Medical Myths Busted

Lifehacker:

With the recession causing enough stress for all of us, the British Medical Journal decides to bust several common medical myths—for example, reading in dim light won't ruin your eyesight, so go nuts.

Among the myths busted, BMJ notes that:

• Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children. (Don't tell your kids!)
  
• You don't lose excess body heat from your head. (You can leave your hat at home if you don't want to muss your hair!)
• Eating at night does not make you fat. (Though the obvious rules still apply—you can't eat more calories than you burn.)
• Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that you can cure a hangover.
• Shaving does not cause hair to grow back faster, darker, or coarser.
• Reading in dim light will not destroy your eyesight.
• You don't need to drink eight glasses of water a day, so save yourself the bloat.

Any old wives' tales you'd like to add to the list? Let's hear it in the comments. Photo by bald_eagle89.

Medical Myths (Part One) [British Medical Journal via NYT]
Medical Myths (Part Two) [British Medical Journal]