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7 healthy habits that do more harm than good
Don’t get carried away with antibacterial soaps and fat-free foods.
With the constant stream of new research in nutrition and medicine, it seems impossible to figure out which healthy habits are best to follow. Weight loss, diet, or fitness advice is complex and rarely does one piece of advice work for all people. Recent research does not call for the elimination of certain recognized beneficial activities altogether, but remember that the benefits may be far less advertised.
Here are seven of the worst “healthy” habits.
1. Adherence to diet drinks
Diet soft drinks are believed to be calorie-free and promote weight loss. However, a number of studies claim the exact opposite: that they can cause heart problems, increased appetite and weight gain. It is also noted that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame can cause headaches, anxiety and insomnia, while sucralose has a laxative effect. .
2. An obsession with antibacterial soaps
There is little evidence that using antibacterial soaps is more effective at killing germs than simply washing your hands in warm, soapy water. In addition, approximately 75% of this type of soap contains the chemical triclosan, which has not yet received FDA approval. On the contrary, according to the agency, animal trials have shown that high doses of triclosan increase thyroid hormone production, which can be hazardous to health.
3. Preference only for “fresh” products
There is a clearly biased opinion that canned and frozen foods are inferior in all respects to fresh ones. However, canned fish or frozen vegetables make cooking much easier, are lower in calories and food additives, and can last about a year on average.
4. Obsession with low-fat foods
For decades, American nutritionists and physicians have highlighted fat as the leading cause of excess weight and heart problems. However, research has shown that a low-fat diet is not a panacea either. While excessive consumption of trans fats and animal fats has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, mono- or polyunsaturated fats, found only in fatty fish, avocado, and olive oil, actually improve heart muscle health by lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels. as well as blood pressure, while stimulating the brain. Do not feel that you are doing good to your body if you eat low-fat foods, especially if they are sprinkled with sugar.
5. Passion for cleansing the body with juices
There is not enough evidence that drinking fruit and vegetable juices without fiber is removing toxins from your body. Juicing can help you temporarily lose weight, but the negative effects far outweigh the benefits. Large amounts of sugar in the absence of fiber, fat and protein can pose problems for people with diabetes, osteoporosis, or anemia. Lack of fiber can also worsen stomach symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation.
6. Exercise only cardio exercises
Running, cycling or swimming burns calories, strengthens the heart and lungs, and improves blood cholesterol and triglycerol levels. However, it is preferable to combine cardio with strength training, which not only speeds up the process of losing weight, but also provides additional benefits such as reducing the symptoms of depression, the risk of diabetes and the prevention of back pain.
7. Inflated expectations of protein bars
Protein bar makers praise their low fat and high protein content, but this magic combination is only achieved through the use of artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, which can lead to bloating, gas and stomach pain. The bars lack healthy ingredients, but mostly soy protein, which is low in nutrients. If real sugar is used in the bars, then its content may be equal to the amount of sugar in regular sweet bars.