Don't Swallow Your Gum!: Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health

by Aaron E. Carroll, Rachel C. Vreeman

People have more access to medical information than ever before, and yet we still believe "facts" about our bodies and health that are just plain wrong. DON'T SWALLOW YOUR GUM! takes on these myths and misconceptions, and exposes the truth behind some of those weird and worrisome things we think about our bodies. Entries dispel the following myths and

- You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day
- Chewing gum stays in your stomach for seven years
- You can catch poison ivy from someone who has it
- If you drop food on the floor and pick it up within five seconds, it's safe to eat
- Strangers have poisoned kids' Halloween candy

With the perfect blend of authoritative research and a breezy, accessible tone, DON'T SWALLOW YOUR GUM is full of enlightening, practical, and quirky facts that will debunk some of the most perennial misconceptions we believe about our health and well-being.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Health, Reference, Medicine, Medical

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think everyone should read this book. and while it is full of useful things to know (like which more expensive drugs are exactly the same as cheaper versions or that you dont need to drink all that water you are drinking) there are some things that i am too stubborn to stop doing. like putting butter on my burns. it makes me feel better, even if it "doesnt help" and is "actually worse for the burn". i dont care - i dont want to know. and im still going to eat anything that falls on the floor. in my own house, not on the subway. the way i see it, its my filth, so i deserve whatever gets on my food. i hate waste, mythical 5 second rule or no. but i am going to enjoy drinking my beer BEFORE. my liquor and swimming after a buffet loaded with sundrenched mayonnaise. thank you, book!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert...

Most things are a myth.

Love,
Lisa

[Michelle Connell]

This book is actually written by a very close friend of mine. He is one of the brightest individuals I know. We had a blast listing to some of the ideas for the book and hearing his thoughts along the way. I have only heard great things about it, but haven't read it myself yet. I am going to his book signing tonight and then will report back...

[Kauther · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for everyone.

[Courtney Stoker · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was surprising to see the old weight loss=calories in vs. calories out canard in a book specifically meant to challenge myths about the human body. And it certainly wasn't the only positive claim made by the authors. While they provided lots of evidence for debunking the myths/negative claims throughout the book, none was provided for the handful of positive claims they made.

It's normally difficult to make myth debunking boring. It's like writing a boring book about sex. But the only reason I even finished this book is that it's short. It was surprisingly dull.

[Pairash Pleanmalai · Rating 3 out of 5]

อ่านจบ หลายอย่าง ยังเชื่อเช่นเดิม 555 เช่น วิตามินซีช่วยเรื่องการไม่เป็นหวัด (แต่ก็ไม่ได้กินทุกวันนะ)

หลายข้อตรงใจเราอยู่แล้ว ที่จะไม่เชื่อ เช่น เด็กหลายคนสายตาสั้นในยุคปัจจุบัน ไม่เห็นจะอ่านหนังสือเลย แต่มันสั้นเพราะเล่นเกมส์มือถือ เอาตาติดจอสะมากกว่า


ความเชื่อหลายอย่าง เป็นเฉพาะทางฝั่งตะวันตก เราก็เลยไม่ได้สนใจมากนัก

[Srijantra · Rating 3 out of 5]

เรื่องราวตามความเชื่อที่เราเคยได้ยิน และไม่เคยว่าจริงหรือไม่ บางเรื่องก็ยังไม่มีคำตอบแน่ชัดจนถึงปัจจุบัน

[Runa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a decent book--I'll admire any book that addresses common misconceptions and backs them up with science. A lot of the facts are repetitive, though, same old myths being busted from book to book (but then again, it's the same myths that people continue to buy into, like Vitamin C for colds, eyestrain from reading in the dark, etc.) I'm actually going to read Ken Jennings' mythbusting book Because I Said So! : The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids next, so it'll be interesting to see how the two compare. Just from the back cover summary, looks like I'm in for some repetitive overlap. Between these two, mental_floss, and Mythbusters, it just feels like a constant stream of repetition, though credit should be given to the Mythbusters for probably coming up with the most unique myths to bust. I'd like to see more of that. (Although really I would just like to see more people actively questioning everything.)

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I LOVE books like this. Being a lover of trivia, I look forward to books that debunk(or prove) popular myths, not only for my presence of my mind(I don't have to worry about my head being uncovered), but because of the humorous way these doctors often present the facts. Don't Swallow Your Gum is a really good example of this. Drs. Aaron and Rachel succeed in pointing out the stupidity of believing in these myths without making you feel stupid and offer lots of good research to back their opinion up. And now I can rest easy knowing that I'm NOT losing immense amounts of body heat through my head and eating at night does not cause an increase in the enormity of my stomach(although that doesn't mean it's good for you).

