By Susan Hendricks
(CNN) - Wait to go into the pool after you eat. Don't swallow seeds from watermelons. All good summer health tips. Or are they?
Doctors say most of them are myths. So let's break down some of the more popular ones and see if science agrees.
You can catch poison ivy from someone else
False. You get poison ivy from the oil of the plants. "If the oil from the plant gets onto tools, or gloves or clothes or even a pet, it's possible you can pick it up from there," said Dr. John Dooley, Foxhall Internists.
Eating watermelon seeds can make you sick
Nope. "The idea that they would sprout within the body or otherwise cause a problem is completely a myth," said Dr. Dooley.
Tanning one time in a tanning bed can protect you from the sun's damaging rays
No way. "Tanning doesn't protect you against developing skin cancer. Tanning doesn't protect the skin particularly well from the sun's rays," said Dr. Dooley.
You should wait 30 minutes after you eat to go back into the pool
This one depends. "The digestive process requires blood flow to the stomach, and if you essentially distract your stomach by exercising and leading the blood flow to the muscles instead of the stomach you might get some stomach cramps," said Dr. Dooley.
Going in and out of air conditioning can cause you to catch a cold
"Cold air indoors in the summer does not cause cold. Viruses cause colds," said Dr. Dooley.
Best advice for a safe summer? Doctors say use common sense.
