Scientists are constantly conducting experiments and studies designed to answer many questions and, simply, improve our lives. Some results of these studies are contrary to generally accepted standards and destroy age-old dogma. Believe me, there are many things that we believed in, but they turned out to be untrue.
Many studies cause heated debate in society and are in doubt. This is often due to the fact that they are sponsored by large corporations that pursue their goals in achieving benefits.
1
Drugs are not addictive
In 1979, a psychologist from Canada, Bruce Alexander, who works at Simon Fraser University, conducted an interesting study. At the end, he began to argue that addiction is not caused by drugs, but by the environment that forces them to be used. The study was called Rat Park and consisted of the following: a test park was built for experimental rats, where males were allowed to mate, balls and wheels for games were placed there, as well as a sufficient amount of food, space and other benefits. In another cage, called Skinner's box, there was no such abundance, and rats were also housed there. In fact, it was a standard tight cage for rats. Both groups were given water with opium for a certain time, after which they were offered a choice: water with a drug or ordinary running water.
The psychologist said that rats from a standard cage used opium longer (seven times more than the first group from Rat Park). As a result of research, Alexander came to the conclusion that drugs themselves do not cause addiction, their environment is affected by the environment, causing depression and a feeling of loneliness. The result was so controversial and scandalous that it announced the termination of project financing. Two authoritative scientific publications (Science and Nature) even refused to publish its results.
One of the scientists said that a device that measures the amount of water consumed with opium produced incorrect data. In addition, mating was allowed in the rat park; it was prohibited in another cage.
2
Low-calorie soda is healthier than water
Scientists at Bristol University as a result of the study found that diet soda is healthier than water. Their tests showed that low-calorie sweeteners, used in diet soda, contribute to weight loss and provide greater energy consumption than with water. Roughly speaking, scientists said that diet soda does not lead to obesity and is useful.
The project was criticized because of the indirect participation in it of companies producing soda. The research was sponsored by the International Institute of Natural Sciences, whose board of directors includes doctors from companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Dr. Peter Rogers, who oversaw the project, takes the position of co-chair at the aforementioned institute, conducting tests in the field of energy balance. The chairman, his deputy, and other members of the research team were also part of soda corporations. Some authors who published the test results received 750 euros each.
Moreover, the authors of the project considered 5500 reports, but conclusions about weight loss were made based on only three. Two reports found no association between diet soda intake and weight loss. The third report said that low-calorie soda directly affects weight loss, however, this report was sponsored by the American Association of Soft Drinks, including Pepsi and Coca-Cola.
3
Laughter can be dangerous
Laughter has long been considered the best medicine, but not for the University of Birmingham professor R.E. Ferner and his colleagues J.K. Aronson. According to their research, laughter is dangerous and can lead to death.
Scientists conducted about 5,000 studies, 785 of which were directly related to the study of laughter. Of the 785 trials, 85 showed that laughter had a positive effect on health, while 114 showed danger. Tests have shown that laughter can cause jaw displacement, abdominal hernia, urinary incontinence, fainting, migraine and even asthma attacks!
Laughter is also “blamed” for the appearance of Burhava syndrome, called a non-traumatic esophageal rupture. Such a disease is accompanied by prolonged vomiting. Even laughter can cause infectious diseases, since, when laughing, a person opens his mouth wide and breathes actively, becoming a potential victim for infection. Laughing beyond measure may indicate mental problems.
But there are also positive aspects: laughter improves metabolism, positively affects the lungs and promotes fertility in women. Ferner came to the conclusion that it is difficult to accurately calculate the amount of healthy laughter, but definitely not worth going overboard with it.
And in order to have a good laugh, you can go to a very funny article published on most-beauty.ru, where you will see a lot of cool photos without photo montage.
4
Alcohol is better than charging
University of California scientists said people over the age of 90 would live longer with beer and wine. In the course of their experiment, called 90+, they visited about 1,600 older people. Over the course of six months, researchers collected information on the habits, diet, medicines, and activities of older people.
They found that older people who drink two glasses of beer or one glass of wine per day are 18% less likely to die than other people of their age. On the other hand, the elderly, who spend 15-45 minutes a day on physical exercises, are less likely to die by only 11%. Better chances to live longer with older people who drink a little wine, coffee and exercise. Their vitality is 21 percent.
In addition, the researchers concluded that people over 70 live longer than people with low or normal weight. Claudia Kavas, who led the experiment, said that she could not find an explanation for such results, but considered them true. Moderate alcohol consumption not only does not harm, but also contributes to a longer life expectancy.
By the way, on most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the best Georgian cognacs.
