Myths shattered

      Sugar does not make children hyper-active; poinsettias are not poisonous; mid-night snacking won't make you fat; you do not lose more body heat through your head; suicides do not increase over the holidays and you cannot cure a hangover.

      In at least a dozen double-blind control trials at Indiana University School of Medicine, researchers could not detect any difference in behavior between children who had sugar and those who did not.

      In an analysis of 849,575 plant exposures reported to the American Association of Poison Control, none of the 22,793 cases involving poinsettias involved resulted in deaths or anyone becoming seriously ill. In the case of 92 children who ingested substantial amounts of leaves, none required medical treatment.

      Indiana U. Aaron Carroll noted that a Swedish study in 2002 reported that obese women ate more meals at night than non-obese women. Obese women ate more overall over the course of the entire day... Subsequent studies involving over 2500 patients, found no link between eating at night and weight gain. However, eating more than three times a day can lead to overweight.

     An old U.S. Army study had linked body heat loss through the head, but in that study, people were put in extreme cold, in Arctic survival suits but no hats. It was the only part of the body exposed to the cold, thus “they lost most of the heat through their head ", said Carroll.”There is nothing special about the head, other than it's a large surface area ". You should wear a hat as well as mittens and coat. Cover all body parts.

      No good scientific data exist to suggest that suicides increase during the holidays. There is data however, that shows that suicides peak during warmer months and are actually lowest in winter, say the IndianaU. researchers.

     The hair of the dog does not cure hangovers, not even non-steroid anti-inflamatories, artichokes, prickly pears, and a pint of ice-cream or green papayas. Pace your drinking, eat, and drink in moderation.

      Now go and have a very happy holidays. Eat, drink and be merry (Tomorrow is promised to no one. So live like there is no tomorrow and dance like no one is watching ), and usher in the New Year with someone near and dear AND MAY IT BE BETTER THAN THE BEST OF YESTERYEAR!!!!!