Wise answers to old wives' tales

The truth behind the most popular (and persistent) health rumors

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The truth behind old wives’ tales
Sept. 3: TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford tests viewers on their knowledge about old wives’ tales; TODAY’s Hoda Kotb gets the answers from Courtenay Smith of Prevention magazine.

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By Ben Cramer

updated 12:21 p.m. ET Sept. 3, 2008

Does reading in low light really hurt your eyes? How about sitting too close to the TV? (No, and no.) Why are you better off drinking exactly eight glasses of water per day? (You're not.) Thanks to quack culture, the Internet, and well-intentioned but poorly informed relatives, it's become harder than ever to separate fact from fiction. Whatever its origin, misleading health information can cause unnecessary anxiety and distract you from wellness habits that truly deserve your energy and attention. Here's a dissection of six watercooler myths that will give you all the authority you need to refute your brother's latest forwarded e-mails.