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The world of health is full of old wives' tales.

Over the years many of these have been debunked as our knowledge of the world has developed. Some still persist though and may even contain a modicum of truth.

Take Vitamin C, for example. It used to be said that taking regular doses could ward off colds.

Recent research has shown though that for most people, taking vitamin C does nothing to prevent us from catching a cold.

There is some evidence that it might slightly shorten the length of time we feel under the weather when we have a cold, but this is not conclusive.

Another myth that used to be popular was that eating carrots could help you see better at night.

This one does have some basis in fact. Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A, which is essential for healthy night vision.

However, increasing your carrot consumption won't give you exceptional vision at night. It only has an effect if you have a Vitamin A deficiency to start with. Night vision can only improve to the level of a healthy person.

Another popularly held belief is that giving children sugary drinks and snacks makes them hyperactive. This might seem common sense when you look at the behaviour of children at parties, for example.

However, the way our bodies process sugar does not result in excess energy that has to be worked off. Children get hyperactive because they are children and get excited. Sugar-filled treats might fuel their activity, but it doesn't cause it.