Common Myths About Food That Aren't Actually True

Plenty of us are used to hearing all kinds of food myths throughout our lives. Perhaps you’ve heard about the guy who swallowed an apple seed and suddenly had one growing in his stomach? Maybe your parents urged you to eat carrots so you could see in the dark? Food myths come in all shapes and forms.

However, it turns out there are some common myths about food that aren’t actually true. So, where did they come from, and how have so many people heard them throughout the years? It seems that sometimes, things that sound odd might spread faster than the truth.

Celery doesn’t burn calories when you eat it

Plenty of people turn to all kinds of fads in a bid to shed a few pounds. One of the most common myths about food is that celery is so low in calories that our body burns calories when we eat and digest the vegetable. The truth? There is no such thing as a calorie-negative food. In fact, it’s been proven that chewing celery only burns around half a calorie, meaning our bodies still consume some by the time we’re done. 

Eating turkey doesn’t make people sleepy

Thanksgiving is often filled with one thing: big turkey dinners. They’re usually enough for us to eat until we’re stuffed and sleep all afternoon, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the turkey making you sleep. The myth started when people learned that turkey is filled with the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted to serotonin when digested. While this can make us drowsy, research shows that it’s only if we consume tryptophan on its own. Instead, it’s likely the large amount of carbohydrates and overeating that makes so many people sleepy after a turkey meal.

Chocolate won’t give someone acne

If there’s one thing many want to wave goodbye to, it’s acne. Perhaps that’s why many follow all kinds of advice when it comes to kicking the zits out the door? Diet has often been accused of causing acne. However, there is no link between eating the sweet stuff and having a breakout. Scientists suggest that genetics, hygiene, and hormones are most to blame for acne, with a chocolate-heavy diet only contributing a minor piece of the puzzle. 

Gum won’t stay in someone’s body for seven years

Plenty of us chew gum for all kinds of reasons. While there are pros and cons to the stuff, one of the common myths about food that isn’t true is how it will stay in your stomach for seven years if you swallow it. Instead, it moves through the body just like anything else we digest. In fact, dieticians suggest that gum could be in and out of our body in as little as 40 hours, but rather than being broken down, the gum remains as one piece.

Carrots aren’t connected to better eyesight

How many spent their childhood years eating carrots in the hopes they would be able to see in the dark? Plenty of us can blame our parents for the lack of superpowers, as carrots can’t help improve our eyesight. However, it’s not entirely untrue that there’s a link between carrots and eyes. It’s to do with the vegetable’s high vitamin A content which is great for ocular health, and deficiencies can see our vision deteriorate. Still, that doesn’t mean we should cut the vegetable out of our diets altogether. 

Fruit seeds don’t grow in your stomach if swallowed

If there was one thing that terrified plenty of us when we were kids, it was the idea that a fruit tree would start growing in our stomachs if we accidentally swallowed a seed. Thankfully, it turns out that we’re safe. Thankfully, our bodies aren’t designed to grow plants, so the seeds will instead pass straight through our bodies without causing an issue.

The common myths about food that aren’t actually true might not always be complete lies. After all, they came from somewhere, right? Still, most of them originated from facts that have been blown out of proportion instead of things we can use to terrify children.