Almost all of us have at least one bad habit we’d like to break, but reversing some of the worst of them can result in living a healthier and happier life.
Watching too much television
If you’re watching a lot of TV, you’re probably not getting enough physical activity, unless you happen to be walking or running on a treadmill while you watch. Most people tend to watch from the couch and also tend to eat more processed snack foods as well as drink more sugary sodas.
This provides a double whammy to your health, increasing your chances of being overweight or obese as well as developing type 2 diabetes and all types of chronic illness or disease.
Try to replace TV time with other activities like getting together with a friend, taking a class, or being more active. Watch for no more than two hours per day, and when you do, try to participate in some type of exercise at the same time.
Eating fast food
Ideally, you should avoid eating fast food completely, but if you indulge too often, it can be extremely detrimental to your health. Fast food typically contains a variety of harmful ingredients like trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol and contribute to the hardening of arteries as well as the buildup of inflammation.
Most fast food also includes a host of unhealthy substances like preservatives, artificial colors and flavors that can increase your chances of all types of cancer and many other health conditions.
Switching to fresh, whole foods can help you lose weight, improve energy levels, protect you from developing heart disease and diabetes, and provides numerous immediate health benefits.
Failing to floss
Brushing can help to clean the front and back of your teeth, but your toothbrush usually can’t get to food that gets stuck in between. If it isn’t removed, it can turn into bacteria that eats away at enamel and causes decay. In addition to cavities, this can also result in gum disease and tooth loss.
This bacteria can also get into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation. Chronic, low-level inflammation may in turn trigger vascular disease. There is also some evidence that it can attach to the fatty plaques in blood vessels, amplifying the inflammatory process, which can lead to heart attack or stroke, according to Dr. Neal Weintraub, MD, chief of the cardiovascular disease division at the University of Cincinnati.
Constant worry
Some people seem to be natural born worriers, but the constant worry, anxiety and stress causes hormones to be released that raise blood pressure and blood sugar, weakens the immune system, hurts the digestive process, and harms overall well-being.
Chronic stress has numerous negative impacts on health, including increasing the risk of being overweight, which also increases the odds for developing heart disease and diabetes.
While it can be difficult to stop this ingrained habit, using stress reduction techniques like deep-breathing or meditation can help one to regain their sense of joy, reduce the instance of depression, ease chronic pain while providing numerous health benefits.
Drinking too much
While one drink a day can offer some health benefits, much more than that acts like poison to the body. Women who consume two or more drinks daily, and men who consistently drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day increase the risk of liver damage, a variety of cancers, high blood pressure and depression.
Women have a greater chance of developing heart disease, brittle bones, and memory loss. Excessive drinking can also disrupt the menstrual cycle and increase the risk of infertility and miscarriage.
Stick to a healthy limit and you’ll improve your mental health and ability to concentrate as well as energy levels, relationships and more. If you think you have a problem, get help – it might even save your life.
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is arguably the very worst habit for health. Smoking accelerates the aging process and directly causes one-third of heart disease and cancer deaths as well as 80 to 90 percent of all lung cancers. It also significantly ups the risk for numerous other cancers and diseases and skyrockets the odds of a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and possibly triggering or worsening breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis.
You’ll almost immediately feel the health benefits from quitting as the lungs and cardiovascular system start to repair themselves just minutes after your cigarette. Within just 30 days you’ll cough less, have more energy, less shortness of breath and find that your lungs will function much better. Your appearance will improve too, with a fresher, younger-looking complexion.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://healthnews.uc.edu/publications/findings/?/6737/6795
