I would usually not consider myself a very superstitious person. Yes, I lift my feet going over railroad tracks, and throw salt over my shoulder if I spill it, and perhaps read my horoscope. But that's pretty much the extent of my superstitious streak. 

However, most of us get a little push in the magic department when Friday the 13th comes along. According to Corsinet.com, an internet trivia site that’s been in place since the 1990s, both Friday and the number 13 are considered unlucky for several reasons. These include associations with Norse myths, witches, capital punishment, torture, Biblical references and numerology. 

This week, I set out to find local residents in Ellisville and Ballwin, talking to folks in the library, grocery store and gym. I was surprised to find out how few had superstitions related to their health. 

I met one man, Joe Cruz, 42, of Ballwin, who holds a health superstition. 

"My Italian grandma used to put an onion under the bed when we were sick," Cruz said. "It was supposed to absorb the illness."

So when exactly does a superstition cross the line from harmless fun into an unhealthy habit? 

WebMD.com reports that a Gallup poll found more than half of Americans admit to being just a little superstitious, meaning they associate a certain ritual with something pseudo-magical.

The website said problems tend to arise when anxiety accompanies the ritual, which could be a sign of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or another anxiety disorder. 

Chesterfield resident Miranda Wall, 23, was shopping in Ellisville when I spoke to her. 

"I'm a vegetarian, so I'm a little superstitious about ingesting meat, but it doesn't control my life," Wall said.

And we can all use a little extra help, right? If you're looking for a little fun and want to explore some health superstitions, here are some others I found, along with a little rationalization based on my nutritional experience.

Home Remedies website: 

• To get pregnant: To attract fertility put three pieces of cassava (yucca root) under the bed, take a tub bath adding an infusion of damiana to the water. For men, drink carrot juice every day while concentrating all your thoughts in fathering a child. Rationalization: Damiana has been shown to have some relaxing effects on the central nervous system, which may be why cultures attribute an aphrodisiac effect to the plant. Dried yucca has a low initiation temperature, which may be why someone thinks it could start a "fire" in the bedroom. Carrots are extremely high in Vitamin A, which is an antioxidant vital to immune function, gene transcription, vision, embryonic development, and other vital bodily functions. 
• For unexplained illnesses: African healers rub the body of people with unexplained illnesses with slices of melon (cantaloupe) to heal them. Rationalization: Melons are very high in Vitamins A and C, as well as other nutrients. In addition, melons have a very high water content, and could be beneficial to reduce fever, especially in arid countries of Africa. 
• To stay healthy: Eat several sprigs of broccoli on Monday while picturing yourself strong and full of health. Rationalization: Broccoli is considered a "superfood", and fights the cancer-causing body issues of inflammation, oxidation, and inadequate detoxification.

As you can see, many health superstitions are based in using foods that our present-day research has shown to be beneficial.