Health Myths

Can tweakments do me any harm? Does deodorant cause breast cancer? Does eating chocolate give you acne? Do I need to wear sunscreen every day? What exactly is in my serum? Are collagen supplements the fountain of youth? What's the best way to fade scars? And is "clean beauty" really as healthy as it sounds? The Science of Beauty reveals the truth behind the bold marketing claims and viral TikTok trends and tells you what you really need to know about the products you use every day, form good habits, and learn what really works.

One third of our lives is spent trying to sleep. Most us have disturbed, restless nights and rely on a cocktail of caffeine and sugar to drag us through the day. Yet the hours we spend in bed shape our moods, motivation and decision-making skills - defining our performance in work, at home and while keeping fit. We need a new approach to sleep. In this groundbreaking audiobook, Nick Littlehales, elite sleep coach to some of the world's leading sports stars and teams, lays bare his strategies.

So-called government and health "authorities" never tire of reminding those of us who live in industrialized countries that heart disease is a major cause of death. They go even further when they tell us that heart disease is eminently preventable, all the while conceding that one's genetic background predetermines numerous factors with influence over each individual's risk of succumbing to heart attack. They tout that diet is a foremost factor among causes of heart disease and that modifying your diet provides a workable means of preventing heart attacks.

Number one international best seller in pain management and health, fitness & dieting categories. Back pain is now the number one cause of disability worldwide; this is ironic, because the mystery was solved in the 1970s by Dr. John Sarno at the New York University Medical Center. Tragically, few sufferers accepted his solution.

The supplement industry, a towering and ever-expanding marketplace, now valued at over $150 billion globally, is a realm where health meets hope—and sometimes, hubris. Every year, millions of people reach for bottles that promise more energy, stronger joints, better focus, glowing skin, or even extended youth. The allure is potent: with just a few capsules a day, you might sidestep disease, reverse ageing, or improve your memory. It’s a narrative that sells. But behind the glossy labels and bold claims lies a landscape that is as confusing as it is crowded.

In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has - and has not - proven to be true. This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.

We live in a gendered world, where we are ceaselessly bombarded by messages about sex and gender. On a daily basis, we face deeply ingrained beliefs that sex determines our skills and preferences, from toys and colors to career choice and salaries. But what does this constant gendering mean for our thoughts, decisions, and behavior? And what does it mean for our brains? Drawing on her work as a professor of cognitive neuroimaging, Gina Rippon unpacks the stereotypes that surround us from our earliest moments and shows how these messages mold our ideas of ourselves.

In this fascinating, refreshingly clarifying book about food, food myths, and how sloppy science perpetuates misconceptions about food, a medical doctor on his way to a conference gets drawn into conversations that answer many questions.

A startling new study in human consciousness, The Myth of Sanity is a landmark book about forgotten trauma, dissociated mental states, and multiple personality in everyday life. In its groundbreaking analysis of childhood trauma and dissociation and their far-reaching implications in adult life, it reveals that moderate dissociation is a normal mental reaction to pain and that even the most extreme dissociative reaction—multiple personality—is more common than we think.

Breaking free of outdated explanations and rigid "rules" for recovery, The Abstinence Myth offers a hopeful, research-based framework for transformation by an addiction expert and renowned TEDx speaker who overcame his own addiction and has guided hundreds of clients into lives of joy and purpose. In this simple yet radical new book, Adi Jaffe, PhD, draws on his own life experience, cutting-edge research, and work with hundreds of clients and families to offer a new perspective on addiction and a new pathway out of its grasp.

Dr. Chang explains how, using gene expression science to decode aging processes, he and collaborators have been able to identify, target, and reset important aging-related genes to a more youthful state and positively influence the way we age. He presents compelling evidence and easy-to-follow steps for you and everyone in your family to begin living younger, longer.

Do antidepressants work, or are they no better than placebos? Like his colleagues, Irving Kirsch spent years referring patients to psychiatrists to have their depression treated with drugs. Eventually, however, he decided to investigate for himself just how effective the drugs actually were. With 15 years of research, Kirsch demonstrates that what everyone “knew” about antidepressants is wrong; what the medical community considered a cornerstone of psychiatric treatment is little more than a faulty consensus.

In those midnight hours when sleep won’t come but fatigue lingers, ancient quests and fantastical domains beckon you toward blissful escape. These tales don’t silence your thoughts, they cradle them just enough to guide you from restlessness to calm. Made for the sensitive, curious adult, they meet the part of you still lit up at midnight — then lead it gently toward sleep.

Jung's primary concern in Flying Saucers is not with the reality or unreality of UFOs but with their psychic aspect. Rather than speculate about their possible nature and extraterrestrial origin as alleged spacecraft, he asks what it may signify that these phenomena, whether real or imagined, are seen in such numbers just at a time when humankind is menaced as never before in history. The UFOs represent, in Jung's phrase, "a modern myth."

Reclaiming Sanity: Top 10 Myths About Mental Illness Debunked by Ezra Thorne is a powerful and compassionate guide that challenges the most persistent and damaging myths surrounding mental health. In a world where misinformation and stigma still shape how we understand emotional and psychological wellbeing, this book serves as both a corrective and a call to action. Through clear explanations, evidence-based insights, and a deep sense of empathy, Thorne dismantles ten widespread misconceptions that keep people suffering in silence.

Since the earliest days of recorded history, humans have been searching for the mythical fountain of youth — the secret formula to reversing aging, staying healthy and vibrant, and looking our best while we're at it. The actual “fountain of youth” isn't just wishful thinking. It is well-established by medical science, and the secret lies in finding renewal from within.

Women around the globe are buying and consuming alcohol at alarming rates never seen before. But is it doing us any favors? Is it really that treat or reward that we deserve? Lotta Dann thinks not. In The Wine O'Clock Myth, Lotta takes an in-depth and eye-opening look at women's drinking habits. Written through the lens of her own story and her work in the field of addiction and recovery, Lotta explores the privileged position alcohol holds in our society, the way the liquor industry targets women and the damaging "Wine Mom" social media culture.

Many people believe that, at its core, biological sex is a fundamental, diverging force in our development. According to this familiar story, differences between the sexes are shaped by past evolutionary pressures - women are more cautious and parenting-focused, men seek status to attract more mates - re-created in each generation by sex hormones and male and female brains. This, in turn, is the basis of supposedly entrenched inequalities in our modern societies.

Just be happy. Think Positive! Speak up, love yourself and fake it ‘till you make it. Practice makes perfect and everything happens for a reason. You get what you give and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This too shall pass and you just need to let it go. We’re surrounded by platitudes that are intended to make us feel better, but blindly following these common clichés will hold you back. Believe sorts through pop-psychology advice and outright myths to understand what’s credible and what are sweet little lies.

In But What Does Science Say?, Dr Manan Vora debunks 101 common health myths with science and a healthy dose of humour. His witty, easy-to-follow explanations make the book perfect for curious minds of all ages—kids, teens and adults alike.