Psychology Today | 12.11.2026 19:26
Chances are, you will succumb to at least one common seasonal false belief. When you see a child queued up to see Santa having a full-blown meltdown, do you suspect excessive candy cane consumption? Maybe you insist that family members wear winter beanies because you believe most body heat escapes from the head? Have you moved a poinsettia out of a toddler's reach for fear of poisoning? If so, you are in great company, but also 100% wrong, according to science! A dozen controlled trials show that sugar does not cause hyperactivity, the head accounts for only about 10 percent of body heat loss, and poinsettias pose no serious poisoning risks (Vreeman & Carroll, 2008). Despite what you might believe, each statement above is refuted by scientific evidence.
