10:01 p.m
Tuesday 02 August 2022
I wrote – Amira Helmy
You may feel surrounded by a lot of information that claims to “guid” you on your way to becoming healthier or happier, promising to add years to your life.
However, some of the information on the Internet is nothing but myths that we believe because of its frequent transmission. Here is a list of routine actions that are beneficial to our health that may turn once morest them when excessive, according to the Bright Side website.
1. Drink 8 glasses of water a day
If you are thirsty, it is recommended to bring a bottle of water and drink it, especially if you live in a hot place or have just exercised. But don’t forget that other drinks contain water as well, like tea and soda, so your water intake is more than you think.
Drinking too much water can be dangerous for you because your kidneys may not be able to get rid of the extra water.
Our bodies are not the same, so you may need more or less than 8 cups a day. There is no scientific evidence that extra water has any health benefits.
2. Eat a lot of carrots
Although carrots are a healthy vegetable to include in your diet, they will not give you the ability to see night vision.
It’s true that it’s rich in vitamin A, which helps improve eyesight, but it won’t help you in the dark. This is a myth that dates back to the 1940s.
Don’t fill your cart with carrots. Eating too much of it can cause a condition called carotenemia, in which the skin turns orange due to its beta-carotene content. Many other fruits and vegetables contain this pigment, but it is abundant in carrots.
3. Sleep more on weekends
Sleep is essential to good physical and mental health, but you won’t make up for all those sleepless nights by sleeping in late on your days off. Also, if you sleep a lot, you may face some unpleasant nervous problems.
4. Brushing your teeth following every meal
Brushing your teeth twice a day is recommended, but if you think you should brush your teeth following every time you eat, think once more. You may damage your teeth instead of taking care of them. If you eat or drink something acidic, don’t rush to brush because you may facilitate the wear of tooth enamel. Wait at least 30 minutes to an hour before brushing your teeth.
5. You can replace sugar with alternative sweeteners
Not eating too much sugar is wise, but cutting it out completely and replacing it with sweeteners may not be the best decision. Some of these options are completely synthetic and may have long-term side effects.
6. Take nutritional supplements
Just because you hear people stick to it doesn’t automatically mean you should. If you’re a vegetarian and have a vitamin B12 deficiency, that’s understandable.
One study showed that high doses of vitamin supplements do not prevent certain health problems, and they can be harmful.
Try to choose a varied diet that includes proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
7. You can replace your meal with a smoothie
Smoothies are great, but they mostly contain fruit, water, and milk, and these ingredients don’t provide all of the nutrients your body needs.
Besides, many smoothies contain a large amount of fruit, and eating them in one go can increase your blood sugar, which leads to a spike in insulin and with it your weight.
8. Eat foods low in carbohydrates
The keto diet has become popular all over the world, because people actually lose weight when they follow it. When you stop eating carbohydrates, your body converts the remaining fat into energy that it uses to function. In the long run, this strategy will not work for you.
You can try cutting out processed carbohydrates, such as white flour and white sugar, and keeping to whole grains, which contain a lot of fiber.
9. Use sunscreen
Sunscreen can protect you from certain skin conditions, but that doesn’t mean the sun is your number one enemy. Using too much sunscreen can lead to vitamin D deficiency, and people with darker skin do not necessarily need sunscreen.
Experts recommend 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure daily to get the vitamin D necessary to avoid depression and osteoporosis.
10. Exercise every day
No one can deny the benefits of exercise, but exercising every day doesn’t leave your body any time to rest. Rest is important for muscle recovery and overall relaxation of your body. Excessive exercise can expose your body to a lot of stress and significantly raise cortisol levels.
11. Inserting cotton buds into your ears
Earwax is not necessarily harmful as it is important to prevent dust or dirt from entering your ears, but if you are a cotton bud lover, try using it only on the outside of your ear. Do not insert it too much into the ear canal, as this can be very dangerous and may cause deafness, nausea and loss of taste.
12. Buy products labeled “Healthy”
Not everything described as “healthy” is actually. This might be a marketing ploy, so be vigilant and read the ingredients on nutrition labels. These are the strongest indications that a product is worth buying or not.