mother might, really have known best, The old health sayings worth heeding and the ones to ignore, from saga, 2026 05 28

[Colin Howard]

Greetings,

Not only mother, but in my case my paternal grandmother or maternal Nan, I
agree many of these tips and tricks should not be totally dis regarded.

The experts reveal which traditional health wisdoms still stand up and which
belong firmly in the past.
By Jayne Cherrington-Cook | Published - 26 May 2026

We all grew up with them. Put a hat on or you'll lose all your heat. Don't
read in the dark. Eat your carrots if you want to see properly.

Some of those old-fashioned health tips have survived because there's a
genuine nugget of truth in them. Others have clearly endured because they
sound convincing, are easy to remember or were an excellent way of making
children do as they were told.

The reality, unsurprisingly, is mixed. Some of your mother's wisdom stands
up rather well. Other favourites are far less convincing once you look at
the science. Here, with help from some experts, is what's worth hanging on
to and what really needs retiring.

Mum's advice which has stood the test of time

1. Carrots help you see in the dark

Not exactly true, but not complete nonsense either.

"As part of a balanced diet, carrots can certainly help to keep your eye
healthy," says Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers.

"Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and when we eat them our body turns it
into a vitamin called retinal which helps to keep eyes healthy."

But, Edmonds says, eating carrots won't help you see any better in the dark
or dramatically improve your eyesight. Vitamin A is important for healthy
vision and night blindness can be an early sign of deficiency, so this is
one of those bits of advice starting with a sensible idea and got a little
carried away.

2. Chicken soup is good for colds

It sounds like the sort of thing people say because it feels cosy and
nurturing, but there is actually some science behind it.

Zoe Hill, a women's health nutritional therapist, says: "Chicken soup isn't
just comforting, it may genuinely help when you have a cold. Chicken
contains carnosine, a compound which may help reduce oxidative stress and
support the body during upper respiratory infections."

Hill says studies suggest it may also help reduce inflammation, while the
warm liquid soothes the throat and helps keep you hydrated. One study found
chicken soup showed a mild anti-inflammatory effect in the lab, which makes
it one of the more respectable remedies on the list.

3. Honey and lemon for a cough

Another old remedy for colds, this one has held up better than you might
expect. The evidence is mainly for honey rather than lemon, but it is still
one of the sturdier home remedies around.

"Honey may genuinely help soothe a sore throat, with research showing it may
help with the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract
infections," explains public health nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire, from
the Health & Food Supplements Information Service.

"Lemon contains vitamin C and bioflavonoids, which help with overall immune
health. When honey and lemon are mixed together in hot water, they can help
soothe a sore throat and ease irritation."

4. Take cod liver oil

Even cod liver oil, a substance which can strike fear into anyone who
remembers being marched towards a spoonful of it, has some real nutritional
logic behind it. Hill says it has long been recommended for good reason.

"It's rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties
and may support joint, heart, brain and eye health," she says.

Dr Derbyshire adds that the EPA and DHA in cod liver oil are found in every
cell membrane in the body, with benefits ranging from heart health and
reducing triglycerides to supporting brain function and maintaining eye
health.

There is a catch, though. Cod liver oil is high in vitamin A and too much,
can be a problem.

"Which's why it's important not to overdo it, especially if you're also
getting vitamin A from other supplements or foods," Hill advises.
A better bet than cod liver oil

Hill says there is still one supplement which can benefit most people.

"A high-quality omega-3 supplement, such as fish oil or flaxseed oil, is a
safer choice without the risk of excess vitamin A," she says.

As always, check with a healthcare professional before starting any new
supplement.

The strangest tips with a grain of truth

A lot of the advice we heard growing up sounds faintly ridiculous at first,
but some of it turns out not to be complete nonsense.

In a few cases, the old saying is not quite right, but there is just enough
truth underneath it to explain why it has stuck around.

Reading in the dark ruins your eyes

Take reading in the dark ruining your eyes. It doesn't, but it can leave
them tired and uncomfortable.

"The good news is, reading in the dark or in dim light won't damage your
eyesight but it can cause eye strain which can leave them feeling tired and
uncomfortable," says Edmonds.

He adds dim light can bring on "tired eyes, headaches and blurry vision". So
the modern version is less "you'll wreck your eyes for life" and more "you're
giving yourself a headache for no reason".

Put a hat on or you'll lose all your heat

Another wintery favourite only partly right. We do lose some heat from the
head, but it isn't the dramatic escape route that our parents made it sound.

Dr Derbyshire explains: "It's not the main route of heat loss. This also
ties into the saying you won't 'catch a cold' from being cold. Colds are
caused by viruses, not temperature."

A hat is still a sensible idea on a freezing day, but it's not because it's
the only thing standing between you and hypothermia.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

More motivational slogan than medical truth. A 2015 study found that apple
eaters were not significantly less likely to avoid doctor visits once other
factors were considered, though they did use fewer prescription medicines.

How to boost your immune system naturally

Use Vaseline on your feet to prevent blisters

The tip about using Vaseline on your feet to prevent blisters sits firmly in
the grey area. The thinking behind it is understandable, as reducing
friction can help stop blisters forming and some wider evidence suggests
lubricants can play a role in prevention.

Maddie Tait, a specialist podiatrist at Opus Biological, is not convinced.
"It's made of petroleum jelly increasing the moisture inside your shoes,"
she says. "Moisture will heighten your risk of blisters from a sweaty
environment in your shoe."

Her advice is to tackle the problem earlier and more practically. Spot
hotspots as soon as they appear, dry the area, change damp socks and protect
the skin with tape or a hydrocolloid blister plaster.

