Campus Commons PT - January 2019

MOM REALLY DOES KNOW BEST 3 WIVES’ TALES PROVEN TRUE

GARLIC CURES COLDS

HEARTBURN MEANS A HAIRY BABY

“Make a face like that, and it’ll stay that way forever.” You may have heard something like this from Mom’s book of wisdom. Maybe you never disputed the idea that mother knows best. But as you grew up, it slowly became clear that hair doesn’t grow back faster and thicker if you shave it, cracking your knuckles doesn’t cause arthritis, and gum doesn’t stay in your stomach for months after you swallow it. After a whirlwind of wives’ tales over the years, many common claims have been put under scrutiny. Wives tales have been known as pseudoscience and blind intuition, but even as many were disproved, some surprisingly proved to hold weight. Here are three wives’ tales that have proven to be true.

For decades, moms have professed the healing properties of garlic, suggesting it can cure colds and help the body fight sickness. It turns out they were absolutely right. Garlic has antiviral properties that strengthen the immune system and nutrients that help combat illnesses. The effects of garlic can actually be more effective than over-the-counter flu medications. Some studies show that regular consumption of raw garlic lessens the likelihood of getting a cold, so if you feel a tickle in your throat, try a clove before you open the medicine cabinet.

It’s hard to list wives’ tales without bringing up one about pregnancy. Many are solely based on intuition, but a few that sound odd are legitimate. In 2007, a study done by Johns Hopkins attempted to debunk the myth that heartburn during pregnancy would mean a hairy baby at birth. Instead of proving it wrong, they found that 82 percent of women with severe heartburn during pregnancy gave birth to hairy babies. Turns out the hormones that cause heartburn in pregnant women also affect fetal hair growth. Did you ever look at your mom with skepticism when she would predict rain because her knees hurt? If so, you might owe your mom an apology, because there is a scientific connection. The drop in barometric pressure that’s common during storm weather causes pain in arthritic joints. JOINT PAIN PREDICTS THE WEATHER

HOWTO HELP YOUNG ATHLETES GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR SPORTS EXPERIENCE THE EMOTIONAL STRESS OF YOUTH SPORTS

Players, parents, coaches, and fans constantly refer to the idea of “healthy competition,” and for the most part, they are correct. The competition involved in the sports arena does contribute to a vast array of physical and mental benefits. But in some cases, the pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many influential adults consider winning the most important aspect of playing sports, but it’s far more helpful in the long run to encourage effort, sportsmanship, and hard work. Kids can be involved in sports activities of all levels and have successful and gratifying experiences without feeling the intense pressure to perform and win. If they do choose to be more active in competitive sports and move on to an age and skill level at which competition is more appropriate, they will need a foundation based on support and encouragement from their parents and coaches. With this positive foundation in place, young athletes can learn to actually enjoy the activity regardless of whether they win or lose.

One of the most common indicators of emotional

stress for young athletes stems from their parents. For example,

parents who live vicariously through their kids’ accomplishments can put excessive stress on them to never settle for anything less than first place. Parents should exercise caution when putting their children in intense win-lose competitions and ensure that their child’s identity or self-worth is not based solely on the outcome of the game. The good news is that most children and adolescents play sports and compete without any long-term negative effects, and research shows that the large majority of children who are involved in sports do not suffer from excessive stress. To maintain this trend, it is critical that young athletes are given opportunities to succeed as well as encouragement to learn from losses. Parents and coaches should continue to put the emphasis on effort instead of just winning.

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