Kick These Bad Habits to Improve Your Health
We all have bad habits, as much as we deny that we don’t, often we are not even aware of them! Read below what some of the worst habits are and what you can do to improve your health.
Bad habits to look out for
Eating too much and too quickly - large portion sizes can result in weight gain and also heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Eating too quickly can make you more likely to overeat over the course of the day. Your rushed eating habits can cause acid reflux, bloating and excess gas. It takes your brain 20 minutes to get the message from your stomach that you’re full. So if you inhale your food on a regular basis, chances are you’re packing on extra pounds, too. If you slow down, you could feel fuller with less, because your body has a chance to realise you’ve eaten enough.
Skipping meals - you could be damaging your health in the long-run if you make skipping meals a habit. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, destabilises your blood sugar, and this makes you more likely to choose less healthful foods and eat more than you need to at your next meal.”
Drinking too much coffee - Coffee is a central nervous system stimulant, it can significantly contribute to anxiety and other stress-related problems. By stimulating the brain chemicals dopamine and acetylcholine, caffeine can offer a shot of productivity, motivation and brainpower.
Cracking your knuckles - The sound your knuckles make when they “crack” comes when bubbles pop in the synovial fluid (a substance that keeps joints moving easily).
Biting your nails - this can damage your nails as well as the skin around the nail bed, resulting in infections. You also may get more colds and other illnesses when you put your fingers, which often carry germs, into your mouth.
Not getting enough sleep - you could be more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, poor concentration and depression. Do your best to get 7-8 hours a night.
Playing music loud through earphones - normal conversation is about 60 decibels. It is advised to keep the volume in your headphones below 75 to be safe.
Using technology before bed - the blue light given off by electronic gadgets can impair your sleep.
Going to bed without brushing your teeth - sleeping without brushing your teeth can result in plaque buildup causes gum disease which can lead to other serious conditions. Brush right after dinner. You’ll have clean teeth and you’ll likely snack less in the evening.
Sitting for long periods - this slows down your metabolism, which means gain weight. It’s also linked to other health problems, including heart disease.
Poor posture - sitting in a slouched position for more than an hour can give you a tension headache. Your head weighs about 4.5 kilograms and if it’s not squarely above your shoulders, your neck muscles get overworked. Switching positions can shift your weight; lean back and even cross your legs. Then switch to sitting in a proper “back-friendly” position - shoulders back, chin tucked in and elbows relaxed at 90 degrees.
Staying inside - you depriving yourself of mood-boosting Vitamin D; studies have shown that people who regularly take time to stroll through parks are calmer and happier than those confined to busy city streets.
Speak to one of our Nutritionists or Functional Medicine Practitioner to get more information on how to improve your bad habits so that you can meet your needs and improve your health.