Let’s try five simple questions to see what you know about health and wellness. Just note your answers (TRUE or FALSE) first and then scroll down…

  1. Eczema is usually caused by food allergies.
  2. Time management is a skill that can be learned.
  3. The human diet must include meat for optimal health – avoiding meat is always a health compromise.
  4. Using medications for attention-deficit and hyperactivity problems is always a poor idea.
  5. Modern contraception is close to 100% effective.

Now, let’s take a look at the answers

1.) Eczema is usually caused by food allergies.

FALSE. Eczema is an allergic-type skin rash characterised by dryness and itch. It is mainly inherited/genetic and is often associated with hayfever and asthma (also inherited allergic conditions). Eczema can be triggered by exposure to things like pollen, animal dander, grass cuttings, etc. Foods can sometimes also be triggers for eczema, with highly processed foods, food colourants and wheat being the main culprits here. But true food allergy (as opposed to food intolerance and or food preference) is generally over-diagnosed – most true experts consider it less common than is generally thought. Food allergy is not the usual cause of eczema even if certain foods sometimes trigger eczema and or eczema-worsening.

2.) Time management is a skill that can be learned.

TRUE. We all get the same 24, 7, 365. Some people are able to achieve a great deal with this time, while others seem to get through less. There are some fixed factors here (things we cannot control or can only minimally control) like IQ (smart people usually can do more and do it more quickly) and perhaps socio-economic status (comfort and wealth support efficiency, to a point) and even perhaps cultural considerations (some cultures prize efficiency and productivity more than others, although there are complexities and subtleties here). But using time efficiently is, for the most part, something we can learn. Something we can all learn. There are countless books and online videos and training courses on the topic. Most are sensible enough and nearly everyone stands to benefit from exploring this area.

3.) The human diet must include meat for optimal health – avoiding meat is always a health compromise.

FALSE. It does seem that we evolved as omnivores (we eat plant and animal foods) and it is the case that our bodies generally cope with meat quite well. It is also true that we get certain key nutrients from animal-foods and these are less-easy to get from plant-based foods. Good examples include protein, vitamin B12, and Iron. But all of these can be found in plant foods and or in plant-based supplements. Vegetarians and vegans do need to be particular about some nutrients but with some thought and care, a vegetarian diet can be complete. In addition, there may be benefits to eating no (or less) meat, including a reduction in cardiovascular disease and some cancers. More and more environmental research points to animal/meat farming being quite onerous on the planet’s finite resources, so this is becoming an important concern for many. Plant-based eating is here to stay and is likely to grow (!).

4.) Using medications for attention-deficit and hyperactivity problems is always a poor idea.

FALSE. This statement is too absolute. It is true that these conditions (some would call them characteristics rather than conditions) are controversial and it is true that managing them is far from simple. Medications like Ritalin can cause serious problems like growth retardation and dependency. Many people believe that medications are over-used and or used instead of diligent attentive parenting and teaching, when it comes to attention-deficit and or hyperactivity. This is certainly a controversial area and an unsatisfactory one where good or ideal solutions are in short supply. But medications (including Ritalin) can be helpful, even extremely helpful. The research is quite clear on this. The best advice is to seek true specialist care for these conditions. Qualified and experienced psychiatrists, working alongside skilled educators and dedicated parents, can often use medications effectively and within an overall balanced approach.

5.) Modern contraception is close to 100% effective.

TRUE. Hormonal contraception (the Pill and or injection) is about 99% effective when used correctly. The main causes of “contraceptive failure” are really “user error” in the form of missing pills and or not knowing how to manage instances of diarrhea and or antibiotic use (both can render the hormones ineffective for a while). It is true that unplanned pregnancy is really avoidable today. Let’s have some compassion here though: we have all forgotten things (including pills) and we all make mistakes. So while we should know and accept that modern contraception is all but 100% effective, we should also acknowledge the nature of being, well, human! (It is unfortunate that the responsibility falls mainly or even entirely on the woman here, but that very-real issue is not for this article).

So there is some health & wellness myth busting. We hope it is helpful, interesting, and thought-provoking.

Written by Dr Colin Burns