10 Habits You Should Quit To Be Healthier And Live Longer

You have probably heard all about the consequences of the bad and dangerous habit of smoking: “you have terrible breath”, your friends may say or “It will give you cancer,” your doctor often affirms. Perhaps, you don’t smoke cigarettes and you think “I don’t need to worry about having a stroke, asthma, or other pulmonary problems.” Smoking does deteriorate your lungs and heart. But what if you’re an occasional smoker or you have one of those electronic cigarettes? Well, you are not necessarily exempt from pulmonary diseases. Smoking electronic cigarettes is just one example of the many “habits” people think “are not so bad”. There are many daily habits which can affect your health just as badly as any cigarette. We don’t often pay attention to them, and we hardly discuss them with our doctor because we are not aware of their consequences. Have you wondered what happens when you skip breakfast? Do we really need to floss? Nothing bad happens if I cross my legs, right? Well, these ten habits will make you consider changing your daily routine for a healthier, better way of living.
–

Smoking Hookah

A scientific study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention affirms that smoking hookah is far more dangerous than smoking half-pack of cigarettes every day. College students were asked to smoke hookah for 4 days, and then to switch to regular cigarettes.

Scientists analyzed the urine tests of the volunteers when they smoked hookah first. They discovered high levels of benzene, a chemical compound which is a natural component of crude oil, and is often associated with leukemia and lung cancer. Dangerous levels of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarborns), which mostly contain carbon and hydrogen molecules were also found. The exposure to PAHs results in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
–

Not Flossing Enough (If Ever)

Is flossing a daily thing? Ah, yeah, it is and you should reconsider not doing it frequently. It helps remove dental plaque and prevent gingivitis. Contrary to what you believe, the bacteria on your teeth not only cause swollen gums, but may compromised the health of your entire body as well. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research states, “In some studies, people with gum disease— when compared to people without gum disease— were more likely to develop heart disease or have difficulty controlling their blood sugar. Other studies showed that women with gum disease were more likely than those with healthy gums to deliver preterm, low birth weight babies.”
–
Crossing your legs

Young girls are taught to cross their legs to be more ladylike, but the result of this custom increases the possibilities of elevating the arterial blood pressure in the legs. According to Blood Pressure Monitoring, the pressure increases 7% systolic (measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats) and 2% diastolic (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood). “Crossing your legs tenses the hips, therefore, blood accumulates on the lower body, swelling veins, and coagulating the blood of that zone”, Cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra affirms. He recommends avoiding crossing the legs for more than 15 minutes. People who spend a great amount of hours sitting, should stand up every 30 minutes to get the blood pumping.
–

Not sleeping enough hours

When you don’t sleep enough hours your body does not have the necessary energy to wake up the following day. But it is not only a matter of energy, it will also make you gain weight and your brain cells will die quicker. The Harvard Medical School and the University of California have noted that anxiety and depression can be consequences of lack of sleep.
–

Not including fruits and vegetables in your diet

Nutritionists and doctors will agree that the best way to obtain the necessary nutrients our body needs to stay healthy is through fruits and vegetables. Including them in your diet will reduce the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases by 20%. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests various ways to include them as part of a healthy lifestyle.
–

Fast food

If you often eat fast food and you are a pizza fan, you’re more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases than people who only eat it once or twice a month. Trans fat is found in processed food because it is artificially created. It raises your cholesterol levels, causing heart attacks, and people who consume great amounts of processed food can develop type 2 diabetes.
–

Skipping breakfast

Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day. Skipping it will have serious consequences in your weight, energy, and sugar levels. Eating after you wake up will send a signal to the brain to tell your body that it is ready to start working. If you skip breakfast your body will still work, but it won’t do so properly, and your brain will think you are starving yourself. As a result, your metabolism will slow and you will accumulate fat.
–

Drinking alcohol

It is normal to have glass of wine or a pint of beer. It you are a man, you can have up to three drinks, and if you’re a woman two; but if you exceed this amount of alcohol in one night, the consequences on your health will be extremely negative. You can develop liver or oral cancer, high blood pressure, and even depression. In some cases women are at risk of having heart diseases, memory loss, and brittle bones.
–

Taking sedatives

If you often take sedatives like ibuprofen or aspirin, you’re looking at suffering from ulcers, heart attacks, and high blood pressure. Other sedatives and sleeping pills can make you feel dizzy and confused.
–

Salt

People often dismiss the danger of excessively consuming salt. Related problems with salt consumption are heart attacks, asthma, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and strokes. The University of California suggests to only consume one spoon of salt a day.

***
You don’t want to miss these:

Tell Me What You Want To Improve Or Treat And I’ll Give You a Type Of Tea

Effortless And Simple Positions You’ll Love Even If You Hate Yoga

10 Healthy Snacks For The Long Hours At The Office

***