10 Myths About Women’s Body You Need To Know
Expertise: Beauty, Health, & Wellness
Experience: 2 years
Indrani is a writer and artist who likes to add a dash of humor to everything she does. She has two years of experience in writing articles across beauty, health, and lifestyle genres. After graduatin... more
Every child is terrified of swallowing watermelon seeds with the irrational fear of a watermelon farm growing in their stomach. As kids, we all believe in ridiculous myths passed down through generations. And, as we grow older, we keep dissolving them with reasons. But what if we told you some myths are woven so rigidly into our belief system that they refuse to let go? Take a woman’s body, for example; as mysterious as people consider a woman’s mind to be, they are equally baffled by their anatomy. Here in this article, we have debunked some myths encircling a woman’s body that will surely surprise you. Read on to know them all!
Myth 1: You Should Not Exercise During Your Periods
Women are often stopped from doing any kind of physical activity during their periods and considering the cramps and heavy flow, you might think it’s a bad idea. However, not moving during your periods is not the way to reduce your cramps. Light exercise reduces discomfort like bloating, tiredness, mood changes, and cramps (1). Therefore activities like walking can be done even during periods.
Myth 2: Weight Gain Causes Sluggish Metabolism
There is a correlation between metabolism and body mass. However, this is rarely the cause of weight gain. This is because the amount of energy our bodies require each day is affected by our metabolism, whereas our size is determined by our genes, hormonal regulation, nutrition, and physical activity level (2).
Myth 3: Pregnant Women Need To Eat Twice The Amount Of Food
Most expecting mothers eat more than usual because they believe doing so would benefit their unborn child. However, the mother and child are at risk if the mother gains too much weight during pregnancy. As the baby develops, you should gradually increase the food you eat. During the first three months of pregnancy, it is not advisable to take any extra calories. You’re allowed an additional 340 calories per day beginning in the third pregnancy and another 450 calories per day starting in the third trimester (3). However, your daily calorie intake should be between 2,200 and 2,900, with any excess coming from nutritious sources like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products (4).
Myth 4: Wearing Underwire Bra Causes Cancer
A bra’s restrictive nature on the lymphatic system has been suspected of contributing to toxin buildup when worn for extended periods (5). However, many experts say this claim has no scientific backing, as there is no evidence that staying bra-less helps prevent cancer.
Myth 5: Only Overweight Women Have Cellulite
Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not exclusive to overweight women. Hereditary factors, inactivity, poor nutrition, and poor lifestyle play a role in cellulite progression (6).
Myth 6: Stretch Marks Are The Result Of Weight Gain
Stretch marks can occur for several reasons besides rapid weight gain. They can also appear following a period of rapid development, such as adolescence or during pregnancy, when the skin is under great stress. In addition, stretch marks are permanent since they are scars formed when the skin’s elastic and collagen fibers are torn.
Myth 7: Ultrasound May Harm Your Baby
Some expectant mothers are reluctant to get an ultrasound as they worry it may harm their baby in the same way that X-rays do. But sonography is a non-invasive alternative to X-ray imaging since it does not use ionizing radiation (7). In addition, ultrasound diagnostics are extremely helpful for both mother and child in the right circumstances. It allows a doctor to monitor the progress of the pregnancy and ensure that the fetus is developing normally.
Myth 8: Period Pain Can’t Be Relieved
A large majority of women report feeling discomfort during menstruation. And the lack of knowledge about how to effectively treat muscle spasms and cramps is partially to blame for this. Warm compresses on the tummy and little exercise have been shown to ease the symptoms of period cramps.
Myth 9: Tampon Can Be Worn All Night
Tampons should be changed every 4-8 hours, as recommended by experts and producers of feminine hygiene products (8). In particular, this is necessary to reduce the possibility of toxic shock syndrome. Make sure you change your switch to a fresh pad before bed.
Myth 10: You Should Not Swim During Your Periods
Swimming may be done at any time throughout your period. Many women find that it helps with the cramps and exhaustion they experience at this time (9). Water aerobics has also been shown to alleviate menstrual cramps. As long as you are comfortable, you can swim at any time of the month.
Myths about the human body are not a new thing. However, ignorance can lead to a cycle of health problems. So which among these myths struck you as something you are guilty of believing? Let us know in the comments section!
