When mother didn't know best

EACH year the British Medical Journal, that doyen of medical research papers, is seized with the Christmas spirit and publishes something a trifle frivolous. Given the state of the world, that is to be welcomed. Last year, the BMJ offered us seven common medical myths which needed debunking. These included the notion that we should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to be healthy – all that does is send you to the toilet more often.

We also learned that fingernails don't go on growing after death, shaving does not cause hair to grow back coarser and reading in a dim light does not ruin the eyes.

This year the BMJ is back with another bumper bundle of exploded myths you learne...