Health Myths

1. Eating after 8 PM will definitely make you gain weight. Scientific Fact: Weight gain is caused by 'consuming more total calories throughout the day than you expend' (calorie surplus), not by the specific time you eat. Your body absorbs 500 calories of balanced food eaten at 9 PM essentially the same way it absorbs 500 calories eaten at 12 PM. Correct Approach: As long as you manage your daily calorie deficit, eating a moderate amount of low-calorie, easily digestible food (like unsweetened yogurt or a hard-boiled egg) when you're hungry at night won't make you excessively fat. However, you should avoid eating too much 2 hours before bed to prevent acid reflux and improve sleep quality. 2. Daily bowel movements are essential for health; not going even for one day means you're constipated. Scientific Fact: Medically, the definition of healthy bowel movements has a broad range. From '3 times a day' to 'once every 3 days,' as long as bowel movements are smooth, the stool shape is normal (formed, not dry and hard or pellet-like), and you don't experience bloating or discomfort, it falls within the normal healthy physiological range. Correct Approach: There's no need to feel anxious or resort to laxatives just to achieve daily bowel movements. If you have fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, accompanied by difficulty passing stool or extremely dry, hard stools, then you should consider increasing dietary fiber, drinking more water, and exercising more to improve constipation.