10 Old Wives' Tales You Shouldn't Believe

7. Going Out With Wet Hair Will Cause You To Catch A Cold

You know the line. It€™s probably been used on you various times while growing up: €œDon€™t go out with a wet head or you€™ll catch a cold!€ It€™s a line that over 40% of mothers still use on their children today. So where did this perception come from? In 1878 a study was conducted by German scientist Louis Pasteur who exposed chickens to anthrax, then dipped their feet in icy water. The chickens developed anthrax and died. However, when he wrapped one chicken in a warm blanket a few hours later, it recovered. But does this really link the cold to our immune functions? In a study conducted in Canada in 1999, it was found that the opposite was true in humans. They used healthy young men and exposed them to icy temperatures, only to find that it roused many separate facets of their immune systems. So what€™s true? Scientists still seem baffled with many conducting studies to figure it out. In the meantime, it€™s better to keep yourself warm anyway!