eat your carrots. Why? Because I’m you’re mother and I said so.
| September Featured Stories |
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Coffee Break with the Barista
Creating Mind, Body & Spirit Health — One Peace at a Time, by Milan Galan, Ph.D.
Waking Up to the Truth About Sleep, by Jessica Wilson
The Power of Sound, by Marian Rein
Health Myths & Facts, by Pamela Kramer Childress
Mind, Body & Spirit Health at Midlife and Menopause by Diane G. Sanford, Ph.D.
Age – It’s Simply A Number, by Milan Galan, Ph.D.
Physical and Mental Well-Being Combining Body, Mind & Spirit, by Jill Barrett
Getting Better With Age: A Healthy Perspective, by Phylis Clay Sparks
A Piece of Kitchen Nostalgia Returns — Retro Appliance Comes to the Aid of Busy Families, by Mary K. Morgan
The Healthy Side of Your Morning Brew, by Marian Rein
Todd Lewis If you make a list, it will come by Pamela Kramer Childress
Toby’s Tale — More About Toby by Jessica Wilson
Live Large Spend Small by Mary K. Morgan - September 2008
Java Journal Movie Morsels by Mary Morgan - September 2008
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