7 ‘good’ habits that are bad for your health

7 seemingly healthy habits that can be bad for your wellbeing

Think you know what’s good for you? You may be surprised. Take a look at these seven seemingly good habits that can actually be bad for your health.

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 mocktails

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.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/7-good-habits-that-are-bad-for-your-health/

The vegetarian diet

For vegetarians who eat dairy products and eggs, a healthy diet is the same as for anyone else but without meat or fish.

A healthy vegetarian diet contains plenty of fruit and vegetables and starchy foods, some non-dairy sources of protein such as eggs and beans, some dairy products and just a small amount of fatty and sugary foods.

Healthy eating

The eatwell plate shows you the different types of food you need to eat, and in what proportions you need to eat them, to have a balanced and healthy diet.

You do not need to get the balance exactly right at every meal, but try to get it right over longer periods, such as a whole day or week. Choose options low in fat, salt and sugar whenever you can.

As outlined in the eatwell plate, you should eat:

Plenty of fruit and vegetables

Try to eat at least five portions of fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced fruit and vegetables a day. As well as vitamins and minerals, fruit and vegetables provide fibre, which aids digestion and prevents constipation.

Find out more in 5 A DAY: what counts?

Plenty of potatoes, bread, pasta and other starchy foods 

Starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, cereals, rice and pasta should make up about a third of the food you eat. Where you can, choose wholegrain varieties.

You should eat some starchy foods every day as part of a healthy balanced diet. Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet. As well as starch, they contain fibre, calcium, iron and B vitamins.

Some milk and dairy foods

Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, are good sources of protein, calcium and vitamins A and B12. This food group includes milk and dairy alternatives, such as fortified soya, rice and oat drinks, which also contain calcium. 

To make healthier choices, go for lower-fat milk and dairy foods.

Some eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein

Pulses include beans, lentils and peas. They are a low-fat source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and they count as a portion of vegetables. Nuts and seeds are also a source of protein and other nutrients. Pulses are particularly important for people who do not get protein by eating meat, fish or dairy products.

Other non-dairy sources of protein include eggs and meat alternatives, such as tofu, mycoprotein (such as Quorn), textured vegetable protein and tempeh.

You need to eat a variety of different sources of protein to get the right mixture of amino acids, which are used to build and repair the body’s cells. 

Just a small amount of foods and drink
high in fat and/or sugar 

These include spreading fats, oils, salad dressings, cream, chocolate, crisps, biscuits, pastries, ice cream, cakes, puddings and fizzy drinks. Only eat a small amount of these foods. Foods in this group mainly provide energy in the form of fats andsugars, but may may only provide a very small amount of other nutrients.

Getting the nutrients you need

It's important to vary what you eat. Some nutrients are found in smaller amounts in vegetarian sources or are less easily absorbed by the body than those in meat or fish.

Contrary to popular belief, most vegetarians usually have enough protein and calcium (found in dairy products) in their diet.

However, if you don't plan your diet properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients. For example, vegetarians need to make sure they get enough iron and vitamin B12 in their diets.

Being vegetarian during pregnancy and beyond

During pregnancy and when breastfeeding, women who follow a vegetarian diet need to make sure they get enough vitamins and minerals for their child to develop healthily.

Find out more about vegetarian and vegan mums-to-be.

If you are bringing up your baby or child on a vegetarian diet, you need to make sure they eat a wide variety of foods to provide the energy and vitamins they need for growth. 

Find out more about vegetarian and vegan babies and children.

Getting enough iron

Vegetarians are more likely to have lower iron stores than meat eaters. Good sources of iron for vegetarians include:

• eggs
• pulses
• dried fruit
• dark-green vegetables such as watercress, broccoli and spring greens
• wholemeal bread
• fortified cereals (with added iron)

Read more about iron. 

Getting enough vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is needed for growth, repair and general health. Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in animal products. If you regularly eat dairy products or eggs, you probably get enough. However, if you only eat a small amount or avoid all animal products, it’s important to have a reliable source of vitamin B12 in your diet.

Good sources of vitamin B12 include:

• milk
• cheese
• eggs
• fortified yeast extracts such as Marmite
• fortified breakfast cereals and fortified soya products

Read more about B vitamins.

Vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily those found in oily fish, can help maintain a healthy heart and reduce the risk of heart disease when eaten as part of a healthy diet.

Sources of omega-3 fatty acids suitable for vegetarians include:

• flaxseed (linseed) oil
• rapeseed oil
• soya oil and soya-based foods, such as tofu
• walnuts
• egg enriched with omega-3

Evidence suggests that vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids may not have the same benefits for reducing the risk of heart disease as those in oily fish.

However, if you eat a vegetarian diet, you can still look after your heart by eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day, by cutting down on food that is high in saturated fat and by watching how much salt you eat.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Vegetarianmealguide.aspx

9 Health Mistakes Women Don’t Realise They’re Making

Attention ladies; even if you think you’re a fitness and diet guru, we guarantee you’ll be making some of these health mistakes without even realising it.

Cut out these bad habits and you’ll be healthier before you know it.

Unhealthy friends?

Having unhealthy friends

Who you’re friends with can have a big influence on your health without you even realising.

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine compared obesity to a virus. When your friends gain weight, you’re more likely to gain weight yourself.

That doesn’t mean you need to ditch your friends as soon as they put on a couple of pounds – study author Dr Nicholas Christakis suggests instead taking cues from your healthier friends.

Only relying on cardio

“I can’t work out with weights because I don’t want to bulk up!” you proclaim as you follow the familiar route to the treadmill for the thousandth time. But is there any truth behind this popular excuse?

In short, no.

Far from bulking you up, building muscle will help you to shed the pounds. Experts estimate that for every pound of muscle you gain, you’ll burn an extra seven -13 calories per day.

Any fears you have of looking like She Hulk can be put to bed. Because of lower levels of testosterone, women don’t bulk up anywhere near as quickly as men.

Overusing social media

We all enjoy a sneaky Facebook stalk every once in a while, but do it too often and you could become depressed, according to researchers in Germany.

They found that overuse of Facebook can pose a serious risk to our mental wellbeing.

Checking out other people’s holiday photos was the major culprit, with one in three study participants reporting that this made them feel depressed or lonely.

Twitter is no better, with a University of Vermont study finding that Twitter users gradually become more stressed and unhappy the more they use the site.

Relying on diet products

When your sweet tooth is crying out for sugar, it can be tempting to turn to sugar-free diet options. Sadly these substitute snacks aren’t as guilt-free as you’ve been led to believe.

In place of sugar, manufacturers will often use nasty artificial alternatives to provide that sweet taste.

Aspartame, commonly found in diet drinks, was found to increase your risk of obesity by 41 per cent in a University of Texas Health Science Centre study.

Psychologists in a separate study at Cornell University observed that phrases like ‘sugar-free’ can subconsciously trigger overeating. In some cases, this meant people ate twice as many calories as they would have done if they opted for the full-sugar version.Don't become fixated on your abs (REX)

Focusing on stomach toning

All too often we become fixated on trying to develop a rock hard stomach by performing endless crunches. If this sounds like you, you’re wasting your time.

Want to know just how useless crunches are? A Men’s Health study found that you’d have to do a staggering 22,000 of them to lose just a pound of fat off your stomach.

If you want to lose weight, focus on high intensity interval training instead.

HIIT increases your metabolic rate for up to 24 hours after you exercise, and boosts fat oxidation.

Wearing high heels too often

Who can resist a pair of killer hills for accentuated legs and an instant confidence boost?

Wear them too frequently however, and your feet won’t be thanking you.

Wearing four-inch heels increases the pressure on your feet by around 30 per cent, leading to damaged tendons, reduced circulation and bone and nerve deterioration.Swap heels for flats occasionally and your feet will thank you (AP)

Not getting enough calcium

A recent survey conducted by Creighton University Medical Centre showed that 85% of women don’t get enough calcium per day, which leads to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

It’s recommended that women between the ages 19 to 50 need a daily calcium intake of 1,000mg.

Topping up on calcium is easy with dairy products like milk and natural yoghurt. If dairy doesn’t agree with you, you’ll also find high levels of calcium in fish such as salmon and sardines and even leafy veg.

Using electronics before bed

That one last game of Candy Crush you squeeze in before you hit the hay could be ruining your sleep pattern, if researchers in Sweden are to be believed.

