Does chicken soup really help fight a cold?
Photos: 10 winter health myths busted
Some winter wisdom is about as factual as Frosty the Snowman. Problem is, these fictions don't just give you the warm and fuzzies: They can pack on the pounds, stuff up your nose and even increase your risk of cancer. This season, don't let these winter health myths get the best of you.
Hide Caption
1 of 11
Photos: 10 winter health myths busted
Myth: Cold air can make you sick.
It's called the common "cold," but lower temperatures alone won't make you sick. In fact, the exact opposite is true. "Cells that fight infection in body actually increase if you go out into the cold," said Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman, co-author of "Don't Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health." It's your body's way of combating the stress of freezing temps.
Plus, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cold viruses grow best at about 91 degrees; if you're outside in the cold, your nostrils are surely colder than that.
Health.com: 5 most common myths about the common cold
It's called the common "cold," but lower temperatures alone won't make you sick. In fact, the exact opposite is true. "Cells that fight infection in body actually increase if you go out into the cold," said Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman, co-author of "Don't Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health." It's your body's way of combating the stress of freezing temps.
Plus, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cold viruses grow best at about 91 degrees; if you're outside in the cold, your nostrils are surely colder than that.
Health.com: 5 most common myths about the common cold
Hide Caption
2 of 11