My only complaint? Need more lies uncovered please!

[Efox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever thought "I need to drink 8 glasses of water a day" or "Nexium is so much more effective than Prilosec" or "eating a banana will make mosquitoes like you more." The authors of the book go through these and other common myths and facts of common health care tips. It's broken up into how we get diseases (hint, they're not from bad weather or having wet hair in the cold) myths about our bodies (that hand size trick ladies. . .) pregnancy, babies and children (think twice about baby Einstein) and each one is full of common things you've heard about your health and how they stack up to the science. I am looking forward to sharing this book with friends and family and for their new book (which I think just came out) to end up in my hands soon!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading the article when they released their findings in Dec 2007. And I also remember that's where I learned that poinsettas are fine and that you don't lose any more heat from your head than you do from any exposed part of your body. Also that it is a myth that we only use 10% of our brains. It was a quick read and the only other thing I learned was that sometimes pharmaceuticals are very bad: like changing the colour of the green Prozac pill to pink, call it Sarafem and charge more money for it.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides the fact that I pet sit for one of the author's pug, this is really quite informative and entertaining. All those things your mother told you were true, all those things you learned in the halls of your middle school... yeah, it's probably in here. This isn't dry and boring either - definitely quite entertaining. :)

[Asiuol K · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent book. The issue with it is that you could just read the title of each section and then skim the rest. Honestly, you aren't missing much if you do that. There were attempts of humor which was good, but it didn't feel natural. It was as if they read the book once they were done, decided it was too dry and sprinkled jokes in it.

[Charli · Rating 4 out of 5]

All those body and health myths and half-truths are exposed - everything from the relationship between foot and penis size to gum stays in your stomach for seven years - with numerous delightful scientific commentary. Well researched with tons of documentation, but not dry or fussy in any way.

[Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and interesting. Does green mucus mean a sinus infection? Do you lose all your body heat through your head? Do antibiotics really effect birth control pills? In one to 4 pages, these types of questions are addressed through scientific data.

[Bunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love useless trivia. I love semi-useless trivia. And I love things that bust myths, even if I've never seen a certain show.

So how on earth could I have been as bored to tears as I was by this book? Seriously. Even their attempts to interject humor made me cringe and flip the page.

Horrid.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting facts that shattered a lot of myths.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book version of Mythbusters. It gives you these metaphors that you hear all the time, and it will give you information as to if it is the truth or just a myth. I found it very interesting, in the way that there were some things that you would hear all of the time and are very common, but then you also have these things that you may have never heard of.
The title of the book is “Don’t Swallow Your Gum,” and there is a reason for that. You would think that the section for this would be in the beginning, but it was actually in part three of the book, and it actually told you something that you wouldn’t see in a google one box answer. This thing that you hear from everyone about not swallowing your gum is not true. Your body is strong and although gum is also strong it is no match for your digestive system, meaning that that piece of gum you swallowed will be released from your body in a matter of days.
This book also goes through many things that you may have been told your body does. Actually, the first page of the book is titled “Men With Big Feet Have Bigger Penises.” It is something that you hear all of the time but never really understand. Another is, “You Should Wait An Hour After Eating Before You Go Swimming.” So as I said there many concepts about the body that are displayed throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to any child that wants to prove their parents wrong, to the people that want to become the next Mythbuster, and to the people that are afraid of making a mistake. This book will make your mind clear of all the little things that you will sit and think about for your whole day. The book keeps you intrigued and wanting more answers, making it great for that herd of people that like to truly learn.

[Kristin Labesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it would have let me rate the book 3.5 stars instead of a 3 or a 4 ., I did give it a 4 which is generous but yet I think it deserved higher than a 3.. so anyways.. most of these myths I had heard over they years and knew that they had been proven to be false but there were a few I didn’t know and I thought , yeah that makes sense . Myths occur because when a large enough amount of people and/or a lie gets told enough times people believe it to be the truth … my advice is to use common sense , and if you are truly unsure about something I would still reach out to a health care professional but it is scary to think that even doctors are Taught to believe some of these things to be true .. the book sheds light on how even the people we would expect to know all the answers aren’t right all the time.. our parents telling us as kids to not swim after eating .. or don’t go outside without a coat or you will catch a cold .. then there have been doctors themselves that tell their patients to avoid certain things or to do certain things . .. for example to lose weight or stay healthy and then it’s debunked .. this is terrifying if you think about it .. but I thought the authors did an ok job but really didn’t get to specific as to why something had been proven wrong just that it had .. although too much info on the scientific process of it all would have probably gotten pretty boring so I get it .

