True or False:  You will catch a cold going outside with wet hair.

False. Colds are actually caused by viruses. You do not get colds just by being cold and wet; you need to be exposed to the cold virus in order to get sick. There are more than 200 different viruses that can cause colds, however. The cold air might make it easier for the virus to get in and make you sick. Cold or dry weather dries out the mucus lining of the nasal passages and the lack of humidity in the air is the true culprit here, not the cold.

True or False:  Eating hot chicken soup will relieve a cold.

So true! Back in the 1980s, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe the symptoms of a common cold. Chicken soup also provides fluids and easily digestible calories, both of which are helpful when you're down with a cold.

True or False:  An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

TRUE - but eating two apples is even better! According to researchers, eating two apples a day can help reduce cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent. A study at the University of California Davis Medical Centre was the first to prove the benefits of active compounds in apples - called phytonutrients.

True or False:  Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.

False. Cracking your knuckles, though annoying to your coworkers and friends, hasn’t actually been linked to the disease.  Arthritis is the degeneration of cartilage, the spongy cushion between your bones. It can be made worse by stress on the joint or repetitive motion.

True or False:  Eating chocolate makes acne worse.

False - but there is more to the story.  Chocolate lovers may rejoice that there is no direct link between our favorite sweet and acne. Acne is caused by bacteria that breeds in the skin pores and hair follicles if clogged by dirt and oil.  Acne can be aggravated by many factors from hormonal surges, pollutants and stress. So stay calm, keep your face clean and try dark chocolate; it has less sugar and dairy than the semi-sweet types.

So your Grandmother or Mom might use these tales to make you do certain things but remember some of these wives’ tales actually have some merit. They could actually assist in living a healthier life.

What wives’ tales have you heard that are true?  Or false?