.

Lowering your blood cholesterol levels will prevent heart disease.
Science has never been able to link cholesterol with heart disease. Population studies show that many groups with high levels of heart disease don't have high levels of blood fats. Careful examination of the studies supposedly demonstrating that cholesterol-lowering drugs work show as they fail to translate into a significant number of lives saved (WDDTY, the book).

Screening for cancer can catch it early and save lives.
Mammograms, cervical cancer screening and the latest PSA screening have never been shown to save lives. All screening tests are highly inaccurate. The latest study of the PSA test shows screened men are more likely to die.

Routine X-rays aren't dangerous.
The UK National Academy of Science believes that x-rays could be responsible for 4 per cent of leukaemias and up to 8 per cent of all other cancers.

Mental health has nothing to do with diet.
Work in Princeton and now the UK shows links with schizophrenia and depression and allergies or nutritional deficiencies. Virtually every case of depression seen by the Institute of Optimum Nutrition relates to an allergy to wheat (The Guide to Mental Health).

Cancer survival statistics are improving, thanks to chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy has an all over cure rate of at best 9 per cent, usually for rare cancers. It doesn't affect in any way the solid tumours which make up some 90 per cent of all cancers (The Cancer Handbook).

Too many carrots will turn skin orange.
It can happen, but you would have to eat a lot, said Chris Rosenbloom, chair of the nutrition department at Georgia State University. In fact, you would probably have to start chugging carrot juice to get that orange glow. The phenomenon is called hypercarotenemia and the orange tint shows up mostly in the palms of the hands. Never fear, Rosenbloom said. This happens because the body does not use all of the beta-carotene from carrots and the resulting skin discoloration is harmless.

Cold, wet weather causes colds and flu
Mothers no longer have to keep their children indoors until their hair dries, according to Dr. Susan Nelson, an internist with the Ochsner Clinic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In reality, viruses are theculprits. Nelson does say, contrary to the myth, that staying inside more -- because of cold weather -- even may make it easier to spread germs.

Eating sugar causes diabetes.
Well, not directly, according to Chris Rosenbloom, head of Georgia State University's nutrition department and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. But sugar can make you fat, which can make you susceptible to diabetes. "Excess sugar intake can lead to excess calorie intake and obesity is a very strong risk factor for Type 2 diabetes," Rosenbloom explains.

Worry and stress can turn your hair gray.
Mothers really can't blame their gray hairs on the antics of their kids. According to Dr. Kitha Griffinan, an Atlanta dermatologist, pigment-producing cells called melanocytes are genetically programmed to stop producing hair pigment at a certain age regardless of how much stress you have in your life.

Shaving causes hair to grow back faster, darker and coarser.
It's just an illusion, according to Dr. Kitha Griffin, an Atlanta dermatologist. "New growth is often sharp-tipped and stubbly, depending on the removal technique," so it may appear bristly, she says. Hair grows independently, unaffected by anything external. Dr. Griffin adds that if this myth were true, all men would have thick dark beards.

Newborn babies should stay indoors for the first three weeks.
You can take a newborn baby outside anytime. Doctors used to recommend keeping a newborn baby indoors at home for several weeks. There is no threat to going outdoors, even in the winter. Just dress the child appropriately and take victory laps around the neighborhood showing off your new family addition. You can take the baby to malls and anywhere else. I often point out that a newborn child that goes home to a house full of young siblings will get exposed to a lot more germs than in any mall or airplane.

An important point, though, is to keep the kitchen counter clean and avoid contact with anything (i.e. sponges) that has touched raw meat or poultry since the bacteria in meat can be dangerous to infants. You should wash sponges or dish towels every day or two since they often harbor bacteria.