7 News Features: Fact or Fiction

So you never stepped on a crack because you were afraid you'd break your mother's back.

You never swam after eating because you were "knew" you'd get cramps. And you stopped eating chocolate because you thought it would stop giving you pimples. Well now, once and for all, the truth shall set you free.

Call them urban myths, old wives tales, or tall tales.

Passed down from one generation to the next, these little rules often dictate what we do. But are they true or false... Fact or fiction? There's only one way to find out.

Your honor, we'd first like to call to the stand - one bologna sandwich.

According to witnesses, the sandwich fell on the floor for five seconds before being eaten. Is there really a five-second rule?

Doctor Lee Sanders, University of Miami Pediatrics: "As far we know as soon as you drop food on the floor will pick up whatever bacteria are there."

Completely fiction.

Next, we'd like the jury to closely examine this critical piece of evidence.

It may look like a piece of celery, but our undercover camera found many South Florida snackers think it contains so-called negative calories.

The truth your honor...

Doctor Sanders: "There is not such thing as negative calories in food right, but Just the energy it takes to get up and off the couch go to the frig and grab the celery and chew on it uses many more calories then you ingest."

Sounds like a hung jury...

But what about guys who like to put on a cap? We know if it doesn't fit, you must acquit.

But if you continue to wear, will you lose all your hair?

Well, listen up fellows, we think you will be able to handle the truth on this one. It too is fiction.

Dr. Michelle Floyd, University of Miami Pediatrics: "It may cover up thier bald spot, but it's not going to make them bald."

So what's the verdict on myths?

Well, they're not all fiction. Eating poppies can cause you to fail a drug test - that's a fact.

Drinking cranberry juice will help you avoid bladder infections - that's also a fact.

Our closing arguments - something to chew on.

We went around and found many people enjoy popping a piece of gum.

But what happens when you swallow the gum -

Will it take seven years to digest?

Dr. Floyd: "The truth is it may take seven years to digest in the Miami-Dade garbage disposal system, but in your body it should be out in about one to two days."

The prosecution rests. Apparently like most myths - absolute fiction. The sentence - a lifetime of skepticism.

By the way, just for the record - swimming after eating will not cause cramping. And there's no correlation between chocolate and acne.

Contact: lgarrigan@wsvn.com

More Myths:

A - Acne is triggered by cholate
B - Bacteria - keyboard - toiletseat
C - Carrots
D - Dogs
E - Eight glasses of water
F - Flu shot causes the flu
G - Germs - 7 second rule 
H - Hats cause baldness
I - Inflamation of the heart can be caused by tongue piercings
J - Canberry juice will prevent bladder infections
K - Knuckles
L - Liter boxes
M - Mountian dew
N - Cerery is negative calories
O - Outside with wet hair, you will get sick
P - Poppy seeds - fail drug test
Q - Quality of salt in cereal compared to seawater
R - Reading in low light will affect vision
S - Swimming after eating
T - Turkey
U - Ultraviolet light
V - Vitamins
W - Watermelon seeds will grow in your stomach
X - Nursing mothers cannot breastfeed if they have had x-rays. If you are exposed to x-rays while pregnant, you will have a miscarriage or your baby will have horrible birth defects. 
Y - 7 years it takes gum to digest
Z - Getting more zzzz's will give you more energy.