5
Exercise is harmful
According to studies by doctors published in the Australian sports journal, a large number of physical exercises adversely affect health. It was written in the article that workouts that lasted more than two hours can cause a number of violations and malfunctions in the body. One of the failures may be internal incontinence syndrome. It is associated with weakening of the intestinal walls, allowing toxins and germs to enter the bloodstream. This leads to chronic fatigue and multiple sclerosis. Frequent and intense exercise can also lead to weakening of the heart muscle, leading to arrhythmias and possible heart attacks.
Prolonged physical activity can lead to the release of cortisol, a hormone associated with a state of stress or fear. A person quickly returns to normal when his secretion ceases, however, heavy physical exercise can cause excessive secretion of the hormone, weakening the bones and the immune system. Bone density decreases, increasing the risk of diseases (arthritis, osteoporosis) or fracture. Excessive workouts develop "overtrained syndrome", which often causes depression. It makes a person irritated, reduces motivation and develops insomnia.
Want to see the most beautiful athletes in Russia? Follow the link.
6
Lie well
In some cases, a lie is useful. In any case, so say researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Maurice Schweitzer and his student Emma Levin came to the conclusion that lying for the benefit of others is good. For example, you can tell a friend that his work is good, even if it’s not true.
Both researchers asked a hundred participants in the experiment to lie to a loved one. After the survey, they found out that all the participants said that a lie told to prevent a friend’s upset had a good effect on them. At the same time, a lie for profit left an unpleasant residue on well-being.
7
Writing "cheat sheets" leads to memory impairment
An experiment by Sierra Ma and Michelle Escritt of the University of Saint Vincent showed that taking notes makes us forgetful. The brain simply refuses to remember information that is stored on another medium. Scientists divided the participants in the experiment into two groups, and invited them to play a game called "concentration". One of the groups was allowed to take notes, but was not allowed to look into them, answering questions.
As a result, the group that did not take notes remembered much more of the first participants with cheat sheets. The test showed that memorization and learning are not the same thing. The brain is worse at storing information recorded on a piece of paper or stored elsewhere.
8
Soda and fast food do not lead to obesity
Junk food and soda have always been considered the main cause of obesity. However, Cornell University professors Brian Wansink and David Jay argue the opposite. Researchers have estimated the amount of soda and fast food consumed by 5,000 US residents over any two days between 2007 and 2008. As a result, scientists found that 95% of those with normal weight did not recover by consuming soda or junk food. In addition, people with normal weight and obesity ate the same amount of fast food. This led scientists to the idea that overweight does not cause the type of food eaten, but the number of calories consumed. Researchers were worried about the poor "reputation" of some products, along with ignoring the real cause of obesity.
Not without criticism - an employee of the British Nutrition Fund, Stacy Lockyer, argues that the study did not include the exact amount and types of fast food consumed. These data are important, as the degree of obesity directly depends on the amount of calories consumed and burned. Moreover, overweight people tend to hide the real amount of food consumed.
9
The shower is bad
Workers at the Center for Genetic Sciences at the University of Utah conducted a study that proved the dangers of the soul. Of course, you should take a shower regularly, but too frequent procedures can deprive you of useful viruses and bacteria, making the body susceptible to disease. Also, a shower can adversely affect the functioning of the heart and digestive system. A huge amount of bacteria lives on the skin of the indigenous inhabitants of the Amazonian village of Yanomami. Among them there are bacteria that have the effect of antibiotics, although people from the settlement have never taken them.
It is characteristic that, pointing to the influence of shower baths on the human microbiome, scientists do not say specifically how often it is worth taking a shower.
10
Talking to yourself is actually good
Conversations with oneself, as a rule, mean the first step on the path to madness. However, scientists at Bangor University think differently, especially emphasizing the high intelligence among amateurs to speak loudly. Psychologist at the University of Paloma Marie-Beff believes that this behavior improves focus and helps to think. It is especially effective in a stressful state and helps to further motivate yourself.
Scientists conducted a small experiment to prove the theory. They distributed instruction sheets to 28 participants and made them read (to themselves and aloud). After completing the assignments, it turned out that those who read aloud did much better than the "silent people." Even earlier, other scientists conducted a similar experiment, which showed that people talking to themselves find things faster and do better work.
In addition, the shorter the spoken word, the faster the subject was. People who searched for Coke with the words “Coke” found it faster than Old Spice seekers!
Finally
We are so used to believing in everything that is said on the TV screens that we often don’t even question the information we hear. Scientists do not want to agree with the dogmas and, for sure, have stored up for us a few more experiments with shocking results.