• Home Remedies Index
  • Feedback
  • Subscribe
Top 10 Home Remedies
No Result
View All Result
Advertisements
Top 10 Home Remedies
No Result
View All Result

Home » Healthy Living

Hoaxes that Went Viral and You Thought Were True

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
May 22, 2015
1

The Internet is filled with hoax stories that people often fall for. To draw your attention and arouse your emotions, most hoaxes either make exceedingly exaggerated claims or alert you to unrealistic health dangers that do not exist. Interestingly, to sound legitimate, these stories claim to have come from reputable health organizations.

Out of concern for loved ones and a desire to share the knowledge (though false!), people tend to share the hoax stories without researching their truthfulness and reliability. These hoaxes, however, only spread misinformation and cause panic.

hoaxes that went viral

Here are a few popular hoaxes debunked.

Advertisements

Hoax #1

hoax 1

10-year-old boy was diagnosed with AIDS after eating pineapple contaminated by a vendor with HIV.

This story, widely circulated through forwarded emails and social media, is untrue. There are also several variants of this story claiming that take-out food contaminated with infected blood caused AIDS in patrons. However, the claims in these stories are unsubstantiated and vague.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Except for rare cases in which children consumed food that was pre-chewed by an HIV-infected caregiver, HIV has not been spread through food. The virus does not live long outside the body. You cannot get it from consuming food handled by an HIV-infected person; even if the food contained small amounts of HIV-infected blood or semen, exposure to the air, heat from cooking, and stomach acid would destroy the virus.”

So, the virus cannot be passed on through food as described in the inflammatory stories. The CDC also maintains, “No incident of food being contaminated with HIV-infected blood or semen has been reported to CDC.”

Moreover, the story states that the young boy “fell sick” with AIDS about 15 days after eating the supposedly contaminated pineapple. But, experts explain that there are important differences between HIV and AIDS. If left untreated, it generally takes 6 to 10 years from the time of infection with HIV to develop AIDS.

Advertisements

Please do not pass on such bogus warnings to others as they only spread unnecessary fear and alarm.

Hoax #2

hoax

Donations for Baby Born With Heart outside the Body

This is a popular social media post showing the image of a baby with a birth defect and pleading for you to help the baby by sharing the post to increase Facebook’s supposed $1 donation for each time it is shared. Facebook, however, has clarified that it does not donate money as a result of people liking or sharing content.

The baby shown in this image is Hayes Davis. He was born on March 25, 2011, with a birth defect called omphalocele in which an infant is born with the intestines, liver or other organs sticking outside of the belly, covered in a thin, transparent membrane or sac.

Advertisements

According to an ABC News report, to correct this birth defect, the baby underwent surgery in January 2012. The surgery went perfectly and the baby is doing fine now.

Facebook has stated that messages showing this image and claiming Facebook is donating money for the baby’s care are completely untrue and should not be encouraged.

So, the next time you see this or other similar posts, report them to Facebook instead of hitting the Like or Share button.

Hoax #3

hoax 2

Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy.

Advertisements

This is a common but misleading forwarded email with a significantly exaggerated and unsupported claim. Claiming to have originated from the Institute of Health Sciences in Baltimore, the message states that lemon is a “proven remedy against cancers of all types.” The medical institute, however, has denied any involvement with this message.

Scientific studies published in the last decade do suggest that lemons and other citrus fruits may possess substantial anticancer properties.

Compounds called limonoids mainly found in the skin and seeds of citrus fruits, in particular, have been found to have cancer-fighting potential, at least for certain types of cancer.

But, most of the studies have been conducted on lab animals. Further testing and research is still needed to determine the effectiveness of these compounds in preventing and fighting cancer in humans.

Thus, although lemons are a healthy addition to your diet, to claim that lemons offer a “proven remedy or cure for cancers of all types” is inaccurate.

Plus, none of the “largest drug manufacturers in the world” have reported discovering that lemons are “10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy,” as the message states.

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/omphalocele.html
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/baby-born-organs-body-receives-rare-surgery/story?id=15307580&singlePage=true
https://www.facebook.com/StopSickChildrenHoaxes

Advertisements

Comments 1

  1. CHONI says:
    5 years ago

    INFORMATION.IS.POWER

Recommended

face tingling treatment
Home Remedies

Facial Tingling: Causes, Diagnosis, Natural Treatment

by Mahesh Karandikar, MD - Neurosurgeon
July 11, 2019
0

A sudden tingling sensation overtaking your hands, feet, or face is a fairly common complaint reported by people in the...

Read more
Advertisements
how to sterilize baby bottles
Healthy Living

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles: 5 Safe Methods

by Karen M. Walker, MD, FAAP
April 1, 2019
0

The best way for a new mother to establish a nurturing bond with her baby is through breastfeeding. But sooner...

Read more
Advertisements

Homemade

DIY 2-Ingredient Face Mask
DIY Homemade

DIY 2-Ingredient Face Masks for Glowing, Flawless Skin (Part 1)

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
November 10, 2018
9

Want to maintain clear and flawless skin with natural ingredients but don’t have the time or money to gather a...

Read more
How to make your homemade pain balm

How to Make Your Own Homemade Pain Balm

January 30, 2019
Advertisements

Trending

mediterranean diet benefits
Healthy Living

Mediterranean Diet 101: Benefits, Drawbacks, Myths and More

by Miriam Christie, MS, RD, LD, ABD
August 21, 2019
0

The Mediterranean diet emerges from the kind of foods eaten in countries situated along the Mediterranean Sea. These include France,...

Read more
Neem Oil for hair and skin
Healthy Living

Neem Oil for Hair and Skin: 9 Benefits and How to Use It

by Robert Signore, DO - Dermatologist
July 2, 2019
0

Neem is often referred to as Indian lilac as it is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, but its medicinal virtues...

Read more
Advertisements

Don't Miss

consume aloe vera

Different Ways to Consume Aloe Vera for its Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

Gone are the days when aloe vera was just a potted plant sitting on your windowsill, jazzing up your home...

honeydew melon for health

Honeydew Melon: Origins, Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

Honeydew melon makes for a sweet-tasting and refreshing treat that can take the sting out of the sweltering summer heat....

fava beans for health

Fava Beans: Nutritional Value, Recipes and Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

The fava bean, alternatively known as broad bean, is a large, flat, green leguminous vegetable. The earliest record of its...

Apple cider vinegar benefits for women

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits for Women

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
March 28, 2019
12

Apple cider vinegar is used in a whole gamut of home remedies that offer something for everyone. Along with curing...

Advertisements
how to control hair loss
Common Conditions

How to Control Hair Fall

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
August 5, 2019
2

Long, luscious hair is a desire of many! But it seems very few people are lucky enough to have a...

Read more
Advertisements

All the tips mentioned here are strictly informational. This site does not provide medical advice. Consult with your doctor or other health care provider before using any of these tips or treatments. Read more.

 

Categories: Home Remedies | Kitchen Ingredients | Healthy Living | Pets | Common Conditions | Pregnancy | Healthy Foods

 

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and Conditions of Use
  • Unsubscribe

© 2018 Top 10 Home Remedies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home Remedies
  • Kitchen Ingredients
  • DIY Homemade
  • Healthy Foods
  • Healthy Living
  • Pregnancy

© 2018 Top 10 Home Remedies