THE 5-SECOND RULE WILL MAKE YOU SICK 3 Health Myths You Probably Believe
We live in the golden age of information. The answers to many of life’s questions are just an internet search away. Despite this readily available wisdom, we still have a bad habit of believing health-related myths. Here are three popular health “facts” that are total works of fiction.
THE 5-SECOND RULE KEEPS FOOD SAFE Obviously germs and bacteria don’t really wait five seconds to pounce, but snatching your chip off the floor fast keeps most of the germs away, right? Not according to a 2006 study published by Dr. Paul Dawson. He found conclusive evidence that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, bacteria are transferred immediately. Even one second spent on tile, wood, or carpet is enough to infest your food with salmonella or another serious contaminant.
each year. However, bottled water is more expensive, bad for the environment, and, as Dr. Morton Tavel of the Indiana University School of Medicine pointed out, over 50 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water. The same effect can be achieved with a home filtration system. Of course, if the tap water in your area has been contaminated, bottled water is a safer alternative. However, in most circumstances, bottled water is no healthier than tap water. CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES CAUSES ARTHRITIS The connection between knuckle-cracking and arthritis came from studies where participants self-reported their habits.
Modern medical research has shown these results to be false. The official stance from the John Hopkins Arthritis Center states, “There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints.” Still, chronic knuckle-cracking can lead to reduced grip strength, so you might want to break the habit anyway. You’ve probably heard these myths for years, but just because something is common knowledge doesn’t mean it is true. With information so easily available, always take the time to research the facts, especially when it comes to your health.
BOTTLED WATER IS SAFER THAN TAP WATER
People seeking out safer water alternatives increases the sales of bottled “spring water”
WHEN THE DMV MISFILES DOCUMENTS, YOU PAY THE PRICE
Why You Need to Request Your MVR Annually
Sometimes, the good folks at the DMV make mistakes. Although this fact shouldn’t surprise anyone who has ever braved the long lines and clunky bureaucracy of the institution, it certainly will come as a surprise if you discover a conviction record has been incorrectly filed in your motor vehicle driving record (MVR). But it definitely happens. Especially for drivers with common names like Smith, Jones, or Gonzalez, convictions of driving violations occasionally get misfiled into the wrong records, giving no end of headaches to innocent motorists. Whenever your auto insurance comes up for renewal, the insurance company requests a copy of your MVR from the DMV. If a record or conviction for an infraction of misdemeanor is inadvertently placed in your MVR, your insurance may not notice the small discrepancy — say, a one-digit difference in driver’s license numbers — and place you in a higher risk bracket due to the conviction. Luckily, preventing this situation from ever occurring is inexpensive and straightforward. We recommend that once a year, motorists contact the DMV to request an unofficial copy of their MVR. They can then thoroughly inspect this record
to ensure everything on the file belongs to them and that no records are more than 39 months old. It is worth noting, though, that most misdemeanors and felony traffic convictions stay on your MVR for seven to 10 years, though you can discuss with a traffic ticket attorney how to get them expunged from your criminal record. If you find any false records or convictions, write to the DMV at: Department of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box 944247 MS G199 Sacramento, CA 94244-2470 Most of the time, the DMV will be eager to clear up any discrepancy. However, there are times when the DMV may refuse to remove incorrect files or records. When this happens, give us a call. We can oftentimes clear up a court entry with a phone call or email. Don’t let a misfiled document cause you stress. Check your record regularly and call us if you ever need advice or help in clearing up your record.
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
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