Every year the British Medical Journal has a Christmas issue devoted to more offbeat and lighthearted scientific studies. This year’s issue had an article reviewing holiday themed medical myths.
The article debunks the following myths:
- that sugar increases children’s hyperactivity
- that suicides increase around the holidays
- that poinsettias are poisonous for you or your pets
- that you lose more heat from your head than any other part of your body
- that eating at night causes more weight gain than eating any other time of day, and
- that there is any effective treatment for a hangover
Peruse the article if you want to learn the details.
Thanks to Carina M. for pointing me to the LA Times article. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to everyone!
Learn more:
Los Angeles Times article: The year in weird science and myth-busting
British Medical Journal article: Christmas 2008: Seasonal Fayre