Growing up, we all experienced it (especially the Asian families), when we get sick or did something our grandmother doesn't like, she will throw out some medical "Facts" that makes us set things right faster than a lightning strike.

Did you experienced similar "advice" from your grandparents? Comment below and let me know what is the most common ones you get from your grandparents.

The following list explains the myths that just won’t seem to die.

Lie #1: “If you swallow chewing gum, it will never leave your body”

There are many variations of this myth. There are versions that specify the number of years it remains stuck in the body. There are those that say the gum gets stuck to the walls of your digestive system.

FACT: The gum will pass through your system and be excreted. Since it cannot be digested, it will come out whole as it was when it was swallowed. The chemicals that you cannot digest are those that give the gum its rubbery quality. But having said that, it’s not a good idea to swallow large amounts of gum anyway as there are cases of kids suffering from severe constipation after having swallowed too much gum.

Lie #2: “If you sit on a pillow, a boil will grow on your butt.”

This one is a Malaysian staple. In Bahasa Melayu it goes: “Kalau duduk atas bantal nanti punggung berbisul”.

This doesn’t make sense at any level but because it’s a scary enough thought, we still avoid planting ourselves on cushy pillows. A hundred years ago someone probably had some very nice pillows she didn’t want anyone sitting on and thought, “Why not scare the crap out of kids to stop them from squishing my pillows?”

FACT: A boil is an infected hair follicle. Technically, sitting on filthy pillows could cause boils but only if you did it buck naked.

Lie #3: “If you shave, your hair grows back thicker”

Nope, it doesn’t. It only looks that way. This might be right for the pubescent boy but only because puberty is making him more hairy. The act of shaving however, doesn’t contribute to thicker hair growth.

FACT: What might explain this phenomenon that many still swear by is that after shaving, stubbles appear which give the appearance of thick hair. However, once these stubbles start to grow out, it will be the same thickness as the hair before it.

Lie #4: “Eating watermelon seeds can cause appendicitis”

Appendicitis occurs when you have an infection of the appendix, which can be caused when debris is lodged in the tube-shaped sac. So, this “lie” should make sense, right?

FACT: Well, the answer is maybe. Some studies show there is a negligible correlation between swallowing fruit seeds and the onset of appendicitis. However, these studies do have their shortcomings as well. Therefore, it may be best to err on the side of caution and refrain from swallowing seeds. They don’t taste nice anyway. And definitely, don’t swallow durian seeds!

Lie #5: “Don’t give that kid candy or he will get a sugar rush.”

This is the biggest myth as many parents swear sugar is the culprit behind the hyperactivity of their toddlers.

FACT: This “sugar rush” state is simply not real. But it is still not a good idea to feed your kids too much sugar. Sugar addiction is a real threat to health and the rate of obesity among children and adults today is testimony to this. So, this just might be one of those white lies that we should keep alive.

Lie #6: “Chocolate gives you acne.”

Although this is a lie, don’t go grabbing that bar of Cadbury just yet. While previous studies have shown chocolate doesn’t cause acne, dermatologists point the finger at the sugar and fat content of chocolate, saying these ingredients can cause pimples. But this too has come under heavy criticism although subsequent studies show there just may be a link.

FACT: The jury is still out. Common sense says that if you experience a breakout after indulging in way too many Kinder Buenos, it’d be best to avoid them.

Lie #7: “Men don’t get breast cancer.”

This is a relatively modern myth. While the pink ribbon campaign to increase breast cancer awareness among women has been a success, men still often ignore early warning signs and are diagnosed only when the cancer is at an advanced stage.

FACT: Men also have breast tissue and after puberty develop ducts, lobules and connective tissues just like their female counterparts. The only difference is that women develop far more of these than men ever do. Even so, the male species can still get the same disease.

Lie #8: Vaccines can cause autism

This is a dangerous lie.

FACT: Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines not only protect the person who is vaccinated, but through the effect of herd immunity, has the power to eradicate diseases. No one who has been vaccinated has ever contracted polio and it would be a serious failure on the part of medical science if polio ever came back.

Lie #9: “Humans only use 10% of their brains.”

There’s a reason why people like this lie so much – it gives them some comfort that they actually have hidden potential.

FACT: Brain scans show that we use our whole brain pretty much most of the time. In fact our brain as a single organ consumes a high amount of energy given its relatively small size.

So how many of the above "advices" have you heard from your grandparents or aunties?