Here are 10 popular myths about medicine and healthcare, debunked by science.

Myth: Vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects the way people interact with others, communicate, behave, and learn. The symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life. That’s why it is described as a developmental disorder, although it can be diagnosed at any age. Some people have concerns that vaccines cause ASD.

Fact: Extensive research has found no link between vaccines and ASD(1). In fact, not allowing your child to have the recommended early childhood vaccines can have serious health implications which can extend into adulthood.

Myth: Antibiotics can treat a cold or the flu.

Fact: Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics won’t help you get better any faster(2). The virus will usually run its course, but you can do some things to speed it up or lesson the symptoms.  Drink a lot of fluids preferably water, have good rest, take over the counter medicines to relieve symptoms and visit the doctor if your symptoms get worse. Ultimately, the best approach is getting flu vaccine.

Myth: Sugar causes hyperactivity in children.

Many parents are being told that sugar make children hyperactive. Well, this is a giant myth.

Fact: While sugary foods can lead to energy crashes, there’s no good evidence that they cause hyperactivity in children. After several scientific studies, the findings remain the same “sugar does not affect the behaviour or cognitive performance of children”(3).

Myth: Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.

Fact: Cracking your knuckles might be annoying, but it won’t cause arthritis. Arthritis is a complex condition with many contributing factors. It can affect people of all ages, races, sexes(4), and it is a common cause of disability worldwide.

Myth: Eating carrots improves your eyesight.

Many people falsely believe that they can treat their eyesight by eating a lot of carrot. Well, this is not true.

Fact: Carrots contain beta-carotene, the pigment that gives carrot its colour, which can be converted into vitamin A(5). Vitamin A is important for vision. However, eating carrots won’t cure or prevent vision problems. See your doctor if you have eyesight problems. But do not stop eating carrots because it still has a lot of health benefits.

Myth: Reading in dim light damages your eyes.

There is no evidence to support this at all(6).

Fact: Reading in dim light might cause eye strain eventually leading to visual fatigue, but it won’t permanently damage your eyes

Myth: Drinking eight glasses of water a day is essential for good health.

You may have heard that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is essential for good health. This is a reasonable goal, but this is not really the case(7).

Fact: While staying hydrated is important, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much water you should drink. It depends on your individual factors such as weight, activity level, overall health, environmental conditions and pregnancy and breastfeeding. And yes, water is not the only way to keep hydrated. Fluids such as tea, non-alcoholic drinks and coffee can add up to your hydration status.

Myth: Eating gluten-free is healthy for everyone.

Fact: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten can also be added to foods as a thickening agent or just for the texture or flavour.  People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to avoid gluten, but for most people, there’s no health benefit to going gluten-free(8).

Myth: Sugar feeds cancer cells.

Sugar is not carcinogenic substance which means it does not cause cancer.

Fact: Cancer cells can use sugar for energy, but so can all other cells in your body, and there is no evidence that consuming sugar makes cancer cells grow faster(9). However, consuming too much sugar from processed beverages and food can contribute to obesity which is a known risk factor for cancer. Restricting sugar intake won’t cure cancer, but it’s still important to maintain a healthy diet.

Myth: Drinking coffee stunts your growth.

Fact: There’s no good evidence that coffee stunts your growth. However, large amounts of caffeine can interfere with sleep in teenagers, which can affect growth hormone production(10).

Further reading list

  1. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism. 2024. Autism and Vaccines.
  2. Queensland Government. https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/vaccination-blog/why-antibiotics-cant-be-used-to-treat-viruses-colds-or-the-flu. 2023. Why antibiotics can’t be used to treat viruses, colds, or the flu.
  3. Australian Academy of Science. https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-medicine/does-sugar-really-make-kids-hyper. Does sugar really make kids hyper?
  4. Linda Rath. https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis. 2022. What Is Arthritis?
  5. Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/beta-carotene. Beta-carotene.
  6. Vision Care. https://www.zeiss.co.in/vision-care/eye-health-and-care/health-prevention/does-reading-in-poor-light-damage-your-eyes.html. 2021. Does reading in poor light damage your eyes?
  7. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/basics/nutrition-basics/hlv-20049477 . 2023. Nutrition and healthy eating.
  8. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288406?c=970743197323#summary. 2020. Is a gluten-free diet good for your health?
  9. Cancer Council. https://www.cancer.org.au/iheard/does-sugar-cause-cancer. Does sugar cause cancer?
  10. Brandon Peters. https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-drinking-coffee-stunt-growth-in-children-by-affecting-sleep-3947784. 2022. Drinking Coffee and Stunted Growth in Children and Teens.
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