[Jason Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody was telling me I need to drink more water, citing that old one about eight 8-oz glasses per day. And I knew that was wrong, but I had to provide proof. So I looked it up, found an article these authors had written, where they referenced their book. And as I'm usually a smug know-it-all, I had to read the darn thing.

A lot of the myths and half-truth are probably ones you already know to have been debunked (the book was published in 2009). The one about vaccines and autism, the one about folks poisoning Halloween candy, the one about not swimming for an hour after you eat. But the articles are short, well written, easy to read, and backed up with references.

You may know a person or two who has strong feelings about some of these myths (flouride?) and to their credit, the authors are willing to explain how some interpretations of the science are not as perfect as others. But they also show how, even if a myth can't be 100% explained away, the case for the myth being actually true is much much worse.

Not a bad afternoon if you're sitting in your easy chair, swallowing your gum, letting your dog lick your face, and reading this book.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Don't Swallow Your Gum by Aaron E. Carroll and Rachel C. Vreeman is a nonfiction book that busts many common myths you hear on a day to day basis. In the book, you will see and read many myths, that you have thought were true your whole life, be busted with scientific evidence and some common sense. The book covers myths about almost anything you can think of. The book was very educational and pretty interesting.
This book really is something anyone can read. All the information was interesting, fun, and seemed to be well researched. Obviously, this isn't a book you read to learn about one topic, in particular, it's something you read to learn new things about a vast variety of topics. I enjoyed this book a lot and found myself often surprised by some of the myths that I thought were true being proved wrong. If you are looking for something thought-provoking, fun, interesting, and not so serious this book is a good read.

[Desmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sections were short and sweet and to the point. A light read if you’re curious about common misconceptions and the history surrounding them.

My gripe is the way the research is presented in the book. I understand that it’s for laypeople and is a bit outdated (reading in 2024), so they had to keep it basic. But some of the study introductions don’t explain WHY the findings are significant.

It’s left me with questions that I feel should have been answered in the text. I feel like there should be more study data that’s concise and detailed.

Wouldn’t read again, but I’m not disappointed with the first read.

[Amy Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mwahahaha! I can now swallow my gum with impunity, backed up by the science of doctors Carroll and Vreeman. I also learned that your hair and nails don't grow after you die and that sugar doesn't make kids hyper (as proven in a double-blind study). Most importantly, I learned that you should NOT, I repeat NOT, rely on the five-second rule for dropped food. Deli slices dropped on a counter with salmonella on it absorbed 98 percent of the salmonella it would absorb in five minutes after the first five seconds of contact. Food poisoning? No thank you. A quick, informative read.

[Siwabhorn Anothaisintawee · Rating 4 out of 5]

หนังสือที่จะมาไขปริศนาเรื่องสุขภาพต่างๆ ที่เราเคยเข้าใจผิดกันมานานนม ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ถ้าโกนขนแล้วมันจะงอกขึ้นมาใหม่เร็วขึ้น เข้มขึ้น และหนาขึ้น หรืออ่านหนังสือในที่มืดสลัวจะทำให้สายตาเสีย ว่าที่จริงแล้วมันเป็นอย่างไร

เล่มนี้อ่านง่าย แบ่งเป็นหัวข้อชวนน่าสนใจ พร้อมคำอธิบายสั้นๆ ที่มีงานวิจัยสนับสนุนทำให้น่าเชื่อถือ อ่านไปเสริมความรู้ ที่ไม่รู้จะรู้ไปทำไม เอาไว้เป็นหัวข้อคุยกับผู้ชายได้ เช่น เชื่อไหมคะ ว่าเรารู้ขนาดอวัยวะบางส่วนได้ จากการดูขนาดเท้า 55555

Goodreads ให้ 3.5 เราให้ 4

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read overall, but easy to put down as the individual myths are good reads on their own. I found that the myth/half-truths sections were in a typeface that felt a bit blurry in the greyish boxes on the pages, but I guess that is a style choice. I was already familiar with many of these myths, but I did like the book.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lättläst om saker vi går runt och tror om kropp, hälsa och medicin – till exempel att man bör dricka minst åtta glas vatten om dagen, att man förstör ögonen genom att läsa i dåligt ljus och att mjölk är slembildande – och hur det egentligen ligger till enligt vetenskapen.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has mostly good and interesting information, but the writers don't have a flair for language to make it a very engaging read. For a better take on a similar theme, try Ken Jennings' "Because I Said So!"

[Valeria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone should read this.

[Jennifer A. McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Entertaining. Parents especially should read this so they don't lie to their children. This book reinforces that people are dumb and you need to think critically.

[Freeread · Rating 4 out of 5]

เรื่องทั่วๆไปที่คิดว่าถูก เชื่อกันมาอย่างนั้นมันไม่จริง บอกเล่าแก้ความเชื่อในหลายๆข้อ