They observed that people who use mobile phones or tablets directly before going to sleep found it harder to doze off, causing lasting health issues.

As well as displaying signs of insomnia, these pre-sleep tech-addicts suffered from headaches throughout the day.

Eating what your date eats

Next time you’re on a hot date, psychologists suggest you need to spend more time checking what’s on your plate than staring into your partner’s eyes.

University of Birmingham researchers have discovered a link between new relationships and weight gain, particularly in women.

According to their findings, when dining with a new partner you subconsciously mirror their portion sizes, which can lead to weight gain if they eat more than you’re used to.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/9-health-mistakes-women-don-t-realise-making-090000295.html

Why wait for treatment on the NHS to start living your life?

• 
  

Hip and Knee Replacements: Why wait for treatment on the NHS to start living your life? 

Many people across the UK accept that joint pain is part of daily life. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and the myriad of associated health problems are major health issues. However there is a limited pot of NHS money and increasingly restrictive parameters being attached to many orthopaedic procedures, including those where quality of life might be greatly improved,   more individuals are facing health decisions about life changing orthopaedic treatments.

A recent survey commissioned by BMI Healthcare, the UK’s largest private hospital group found that 46% of over 55s would consider paying for a hip replacement if it was not available on the NHS. Also recent data from the health analysis firm Dr Foster highlighted that surgery for knees and hips were under pressure across the NHS, with evidence of rationing to save money. The report highlighted the effects of recent austerity, with some operations at their lowest level for several years

Leading orthopaedic surgeon Mr Adrian Wilson at BMI Healthcare says: “Increasingly we are seeing more and more patient seeking treatment for hip and knee surgeries and replacement procedures outside of the traditional NHS routes. This has in part been driven by increased restrictions within the NHS. But also through, advancements in orthopaedic surgical techniques, including minimally invasive surgery, accompanied with enhanced recovery programmes.

“As an expert in the field I know first-hand orthopaedic procedures can have positive impact to a patient’s quality of life. For some, surgery enables a return to full time employment, pursuing previously abandoned sporting pursuits and increasing social and family activities, particularly with grandchildren. ”

BMI Healthcare is encouraging patients to be aware of the healthcare options that are available to them, when they visit their GP. If a procedure isn’t available on the NHS you have the option to use your private health insurance or even to pay for yourself. Putting a price on the social, physical and economic changes of orthopaedic surgery is not easy.  However, left untreated, an arthritic joint can lead to further health problems including altered gait, inability to sit or stand unaided, posture problems and lower back pain.

“The initial cost of treatment can appear expensive, but when you compare this to the positive impact it has on a patients quality of life the benefits are clear,” Mr Wilson concluded.

With BMI Healthcare if you are considering orthopaedic procedures, or any procedure, you have the option to pay for the treatment upfront or use the BMI Card to spread the cost of your treatment, helping to make it more affordable and accessible to more people.

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/healthcare-health/wait-treatment-nhs-start-living-life/

Type 1 Diabetes: Scientists Step Closer To A Cure

An accidental drug discovery could be the answer to preventing and curing type 1 diabetes, as scientists embark on new trials to find out if a blood pressure drug will work for other illnesses

A drug normally used for blood pressure, heart complaints and migraines could hold the key to curing type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 is the genetic strain of the disease, as opposed to type 2, which is more common (90 per cent of diabetes patients in the UK have type 2).There are around five million diabetes sufferers in the UK, 10 per cent have Type 1 (REX)

Type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle factors such as being overweight, and in many cases can be managed or even reversed by lifestyle changes. But because type 1 is caused by the body's failure to make insulin, it needs to be treated medically.

Currently there is no cure or prevention for type 1 diabetes. Instead it's managed with careful monitoring and reactive treatment. But unexpectedly, research into the drug Verapamil, has given scientists hope that a more effective treatment could be in sight.

Insulin is a protein that we need to keep our blood sugar level stable. It works by enabling sugar in the blood stream to enter cells where the body can use it as energy.

When you eat, the food is broken down into sugars, which enter the blood stream, raising our blood sugar level.

When this happens, a signal is sent to the pancreas, telling the cells to make insulin. It does this and releases it into the blood stream, where the insulin unlocks pathways into the cells for the sugar to be absorbed and used. This in turn lowers our blood sugar level.

Diabetics need to regularly test their blood sugar levels and inject insulin if required.

Tests on mice and on human cells have shown that the drug could help reduce the amount of a protein called TXNIP in the body, which has been found to thwart pancreas cells when they try to make essential insulin.

The next step in the research is for the team at The University of Alabama in Birmingham, US, to begin conducting human trials. They've been given a grant of $2.1million over the next three years to investigate.

It's an exciting development because this type of treatment has never been tried before and could be the key to helping the body's own cells to make the insulin it needs, returning it to normal function.

The drug could also potentially be used to treat more extreme cases of Type 2 diabetes, where lifestyle changes have failed.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/type-1-diabetes--scientists-step-closer-to-a-cure-135149095.html

No Chemical Attraction

• 
  

Toxins can be found in our food, water, homes and even the air, but should we be alarmed? Natural health campaigner Anna Rodgers is, and she’s written a book about it

Modern life exposes us to chemicals every second – from the food we eat and the water we drink to the everyday products we use, and even the air we breathe.

But the problem, says natural health campaigner Anna Rodgers, is that they’re not just chemicals – they’re toxins, or in other words, poisons.

People come into contact with some 80,000 toxins a year, she says, and they’re damaging our health.

Rodgers is not a scientist, doctor or dietician, though she describes herself as an “independent researcher” and she’s so concerned about toxins that she spent two years writing her new book, Toxic World Toxic People, to highlight the problem and explain how to minimise exposure.

“I’m not an expert, but I’m someone who’s passionate about getting the discussion about toxins going,” she explains. “Throughout history, doctors and scientists have told us lies about what’s healthy and what’s not, and if they knew everything we would not be sick today. It’s absolutely bonkers how many toxins there are to be concerned about.”

Toxins weren’t really a problem until after World War II, she believes, when chemicals developed for use in the war began being used in industry. Now they can be found in countless products including food, cosmetics, cleaning products, building materials – and even in the air and water.

“Most things these days aren’t at all natural, and we’re surrounded by plastics,” says Rodgers. “It’s out of control.”

Traces of medication have even been found in water supplies, she adds, and she’s concerned about the lack of testing for many of the toxic contents we’re exposed to. With cancer rates on the rise, Rodgers feels certain that the two things are linked. “I want to know what I’m putting on my skin, and what I’m eating, and what I can do to limit my chances of getting cancer, because it really is an epidemic,” she says.

There are far too many toxins for her to discuss all of them, she says, but her book focuses on the main ones. So what are they?

TOXIC OVERLOAD

Aluminium is one of the main toxic threats, says Rodgers, who notes that exposure to the chemical element has been linked with Alzheimer’s Disease as it can attack nerves in the brain. It has also been linked with bone density problems and is found in numerous foods, including bread, processed cheese, self-raising flour and tinned foods, such as tinned tomatoes, as well as in certain medications.

Lead, Rodgers says, is another cause for concern and is particularly dangerous to children, possibly linked with behavioural problems, Alzheimer’s in later life, memory and coordination problems. It can also reduce red blood cell count and affect bone density. People can be exposed to it through old lead-based paint on walls and old pipes in houses.

Mercury, though, she says is “even worse” than aluminium and lead. It’s found in air dust particles, water, (and therefore in fish) and used in certain vaccines and dental fillings – which Rodgers claims can leak into the body and contribute to triggering a host of illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, allergies and chronic fatigue syndrome. Plus, too much mercury can affect the brain, immune system and trigger autoimmune conditions.

WHY ARE TOXINS ALLOWED?

In Rodgers’ eyes, widespread acceptance of toxins is linked to money, “irresponsible companies”, poor regulation, and the fact that while a small amount of one chemical on its own may not cause ill health, problems can arise when it accumulates in the body and is combined with other chemicals.

“There are organisations out there that have a vested interest in keeping the public naive,” she claims. “I think there are cover-ups, and a lot of ignorance as well, where doctors and scientists believe chemicals aren’t harming us because they’re taught that the poison is in the dose, but there are so many studies showing that it’s not just about the dose, it’s about the accumulation [over time].”

She adds: “A chemical on its own might not be harmful, but once you add it to another chemical, that can be when the damage occurs.”

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Rodgers admits that it’s difficult to know what the answer is: “Ideally, I’d like a world where we try and stop using these chemicals. But some of them have made our lives better – we couldn’t stop flying or using cars, for example, even though the pollution is a huge problem.”

She suggests that some people can cope with exposure to toxins, while others are more quickly affected. But there’s no way of telling who’s sensitive and who’s not. Rodgers herself is very sensitive to chemicals, she says, and a major reason for writing the book was that she suffered from depression, chronic fatigue and a number of other health problems by the age of 25.

Having cut out as many toxins as she can, she says she’s now “100% better” and advises others do the same.

“Awareness is key,” she says. “It’s all about learning where these toxins are coming from, and making different purchases of products that are not using these awful chemicals.” Suggestions can be found in her book, including cosmetics, cleaning products and foods which contain few, or no, toxins. Rodgers also recommends people avoid tinned food, eliminate fish, reduce their meat intake and buy organic only, as well as trying to actively detox.

SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?

While there’s no question that toxins exist, not everybody shares Rodgers’ level of concern.

Toxicologist Professor Alan Boobis points out: “We have been actively detoxifying potentially harmful chemicals in our diet for millennia, at much greater levels than those to which we are now exposed from man-made sources.”

Boobis, a professor of biochemical pharmacology, and director of the Public Health England Toxicology Unit at Imperial College London, explains that the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from certain chemicals, which became effective in 2004, means that “very few chemicals in use today accumulate in the body”.

He stresses that advice from organisations like the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), on acceptable exposures to chemicals takes into account possible accumulation in the body. “There is no good evidence that exposure to chemicals at levels considered acceptable by regulatory authorities is associated with cancer or other illnesses,” he says. “Indeed, the focus on environmental chemicals can detract from addressing the major risk factors that have been identified.”

As for diet, he points out that while there are certain risks associated with seafood, these are well recognised, and dietary advice from the FSA and others balance the risks against the undoubted benefits of such food. “Complete elimination of fish from the diet would cause considerably more harm than good,” Boobis warns.

Tinned food and conventionally farmed foods serve an important function, he says, enabling ready access to affordable, nutritious food, and he stresses: “There is no good evidence that tinned food or conventionally farmed foods are a cause of ill health in consumers.”

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/health-features/chemical-attraction/

Top 5 Vegetables for Cleansing and Detoxification

If you want to cleanse and detoxify with the best vegetables around, here are the top 5:

Carrots

Carrots are high in beta-carotene and other vitamins that are great for cleansing and detoxification. Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, as mentioned which serves as an antioxidant that helps the body to fight against free radicals. It also help slows down the aging of cells and various negative effect associated with aging. They are also believed to have potent anti-cancer properties. They also help flush out toxins. According to a research done in Harvard University, people who ate more than six carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more.

Beets

Beet juice cleanses and nourishes the liver. They also help purify your blood. Beets are high in carbohydrates which means they are a great instant energy source, but unlike processed foods which are high in carbohydrates, beets will energize your body. Beets can be regarded as body fuel. Beets contain sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorous. They are also considered a fiber food and contain vitamins A and C as well as niacin.

Broccoli (and its Sprouts)

This Cruciferous veggie contains up to 50 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity than any other vegetable. Most readers know the former, broccoli, along with other Cruciferous vegetables, has cancer prevention properties, but broccoli sprouts are better at stimulating those toxin filtering enzymes in the liver. In any case, both are great for cleansing and detoxifying your body.

Watercress

These peppery little green leaves are rich in minerals and also have a diuretic effect that helps move things through your system. It is also rich in fiber, various antioxidants, folic acid, beta carotene iron and phosphorus. It is also a good source of iodine. It has even more calcium than milk and has more iron than spinach. On top of all that, it is also rich in Vitamin C, which has an anti-inflammatory action and can help you prevent or relieve symptoms of colds, flu and other kinds of inflammation.

Parsley

A diuretic, Parsley decreases the fluid volume in your body by adding to your urine output. Parsley is naturally a diuretic and thus great for your kidneys because the added flow of fluids through them improve urine production and output makes for a great cleansing effect on your body when you flush out bacteria and germs.



http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-5-Vegetables-for-Cleansing-and-Detoxification&id=7734456