A discussion about business ethics, character traits, integrity, and values

True or false? Answers below. 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

It takes seven years to digest gum.

Sitting too close to the television is bad for your eyes.

Fish is brain food.

You'll catch a cold if you go out with wet hair.

Bread crust is especially good for you.

Stress and spicy foods cause ulcers.

Carrots are good for your eyes.

You'll be healthier if your head points south when you sleep.

Don't cross your eyes, they'll stay that way.

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.

You'll go deaf listening to loud music.

Having sex can induce labor. (Probably, more of an old husband’s tale, really.)

The answers come from Patricia King, Lifetimetv.com. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether to pass them along to your mother.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Eating an apple is a great way to get essential nutrients into your diet, but no more so than other fruits or vegetables, according to Sharron Coplin, registered dietitian and professor of nutrition at Ohio State University . Fresh produce contains antioxidants, which can lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other diseases. True

It takes seven years digest gum.
Nope, says Cynthia Yoshida, M.D., director of the Women's Gastrointestinal Clinic at the University of Virginia . "If you swallow a tooth, a penny or even gum, it goes right through your system," she says. False

Sitting too close to the television is bad for your eyes.
Getting up close and personal with the tube isn't really harmful, says Anne Sumers, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "It may fatigue your eyes temporarily, but it's not bad for them," she says. False

Fish is brain food.
"Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and that's important in the development of the brain," says Coplin. Research shows that fish eaters have less plaque in their arteries, so they have better blood flow to the brain, which may be associated with better overall mental function. In addition, fish contains important B vitamins that help with cognitive ability and memory, says nutritionist Janine Whiteson, author of Get a Real Food Life. True

You'll catch a cold if you go out with wet hair.
Malarkey, says to David Whitaker, D.O., an emergency medicine physician in New Jersey . "Colds are caused only by viruses," he says. False

Bread crust is especially good for you.
A crumb of bread crust has eight times the amount of cancer-fighting antioxidants as a crumb from another part of the slice, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Eating the crust won't turn your hair curly or your teeth whiter, as you may have heard. True

Stress and spicy foods cause ulcers.
Overconsumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Advil and Aleve, and the bacteria H. pylori are the two major causes of ulcers, reports Dr. Yoshida. Stress and eating piquant foods can cause indigestion or even acid reflux, but they don't create ulcers -- they just irritate them. False

Carrots are good for your eyes.
Right idea, wrong vegetable. The nutrient lutein -- found in small amounts in carrots -- has been shown to reduce the severity of the age-related eye disease macular degeneration (one of the top causes of vision loss). Broccoli, spinach and other green leafy vegetables are much better sources. False

You'll be healthier if your head points south when you sleep.
This notion may get its basis from the Chinese practice of feng shui, the art of arranging objects in your environment to achieve harmony in life. But according to Whitaker, this tale isn't supported by medical fact. False

Don't cross your eyes, they'll stay that way.
You may look funny when you cross your eyes, but your pupils will be just fine, says Dr. Sumers. People with perpetually crossed eyes aren't being punished for making goofy faces. Rather, faulty messages from their brain cause these individuals' eyes to be misaligned. False

Don't crack your knuckles, it causes arthritis.
"The cracking is actually caused by the bursting of a bubble of nitrogen that forms inside the joint when the joint moves," says John Klippel, M.D., medical director of the Arthritis Foundation. "Popping your knuckles may be annoying to others, but it doesn't cause arthritis, enlarged joints or musculoskeletal problems." False

You'll go deaf listening to loud music.
Pumping up the volume can damage your inner ear, says Whitaker. A study from the Institute of Laryngology and Otology at University College in London found that 62 percent of nightclub regulars and 72 percent of people who regularly attend rock concerts have experienced hearing problems, including premature hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). True

Having sex can induce labor.
"There are no concrete medical studies showing that sex will bring on labor," says Meg Autry, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California at San Francisco . "That said, orgasm is known to cause uterine contractions, and semen contains prostaglandins, which are involved in the onset of labor and are part of medications that we use to induce labor." No proof, but… it may be fun to try! (Caution: Doctors recommend that certain women abstain, including those who are expecting twins, have cervical difficulties, or experience vaginal bleeding. Talk to your doctor before getting busy.)