There are a lot of rumors, misconceptions, theories and lies out there about what goes on in our bodies. Here are some fun facts that will either set some of these fake assumptions to rest, or blow your mind completely:
What makes you breathe?
You breathe on your own because your brain unconsciously sends signals to your diaphragm and your diaphragm (a muscle) contracts and relaxes creating a pressure difference in your lungs. This pressure difference FORCES air to become inhaled or exhaled. Who’d a ‘thought?
Why do you get cold after you eat?
Have you ever gotten the chills and goose bumps after eating a meal? Well it’s not the thermostat. When you eat food your body starts to digest it, meaning your stomach and intestines are in full function trying to break down your food. In order for your tummy and intestines to work hard they need all the energy they can get from the blood; thus all of your blood flows to your stomach and away from your limbs and skin creating less heat. Something like this similarly happens when you work out, which is why you get so red when you work out.
Shaving:
There is actually NO scientific evidence that proves that your hair grows back thicker every time you shave. However, your hair may grow back darker because it has not been exposed to the sun, chemicals, pollutants etc.
Music does wonders.
Music will trigger the release of Dopamine, the pleasure chemical. Situations that also trigger this chemical are sex and eating.
No, bananas will NOT prevent you from cramping
Remember that time you were laying down and all of a sudden your foot seemed to be folding in half? Or your toes were becoming one?? Or your calf muscle just casually wanted to detach from your body? I’m talking about muscle cramps. So you want to work out but you don’t want to get cramps. Or, you just started getting cramps out of nowhere and want them to stop; eat a banana they say, potassium (K+) will help. The hard truth is, bananas will NOT help. Cramps are considered the severe, sharp, painful in large muscles, usually those that are used the most. These cramps are brought on by SODIUM (Na2+) losses and dehydration. The misconception that potassium is involved would not affect cramping, and could even make it worse. Proper hydration and intake of salt with foods is the actual way to help prevent cramping, including drinking drinks with high electrolytes.
Your heart:
Your heart can keep beating even if its outside of your body because it has its own electrical pulse.
Why your nose runs when you eat spicy food:
Capsaicin. Capsaicin is a chemical in spicy foods that elevates production and thinning of mucus by causing the nerves in your nose to become inflamed. Increased mucus means a very runny nose. Its harmless, especially if you have a stuffy nose and want to get it all out of there.
You are now breathing Manually.
I bet it wasn’t on your mind until now…………and now you can’t stop thinking about it. Lucky for us, our body can breath for us 24/7 so we don’t have to consciously think about it.
What’s a hiccup?
A hiccup is simply your diaphragm having a muscle spasm, like a twitch. Sometimes it can last FOREVER… which we ALL have experienced….. we just all pray we don’t burp sneeze fart or cough at the same time….
Blood
Most printer ink is more expensive than your blood. Selling blood is a 4.5 BILLION dollar industry and helps someone who needs blood every two seconds. One pint of donated blood can save up to THREE lives.
There is a lot we don’t know about our bodies, but it’s still amazing how such things happen to us every day and we don’t know why. The human body is incredible and theres still so much more to find out!
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/capsaicin-topic-overview
http://www.wisegeek.org/why-do-spicy-foods-cause-runny-noses.htm
http://www.bloodcenters.org/blood-donation/facts-about-blood-donation/
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/your-amazing-brain/
http://science.time.com/2013/04/15/music/