Wives Tales: Does Mama Know Best?

Mon, Aug 20, 2012

Think back to the last time you heard someone say, "Your face will freeze like that." Did you know that statement is the first complete sentence uttered by a cave mama? What would the world look like of some of those terrifying wives tales turned out to be true?

Growing up, my mama was full of crazy talk. She still is. So am I. So are you. Some of the wives tales are plane silly…

Swallowed gum takes seven years to digest.

Avoid swallowing massive blobs of gum on a regular basis, but the occasional slip-up is fine. Gum passes through our systems like any other piece of food. This silly old wives tale most likely came from parents condoning gum chewing because God forbid we look like poorly-educated, lip-smacking hicks.
Do not swim an hour after eating: You will drown and die!

This may cause minor cramps, as would any exercise preceding consumption of food, but fear not. Death is not imminent. Those monsters in the water who smell the food on the breath and bodies of young children do not actually exist. So swim your heart out, and quit wasting time.
This is a hard one so Mirador turned to Eric Hass for insight: “There is no Rhino virus in wet hair. Duh
If you swallow a watermelon seed, you’ll grow a watermelon in your stomach.

All of those women who are “pregnant” are actually nurturing a watermelon in their stomachs. Babies come from storks, don’t cha know?
Eating carrots will improve your vision.

Yes, what your parents have been telling you for years is in fact true! Carrots contain beta-carotene, which is good for your eyes. Unfortunately, stocking up the fridge with copious amounts of carrots and snacking on them until your extremities turn orange will not dramatically improve vision.

To see more popular wives tales debunked, check out this site: http://listverse.com/2008/05/19/top-10-old-wives-tales-debunked/. The post includes things the following legends: