I stumbled upon an MSN article this week that shot down a lot of things that I once believed to be true...

For example, I was always convinced alcohol warmed you up. Or that if I walked to school with wet hair, then I'd probably catch a cold. Turns out, none of these are actually true.

Below you'll find some of my favorite "facts" that turned out to be false.

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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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    1

    Alcohol Doesn't Warm You Up

    Although people may say it's good for the soul, alcohol, in fact, doesn't warm you up. MSN said:

    Alcohol actually lowers your body temperature by dilating blood vessels and making the veins pump warm blood closer to the skin.

    That whole process lowers your core body temp, which is no bueno, particularly in the wintertime.

     

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    Thinkstock
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    2

    Wet Hair

    I've always had long hair, and it's thick too, so naturally it's takes FOREVER to dry. My mom always told me that if I walked outside with wet hair, I'd get sick. Well guess what Mom?! That's a myth...

    There is no connection between stepping out with wet hair and falling ill. You'll probably feel chilly if you skip the blow-dry on a cold day but you won't fall sick. Flu and cold are caused by viruses, not low temperatures.

    Duh, Mom...Laziness trumps the false facts in your argument ;)

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    3

    Carbs Can Help a Diet...If Used Correctly

    Carbs have been my best friend since I started prepping for my body building competition. The standing myth is that carbs make you gain weight...Although this is partially true, there's more to it than just that. University of Vermont Nutrition and Food Sciences Expert Jean Harvey-Berino said there's really nothing inherently fattening about carbs.

    Complex carbs in grains, fruits and vegetables provide energy to the body and thus are very important. The carbs to be avoided are the simple or refined ones present in foods made of white flour or with a high sugar content.

    Complex carbs can even include sweet potatoes or brown rice. It may take some getting used to at first, but it's much better than a bag of chips.

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    Getty Images
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    4

    Knuckle Cracking

    I HAVE BEEN WONDERING THIS FOR YEARS!!! FINALLY THE MYTH HAS BEEN BUSTED! According to University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Professor Stephen Burnstein, cracking knuckles DOES NOT cause arthritis.

    The popping noise heard is from displacement of air in the joint and/or the supporting ligaments and tendons gliding over the joint surfaces.

    At this rate, those who text 25/8 will probably get arthritis faster than knuckle crackers, am I right?

  • Photo courtesy of jhmostyn/Flickr
    Photo courtesy of jhmostyn/Flickr
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    5

    The Five-Second Rule

    Ah, the long standing food-dropping rule...I was hesitant to read about this topic. Turns out, experts believe that dropping your food on the ground and then eating it might not be the best decision you've ever made. Food Scientist with Clemson University Paul Dawson said more factors determine the healthiness of food rather than it just plopping on the ground.

    "A cookie could've picked up toxic salmonella bacteria during that brief time window, especially on a tiled or wooden surface.”

    MSN said that "food moisture, surface geometry" and even the floor's condition could also play a role in its cleanliness. Gross.

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