Was grandma right?

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A. Vitamin A is needed to see in dim light, and a deficiency can cause night blindness.

But if you already have enough vitamin A, more carrots will not improve your sight. The myth got an extra push during the Second World War. During the bombing of London in 1940–41 the British spread the story that their pilots saw so well in the dark because they ate carrots. The real reason was radar, which was to be kept secret.

A Cochrane review from 2018 found that honey probably relieves cough in children better than no treatment and placebo, and about as well as some cough medicines. The evidence is of moderate quality.

Important: Never give honey to children under one year old. Honey can contain spores that cause botulism in infants. If a cough lasts a long time, or the child is listless or has trouble breathing, contact a doctor.

In winter the sun is too low in Norway for the skin to make enough vitamin D, so we have to get it from food. A teaspoon of cod liver oil, 5 ml, gives about 10 micrograms of vitamin D, the recommended daily intake for adults in Norway.

Oily fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel are also good sources. Recommendations can change, so check the latest advice from your health authorities.