Childhood medical myths debunked as experts weigh in on 5 common warnings

Mothers might know best, but it’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction when it comes to health advice.A new report from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health has broken down several common wellness myths that children often hear while growing up.Fox News Digital spoke with experts who revealed the truth behind common medical misconceptions.Here are five.While actual ginger can help ease a stomach ache, most commercial ginger ales don’t actually contain the real thing, Michelle Jaelin, a registered dietitian practicing in Ontario, Canada, told Fox News Digital.This childhood myth persists as parents give ginger ale to children because it’s sweet and bubbly, she said.“It makes parents feel better that they are doing something for their child when they aren’t feeling well, and the myth persisted as a drink that helps a stomach ache,” Jaelin said.The carbonated beverages could actually make the stomach pain even worse by increasing gas in the digestive tract, according to Healthline’s website.Drinks with real ginger also tend to contain excess added sugar, experts said – essentially the equivalent of soda that may worsen stomach pain.“Swallowed gum does not stay in your stomach for [seven] years, as the myths suggest,” Su-Nui Escobar, a registered dietitian based in Miami, Florida, told Fox News Digital.“While swallowing gum is not recommended, if you do so accidentally, you will likely pass it like any other indigestible food.”The gum will pass through the stomach within two hours and be excreted in the stool after approximately two to five days, just like other foods, according to the recent UCSF report.Although chewing gum can stick to many surfaces — including walls or desks — it travels mostly intact through the gastrointestinal tract without sticking to the intestinal walls, the report notes.But experts still caution against children swallowing gum, because substantial amounts might cause an intestinal blocka...