Growing up, we were told so many lies and half-truths; there are some we still believe today, and we need to jettison them.
Here are 5 lies we were told as children growing up:
1. If you swallow chewing gum, it takes seven years before you can excrete it
When gum is swallowed, it passes through the oesophagus into the small intestine, where it absorbs sugars and nutrients. It moves through the colon and rectum during bowel movements, typically passing through the system in less than seven days.
2. Isaac Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head
Newton’s observation of apples falling straight to the ground rather than sideways or upward inspired him to develop his law of universal gravitation, despite no evidence suggesting the fruit landed on his head.
3. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west
This was made worse by the fact that the sun was constantly moving when we entered the car, but the truth is that the sun doesn’t move; the earth is the one that rotates, and that is what makes it seem like the sun is moving.
4. Sitting close to the TV is bad for your eyes
Whenever we sat close to the TV, our parents used to throw a fit because they believed it would make us go blind or affect our eyesight. Despite commonly held beliefs, sitting near a TV does not harm your eyes. Children tend to hold reading materials near their eyes because they can concentrate better than adults do. However, as children get older, this behaviour normally goes away.
