From your grandmother to your best friends, it seems that every woman is surrounded by people sharing health advice from one woman to another. While it may be tempting to listen to those old wives’ tales and modern myths, it turns out most of them probably aren’t true. Let’s take a second to debunk some of the most common myths related to women’s health before you begin making any lifestyle changes based on what you’ve heard!
Cranberry Juice Cures UTI’s 
This is one of the most harmful myths spread around. Urinary tract infections cause frequent and painful urination, sometimes accompanied by back pain. These infections can only be cured with prescription antibiotics. No amount of cranberry juice is able to wipe out the harmful bacteria from your urinary tract. In fact, trying to heal your UTI at home with cranberry juice will actually allow the infection to get worse as time passes. It can spread to your kidneys and lead to much more severe disease.
Cancer Isn’t Preventable
The thought that there’s nothing you can do to prevent disease is totally false. There are many healthy lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk. Some of those include:
• Cutting out alcohol
• Not using tobacco products
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Exercise
• Regular doctors’ appointments and exams
Of course, sometimes even the most robust of people are affected by cancer, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to improve your odds! Speak with your doctor to learn what could be putting you at a higher risk and how you can work to lower it.
Women Can’t Get Kidney Stones
Many women think that only men can get kidney stones, but that isn’t true. One in twelve women will suffer from a kidney stone at least once in their life. For many, they will get more than one. You can lower your risk of kidney stones by maintaining a healthy diet. Salty foods, high-fat foods, and not getting enough water are some of the most commonly made dietary mistakes that lead to kidney stones. If you notice vomiting accompanied by severe pain in your back, side, or pelvis, you may be suffering from a kidney stone. Some kidney stones are able to pass through the urinary tract on their own, while others will require medical intervention. If you think you may have a kidney stone, it’s best to get it checked out before your symptoms become too severe.
