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Drinking water
While we are probably all familiar with the advice to drink eight glasses of
water a day, more recent research has suggested that there is actually no
scientific evidence supporting this recommendation and that drinking excessive
amounts of water can actually be dangerous by lowering the concentration of salt in
your blood. Health-conscious water drinkers should also be wary of the trend
for drinking bottled water, as studies have suggested that the chemicals
(phthalates) from
plastic bottles can leach into water and disrupt hormone levels.
Talking
over your problems
Talking through your problems can be a great way
to gain some perspective and get things off your chest. However, studies have
suggested that, after a certain point, rehashing and dwelling on problems can
actually be bad for your health. According to research, revisiting and analyzing the same problems
with friends (“co-rumination”) can lead to anxiety, stress disorders and
depression. Next time a problem arises, by all means talk it over
with a friend, but try to focus on problem-solving rather than simply dwelling
on the issue.
Sipping
on mock tails
You may think that by swapping cocktails for
mocktails you are doing your health a favour, but this may not actually be the
case. While cutting down on alcohol is beneficial for your wellbeing, mocktails
are often high in refined sugar which research suggests is just as damaging and
addictive as alcohol. For a safer swap and a shot of nutrients, make sure you
stick to mocktails made from pure fruit juices instead of those made from
syrups.
Early
morning workouts
While a daily workout is great for your health,
studies suggest that getting up for early morning exercise may not be as ideal
as it seems. A study by a researcher from Brunel University, Middlesex, found
that heavy training sessions early in the morning can compromise the immune
system and put athletes at increased risk of bacterial and viral infection.
While a morning jog or gentle exercise session is unlikely to put you at risk,
it may be better to save heavier workouts for later in the day.
Taking
nutritional supplements
We all know that vitamins are good for us, but
relying on nutritional supplements can actually be bad for your health.
Separate studies have shown that high doses of vitamin supplements including
iron, magnesium and vitamin B6 raise the death rate of older women, while
taking vitamin E can increase men’s risk of prostate cancer. While certain people
may be required to take vitamins (those with low levels of vitamin D, for
example, or vegans who may be deficient in vitamin B12), for most people a
better approach is to opt for a varied diet full of fruit and vegetables which will give you
all the nutrients you need.
Slathering
on sunscreen
Official advice for many years has warned about
the dangers of skin cancer, causing many of us to take measures to cover up in
the sun at all times. However, while it is extremely important to protect your
skin, experts have more recently advised that little and frequent sun exposure
is good for us, preventing vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to rickets,
osteomalacia and depression. Official advice in the UK, where rickets has
recently made a comeback, is to spend 10 minutes in the midday sun without
sunblock each day before covering skin up.
Switching
to low fat foods
When getting started in healthy eating, it is
tempting to opt for low fat foods in order to help keep off excess pounds.
However, cutting out ‘good’ fats such as omega-3 fatty acids could be
detrimental to your health. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, walnuts
and flaxseeds, not only help to keep skin supple and wrinkle-free, they are
also essential for good brain and heart health and can help prevent arthritis.