Mustard powder or Vicks on your feet will stop a cough

This sounds like pure folklore, but there is a small grain of truth behind
it. Vapour rub itself can help ease cough and congestion when used in the
usual way on the chest, throat or back. What there isn't good evidence for
is rubbing it on the soles of your feet instead.

Dr Derbyshire is blunt about it: "There's no firm scientific evidence
putting mustard or something like Vicks on your feet stops a cough. Menthol
vapours from products may feel soothing if inhaled, but they don't address
the cause of a cough."

Mustard footbaths have, though, shown a few tentative signs of helping
people feel warmer or slightly better during respiratory infections, but
this still sits much closer to folklore than medicine.

Eating cheese before bed gives you nightmares

The old idea eating cheese before bed gives you nightmares also sounds
faintly absurd, but there may be something in it for some people.

"There's a long-standing belief, cheese can trigger vivid dreams or
nightmares," says Hill. "While the evidence isn't definitive, there are a
couple of reasons why it might affect sleep."

She explains cheese is high in fat, which means it takes longer to digest
and can disrupt sleep if eaten late at night. It also contains tyramine, an
amino acid which may stimulate brain activity and make you feel more alert.

"Interrupted or lighter sleep can increase the likelihood of vivid dreams,
which might explain the association," she says.

More recent research has also found a strong association between nightmares
and lactose intolerance, suggesting for some people it may be the digestive
discomfort overnight, rather than the cheese itself, which disrupts sleep
and influences dreams.

Which vitamins and minerals should I take?

Advice from a registered GP on how to navigate vitamins and minerals and the
role they play in our body.

Expert advice

Mum's sayings need leaving in the past

A few old favourites are, scientifically speaking, on very shaky ground.

1. Wet hair gives you a cold

Wet hair gives you a cold is a myth. Wet hair might make you feel chilly and
sorry for yourself, but viruses cause colds, not damp heads.

Dr Derbyshire confirms it: "Wet hair doesn't cause colds. Colds are caused
by viruses, though being cold or tired may slightly affect immune defences,
making infection more likely if exposed."

2. Feed a cold, starve a fever

Feed a cold, starve a fever is another one sounding brisk and authoritative
but doesn't stand up. Modern advice is much simpler: fluids matter, rest
matters and if you feel like eating, eat.

"There's no evidence for this rule," says Dr Derbyshire. "In both cases, the
body benefits from adequate hydration and nutrition. Aiding recovery is more
important than restricting food."

She adds if your appetite has gone askew, topping up with a multivitamin and
multimineral supplement including vitamin C and zinc may help support normal
immune function, alongside a balanced diet, good sleep, hydration and hand
hygiene.

3. Put butter on a burn

Perhaps the clearest myths of all are the old first-aid ones. Putting butter
on a burn is not just ineffective, it is the wrong thing to do.

Mark Butler, national clinical lead for St John Ambulance, says: "Your
priority should be to cool the burn as quickly as possible."

He is also very clear about what not to do: "Do not use ice, creams or gels.
They may cause damage and increase the risk of infection."

How to treat a burn properly

If you burn yourself, the first priority is to cool it as quickly as
possible. Butler advises holding the burn under cool running water for at
least 20 minutes, or until the pain eases.

"If there is no water available, you could use cold milk or canned drinks"
he says.

"Remove any jewellery or clothing, unless stuck to the burn, before the area
begins to swell."

Once the burn has cooled, cover it loosely with cling film placed
lengthways. If the burn is on a hand or foot, a clean plastic bag can be
used instead.

4. Tilt your head back for a nosebleed

The nosebleed myth is similarly persistent. If someone has a nosebleed, the
old advice was often to tilt the head back. Butler says don't.

"If someone is having a nosebleed, ask them to sit down and lean with their
head tilted forward," he says. "Do not tell them to lean their head back as
this could cause the blood to trickle down the back of their throat and
block the airway."

5. Never mix grape and grain

Some of the most enduring sayings are the ones which make you pause and
wonder how they got started in the first place. Never mix grape and grain
has been around for years, usually in rhyme form, but research has not found
that the order of drinks meaningfully affects hangover severity.

Hill says: "The science doesn't back this up. Research shows neither the
type nor the order of alcoholic drinks has a meaningful impact on hangover
severity. What really matters is the total amount of alcohol consumed."

A 2019 randomised trial came to much the same conclusion.

What matters more than mixing drinks

Rather than worrying about mixing drinks, the best advice to avoid hangovers
is to pace yourself. Or ensure you alternate alcoholic drinks with water.

Dehydration is one of the main drivers of a hangover, so if you keep
yourself hydrated you've got less chance of suffering from headaches or
fatigue the next day.

"If you're prone to hangovers, you may find clearer spirits like gin or
vodka are a better choice, but moderation is still key," advises Hill.

So was your mother right?

The trouble is old advice tends to flatten everything into a rule and
health, rarely works. The most accurate answer to many of these sayings is
not "true" or "false", but "sort of, in certain circumstances, up to a
point".

The real lesson, perhaps, is old advice is often at its best when it nudges
us towards basic common sense, eat reasonably well, keep warm, rest when you're
ill and don't ignore simple symptoms. Just maybe leave the Vicks off your
feet.

Written by: Jayne Cherrington-Cook

Jayne cut her online journalism teeth 25 years ago in an era when a dialling
tone and slow page load were standard. During this time, she's written about
a variety of subjects and is just at home road-testing TVs as she is
interviewing TV stars.

A diverse career has seen Jayne launch websites for popular magazines,
collaborate with top brands, write regularly for major publications
including Woman&Home, Yahoo! and The Daily Telegraph, create a podcast and
also write a tech column for Women's Own.

Colin Howard, living in Southern England.