Using a standing desk. A recent study found no benefit in terms of overall risk of dying from standing as opposed to sitting. However, standing does burn more calories, so if you’re trying to lose weight, go for it.

Using toilet seat liners. Viruses like HIV and herpes don’t survive very well outside of a warm human body. By the time you sit down on a public toilet seat, most harmful pathogens likely wouldn’t be able to infect you.

Avoiding gluten. Unless you’re one of the 1% of Americans who actually suffer from celiac disease, gluten probably won’t have a negative effect on you. Studies actually show that most people suffer from slight bloating and gas when they eat, whether they eat wheat or not.

Swapping dairy for almond milk. Alternatives to dairy milk have been gaining popularity, almond milk being a strong contender. However, it practically has no nutrients at all. Almonds are protein powerhouses on their own, but a typical glass of almond milk contains about 2% almonds and almost no protein. Opt for soy milk or low-fat milk if you’re actually looking for a healthier option.

Juicing. Juicing fresh fruits and veggies removes all of the fiber that keeps you feeling full and satisfied until your next meal. What you do keep is the sugar. High-sugar, low-protein foods mean constant hunger pangs, mood swings and low energy.

Loading up on Vitamin C to get rid of a cold. Sure, a little extra of the stuff can boost an underperforming immune system, but taking too much will make you sick. The limit for an adult is 2,000 milligrams a day. Any more will cause nausea, heartburn, headaches and more.

Ear candling. This practice involves putting a lit, cone-shaped candle inside your ear to relieve earwax and treating some infections. Research shows that this is ineffective at both. Ear candling can also push wax down deeper into your ear. So don’t do it.

Taking multivitamins. Almost half of American adults take vitamins everyday. However, decades of research hasn’t found any justification for the constant pill-popping. Of course we need small amounts of vitamins to survive, like A, C and E, but research says we get more than enough of these from what we eat.

Avoiding MSG. Monosodium glutamate is an ingredient added to many foods to enhance their flavor. It’s completely safe, but it’s often associated with symptoms such as numbness at the base of the neck to a general sense of fatigue. They’re commonly lumped together as “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.” Eating too much food is most likely the culprit.

Avoiding the microwave. The idea that microwaving foods robs them of their nutrients is entirely false. Sure, some nutrients begin to disintegrate when heated, whether it’s a microwave or a stove. But since the microwave times are often much shorter, it does a better job of keeping the vitamins intact.

Eating only low-fat foods. An 8-year trial involving almost 50,000 women found that those on a low-fat plan didn’t lower their risk of disease, and they also didn’t lose much weight. New suggestions show that healthy fats, like nuts and avocados, are actually good for you in moderation.

Not cracking your knuckles. Until recently, common knowledge stated that knuckle cracking was terrible for your joints. Several new studies have suggested that it might serve as a good indicator that a joint is well lubricated, and that the inability to crack a joint could be a sign of future problems.