Myth:  Pasta is bad for you.

Fact:  Pasta is a great carbohydrate to eat.  Those who are on low-carb diets like the Atkins Diet may shy away from pasta because they would then go over their carbohydrate allowance for the day.  But for everyone else (unless you must avoid gluten), pasta, especially pasta made from semolina flour or even buckwheat noodles that have more fiber, are a delicious form of carbohydrates.  Just watch what you put on top of your pasta.  Once you start adding lots of butter and parmesan cheese or even Alfredo Sauce (a sauce that is very high in fat), you've increased your risk for heart disease because of all the saturated fat.  Try adding grilled vegetables and olive oil with exciting herbs or even a light tomato sauce to spice up your noodles.

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Myth:  Your sense of thirst or need to drink something is the best gauge of whether you're dehydrated.

Fact:   While that may be true for some people, it's not true for everyone, especially the elderly.  If you haven't had anything to drink or eat within the last 1 1/2 to 2 hours, it wouldn't hurt to go get something drink, even if it's just water.  It's true that many of the foods we eat (most especially fruits and vegetables) have quite a bit of water in them.  But considering that most Americans don't eat enough of those, then if you're not drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of liquid a day, then your body may need some.

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