Health tips trend and circulate nearly as much as fad diets. We hear that milk is good for us one week, then by the next it should be banished from our household. It’s hard to keep up with what’s true and what’s false when it comes to eating habits, sex, and health risks.

What you’ve heard on television may not be the gospel truth no matter how credible you believe the source to be.

To curb the rumors and common misconceptions, here are 5 myths you may be interested to know regarding your health:

Myth 1: Eating before bed increases weight gain
Many people on calorie counting diets will tell you to surround your kitchen with guard dogs and magnetic force fields after 9:00 pm, as eating before bedtime is the ultimate no-no. There is actually no evidence to support the notion that weight gain has anything to do with eating before you sleep. Late night munchies are obviously going to affect your weight if you’re eating junk food, but that’s simply because it’s junk food. Whether it’s 12 noon or 12 midnight, calories are calories. If you’re coming home from work late every night, don’t starve yourself. Simply put together a light, nutritious meal and your body will continue to use it as fuel for the next day.

Myth 2: Menopause makes women go crazy
The word “menopause” instantly strikes up an image in our heads of a cranky old woman who’s cold one minute, hot the next, and ready to fly off the handle at any second in between. There are many discomforts that are a result of menopause - there’s no denying that it’s no picnic. Television shows like Sex & The City would like us to believe that Samantha Jones, PR guru and self-proclaimed sex goddess, is the ideal prototype for 40+ women wanting to live fabulously. Assuming this idea as realistic is far off the mark as well. The reality is that the symptoms of menopause are generally fleeting and can be managed with various natural and medical resources. Its effects should not be minimized but the stereotype of the high-strung crazy lady is certainly false.

Myth 3: Women lose interest in sex as they get older
Sexual urges fluctuate and vary throughout the phases of our lives and they largely depend on age, physical and mental health, responses to medication, and many other factors. A prolonged hiatus in a woman’s sex life can occur at any age. The transition of menopause is in some cases accompanied by vaginal dryness and irritation, which can lead to pain during sex. However, physical and even mental road blocks in sex can be cured using various methods including lubricants and a revamped  sexual routine.

Myth 4: Breast cancer is restricted to genetics
While it’s true that women who have a running history of breast cancer in their family have a higher chance of developing the disease, they are by no means the only ones who are at risk. Approximately 70% of breast cancer victims have no known genetic history.    

Myth 5: Older women don’t get STDs
You may be in the clear for pregnancy but that doesn’t mean your chances of getting an STD are eliminated too.Studies show that postmenopausal women are actually at an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases because of the thinning of the vaginal walls and decrease of lubrication. The number of people 45 and older with STDs has doubled within the past decade, according to recent research. 

Image from MorgueFile

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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