From ‘don’t eat cooked food during eclipse,’ to ‘pregnant women should fast during this period,’ folklore around eclipse often eclipses the truth itself. A quick search on google will throws up all kinds of dos and don’ts around lunar and solar eclipse.
Here’s a fact check.
Should Pregnant Women Avoid Looking at the Eclipse?
We spoke with Dr Anuradha Kapur, head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, at Max Hospital, Saket. Dr Kapur dismisses all these claims as myths, saying eclipse has no effect on pregnant women and food.
It’s a strong belief among pregnant women in India. And I always advice them to meet the doctors. You don’t have to stop eating, and you need to protect yourself from dehydration. If you feel weak, take rest, and don’t fall for such superstitions.Dr Anuradha Kapur
"So many women came to us asking for advice, and told them to focus on their health and keep their anxiety levels low," she adds.
According to NASA, there is no proof that eclipse has any physical impact on humans.
Dr Kapur urges people to apply logic. A featus is well formed by first term, it will suddenly not start showing abnormalities after 2-3 hour exposure to lunar eclipse.
While it is advisable not to step out during solar eclipse, there is no such restriction during lunar eclipse. And while looking directly at the sun during solar eclipse can lead to retinal damage, there is no such restriction during lunar eclipse.
Does Your Cooked Food Go Bad During Lunar Eclipse?
NASA says that the rumour that food goes bad during eclipse is based on the belief that rays emitted during the eclipse are dangerous. But if the rays were that harmful, they would affect not just cooked food but all food.
Dr Ashwini Setya, a senior gastroenterologist with Max Hospital, Saket, says he has never seen any case of food going bad or food poisoning during lunar eclipse. He says that while these beliefs are rooted in religion, there is no scientific proof to back them up.
Swami Parmanand Prakritik Chikitsalaya Yoga & Anusandhan Kendra’s Dr Durga says that it is thought that during eclipse cooked food is more likely to attract bacterial and viral infections. Though there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
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