AppleRemember all those sayings your Mum bombarded you with at the dinner table and you believed because you had no choice?

Well now you can find out whether they were true or not.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Your gran may have been onto something with this one as research has found that apples can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day


Nutrionists largely agree on this one. Eating breakfast sets you up for the day, provides body and mind with fuel and gets your metabolism going (the latter of which can help with weight loss).

Eating before bedtime is bad for you


Whoever told you this was right - if you eat a heavy meal before you go to sleep your body has to expend energy breaking down your last meal instead of concentrating on rest and repair. You're likely to wake up feeling tired and sluggish if you eat too late.

A hot milky drink can help you sleep

Milk contains melatonin and trytophan both of which can help you to relax, so a hot milky drink right before you go to bed can get you in the right, chilled out state of mind for sleep.

Cheese gives you nightmares


Contrary to popular urban legend, cheese can actually help you sleep. Far from giving you nightmares, it contains the amino acid tryptophan which can aid a good night's slumber.

Beans mean wind

Unfortunately beans produce a fair amount of gas when they're broken down in your stomach, which makes them anything but the food of choice for a first date or a romantic night in.

Chewing parsley gets rid of garlic breath

This bright green herb can actually help to relieve garlic breath. Chopping a little bit of this herb into a garlic sauce won't be enough though - you'll need to chew on a few sprigs of the stuff to make a difference.

Mixing your drinks will increase your hangover

There is some thinking that mixing you drinks gets you drunk faster, but its the level of alcohol in your blood and dehydration that affects how you feel the next day.

Oysters are an aphrodisiac

Whilst these sea creatures contain zinc which impacts on libido, there is mixed scientific opinion as to whether they actually increase sexual desire or fertility.

Coffee keeps you awake

Whilst the caffeine in coffee will act as a stimulant initially, it can also impair the body's absorption of nutrients. Drinking too much of the dark stuff can actually leave you feeling tired and sluggish after the initial buzzy high.

Champagne goes straight to your head

Research suggests that the bubbles in champagne speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system, so a few glasses of bubbly will get you feeling suitably giddy and giggly.

Spinach gives you Popeye strength

Whilst you won't get muscles within seconds of eating this leafy green, spinach is packed with iron and vitamins which will help to strengthen your immune system.

Crusts make your hair curly

Okay, so your Mum might have been fibbing when she used this old wives' tale on you, but it probably worked a few times before you realised that your hair wasn't getting any curlier.

Carrots help you see in the dark


This urban myths stems from World War Two when the public were being encouraged to grow their own veg. There is an element of truth to the saying, as carrots contain Vitamin A which is vital for healthy vision.