The winter holiday season is a time when people of all ages believe in magic and miracles. For the record, Highmark has no official position on whether Santa Claus is real or not. That’s up to you.
However, we do want to bust a few health myths that come up during the holidays.
Myth #1: Turkey makes you sleepy.
Fact: It’s often said that an amino acid called tryptophan in turkey makes you sleepy. But chicken, cheddar cheese and other foods also contain tryptophan without inducing drowsiness, so blaming the turkey doesn’t quite hold up. A more likely culprit for holiday post-dinner drowsiness? Side dishes, desserts and drinks. All those extra carbohydrates in potatoes, sweets and alcoholic beverages are the most likely reason you want to doze off.
Myth #2: Sugar makes kids hyperactive.
Fact: A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that eating sugar doesn’t affect children’s behavior. During the holidays, it’s probably not the extra cookies causing misbehavior, but rather the extra seasonal excitement, changes in routine, and lack of sleep. (Remember when your parents said you needed a nap when you were acting up? They were right.) Of course, eating too much sugar is still unhealthy for people of all ages, because it can cause weight gain and tooth decay, not to mention spoil your appetite for more nutritious foods.
Myth #3: We all gain a lot of weight over the holidays.
Fact: Americans gain, on average, about one pound during the winter holiday season, according to several studies. Good news, right? Well…if December feasting is followed by a return to a healthy diet and fitness routine throughout the rest of the year, yes. The problem is that, for many of us, extra snacking in December is part of ongoing habits that add a pound here, a pound there, until, over time, we have gained “a lot of weight.” So, even if universal weight gain during the holidays is a myth, it still pays to enjoy those festive holiday treats in moderation — and be vigilant about your eating habits all year round.
Myth #4: “Holiday heart attacks” are caused by cold weather.
Fact: The first part of this myth has some truth to it: Heart attacks do indeed peak during the winter holiday season. At first, doctors thought it was due to cold weather. But heart attacks also increase during the holidays in warm places like Miami, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The reason why people have more heart attacks during the holidays is most likely a combination of other variables, such as greater intake of salty and fatty foods, more alcohol consumption, greater stress, and putting off seeking care. Increased physical exertion can also play a role, and yes, that would include cold-weather activities like shoveling snow, but it could also be something like playing with the grandkids or hauling gifts and decorations.
Myth #5: Cold weather causes colds.
Fact: Colds are caused by viruses — more than 200 viruses. Cold weather itself, or not wearing a scarf when you go out into the cold weather, does not cause colds. So, why do “cold season” and “cold weather” seem to overlap? There are several factors related to cold weather that make it easier for cold germs to spread. For one thing, during colder weather, people spend more time indoors and in closer contact with each other. That includes all of those kids back in school, where germs of all kinds spread easily. Regardless of winter weather, the winter holiday season also makes it harder to eat right, and get enough exercise and sleep, all of which can lower your immune resistance. Finally, there is one weather factor that’s not a myth: colder air is often drier air, which enables germs to survive longer.
Myth #6: You lose most of your body heat through your head.
Fact: What do your mom and the U.S. Army have in common? No, not KP duty, but, as this article explains, the idea that most of your body heat is lost through your head. It turns out that the head is not necessarily special in that respect: You lose body heat through any body parts that are exposed to the elements, according to Dr. Rachel Vreeman, M.D., and Dr. Aaron Carroll, M.D., professors of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Myth #7: The suicide rate is highest during the winter holiday season.
Fact: The weather outside is frightful, as is the traffic, so moods may not always be delightful. But do the winter holidays cause an increase in suicides? Not according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics. In fact, suicide rates tend to be lowest in December. There is some speculation that additional time with friends and family during big holidays may reinforce a person’s support system.
Of course, depression and suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously at any time of year. And it is certainly true that feelings of grief and stress can intensify during the holidays. Also, people who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are susceptible to depression during the winter months due to the shorter hours of daylight. If you or anyone you love is showing signs of suicidal behavior, seek help immediately.
Myth #8: If I drink too much, I can get sober faster and avoid a hangover by … <insert cure here>.
Fact: Amid all the holiday cheer, there are often opportunities to drink alcohol — and drink too much of it. Unfortunately, there are also many myths about what to do after drinking too much. Some have been around for a long time, like “drinking black coffee or taking a cold shower will help me sober up faster.” Each year also brings new magic powders or supplements or pills claiming to restore sobriety or prevent or cure a hangover. But, bottom line, only one thing gets you sober: time. And the most effective way to avoid a hangover is to avoid drinking alcohol, or to drink only in moderation. (Staying hydrated by drinking water will help to avoid or treat hangover symptoms, but it’s not a cure-all.) While we’re on the subject, we can’t stress this point enough: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t ride with anyone who is driving after drinking. If you are having problems with alcohol, seek professional help.
Myth #9: New Year’s Eve/Day is the most dangerous time to drive.
Fact: Although it’s smart to use extra caution given all the people who are out celebrating the New Year, several studies, including one from the National Institutes of Health, have shown that the most dangerous day to drive in the U.S. is not New Year’s, but the Fourth of July. However, studies have also shown that New Year’s is the most dangerous time to walk. The culprit here again appears to be alcohol. One study showed that 58% of pedestrians who died in accidents on New Year’s Eve had high blood alcohol levels.
Myth #10: I can get in shape by making a New Year’s resolution.
Fact: There’s nothing wrong with making resolutions to be healthier. And two of the most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight or to start an exercise program. The myth is believing that making a New Year’s resolution is all you need to do … whereas it’s really just the start of the journey. Saying “I want to eat better and exercise more this year” is fine — but you also need to take the next steps and set specific, measureable, attainable, realistic goals, make a plan to achieve those goals, and then follow through on that plan every week and month. Support, whether from a fitness trainer, health coach, or training buddy, can also help you find and stick to a plan. 
Myth #11: Poinsettias are highly toxic.
Fact: Many things can become toxic if ingested in high enough amounts, and it doesn’t hurt to be careful about what babies, kids and pets are exposed to. But there’s no evidence that poinsettias live up to their reputation. In fact, in one year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers recorded 22,793 cases of human poinsettia ingestion with none resulting in significant poisoning. Again, we don’t recommend that you test this yourself by eating, or letting your kids or pets eat, poinsettias. But you also don’t have to give up buying these beautiful plants out of fear that chewing a leaf will cause a fatality. If you, your kids or pets eat, drink, breathe or touch anything you think is toxic, call the National Poison Center Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
Myth #12: Eating at night makes you gain more weight.
Fact: There are good reasons to avoid eating late at night in general. During late-night snacking binges, people often take in more calories than they realize or indulge in unhealthy foods that they successfully avoid at other times. But nocturnal noshing in and of itself doesn’t lead to weight gain. That’s because calories are calories, no matter what time of the day you eat them. What leads to weight gain is eating too many calories. So if there are holiday treats being served at a get-together or party, don’t feel like you have to abstain just because it’s a little after 8 or 9 p.m. — but, no matter what time the treats are available, enjoy them in moderation!