Everyone means well. But there is also a lot of advice that has the opposite effect. These are 23 well-intentioned habits and tips that often do us more harm than good.
On TV, in magazines, from friends and even our mother we are showered with advice. They are supposed to keep us healthy. But some of these well-intentioned tips do us more harm than good.
We've compiled 23 habits that are anything but healthy and can even harm you in the long run. Some can even shorten your life or cause big problems in old age.
This ranges from eating and drinking habits to sports and classic health tips. You'll be amazed at what you shouldn't do from now on!
The 23 unhealthiest habits you should stop doing from now on
Are you ready to face the truth? Then sit back, relax, and learn which well-intentioned habits are unhealthy for you.
Water with taste
Mmhh a delicious fruit flavor in otherwise rather boring tasting water is something fine. You automatically drink more. But: flavored water is often full of sugar or sweeteners. These products usually don't contain much fruit.
Many sweeteners are so new on the market that there are no long-term studies. However, very many are said to trigger cravings, others even change the intestinal flora. By the way, this also applies to the very popular brew drops, which you can dissolve yourself in water.
It's best to stay away from it altogether, or at least drink very little.
Our Tip: Make yourself a Infused Water but simply yourself. This saves money and many calories.
Can't manage to drink anymore? Then this might interest you: "15 Tips to Drink More Water You Don't Already Know".
Eat granola bar
There are healthy ingredients in muesli, often it is with whole grains and fruit. So it can't be unhealthy, right? Well... muesli and muesli bars are real calorie bombs. If you buy ready-made muesli, there's usually tons of sugar in it. You might as well eat a candy bar.
To make them taste good, flavorings are added to them and finally they are coated with sugar or a sweetener. Okay in a pinch, but they can never replace a healthy apple.
By the way, you can also make granola bars yourself: "These recipes make it work".
Eat protein bar
Protein bars don't fall far from the granola bar tribe. They are often full of calories and sugar. Not exactly what the body needs after a workout.
In addition, they contain so much protein that no one really needs. They are sweetened with artificial additives so that they have few calories. Here we are again at the topic: Nobody knows how these additives affect our health.
If you're not a body builder, a banana with yogurt will do just fine. This combo is much healthier, more natural and guaranteed additive free.
Vitamins and dietary supplements
Numerous studies show that taking vitamins in pill form has no effect on long-term health. Most of the vitamins your body needs come from the food you eat. Just reach for fruits and vegetables more often.
If you feel you have a deficiency, first have a blood test done. It serves as a basis for possible dietary supplements, which you should, however, in any case coordinate with your doctor.
Self-medication has never been a good idea.
Fat free food
Our body needs fats to function properly. If you completely renounce saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, you harm your body. Omega 3, for example, helps you to concentrate better and reduces the risk of heart attacks.
However, we're not talking about the fatty rind of the pork roast here, but rather healthy fats found in nuts, fish and vegetable oils. Make sure you eat enough of them.
Skip the meal
Forgoing food will not save you calories in the long run. If you forget about it, you can get a binge later. Your body needs nutrients and solid food!
Different, if you go on interval fasting. Here you make up for the skipped meal as soon as you have a food window again. However, starvation is definitely not a solution and causes serious damage!
Even if you want to lose weight, the body needs many nutrients and must be sufficiently supplied with them. Otherwise you will end up in the yoyo trap and are overrun by ravenous hunger.
Drink bottled water
You should avoid water in PET bottles. Researchers at Frankfurt University have discovered that parts of the plastic are transferred to the water. With every sip you take in microplastics, which is harmful to your health.
Set on tap water and a water jug. For on the go, there are now a lot of bottles that don't do just that. And anyway, reusable bottles are better for the environment than cheap plastic bottles.
Do without dessert
Don't turn down dessert. You don't have to treat yourself to a big one. But a few bites of dessert are better than going to the buffet a second time - that can add up to a lot more calories.
If you compulsively try to avoid sweets completely, you will most likely get ravenous hunger and then shovel large quantities of chocolate into yourself.
Sugar free drinks
Stay away from calorie-free and sugar-free drinks. They do a lot of damage to your body. They can make you gain weight and give you a craving for sweets.
Drink smoothies
Many of us could use a little more fruit and vegetables. But that doesn't mean we have to drink a spinach and apple smoothie for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Instead, grab some fresh fruit in solid form.
Studies show that fruit in liquid form causes blood sugar levels to rise and fall much faster. This brings us back to the topic of ravenous appetite.
In addition, store-bought smoothies consist mostly of cheap apple juice with a few other fruits added. If you want to drink a smoothie, then it should consist largely of vegetables and contain fruit in very small quantities. By the way, as a smoothie beginner, there are a few things you need to keep in mind!
Many get diarrhea, abdominal cramps and bloating from the liquid fruit shakes, when they make these mistakes.
Ready food from the microwave
Try to cook fresh. Without ready-made food from the freezer, which only needs to be microwaved.
Many ready-made frozen meals are over-salted, sugared and far too fatty. You won't find any fresh vegetables in them, but a lot of calories. You have little time? Then cook the night before for two days.
A vegetable pan with rice and fresh herbs is ready in 20 minutes. If you like, you can add a few shrimps.
Let's move from food directly to the topic of hygiene and health. Here, too, there are a few stumbling blocks that you should avoid in the future.
Brushing teeth after every meal
You've had a really good time and really eaten? Don't brush your teeth right away! Wait at least 30 minutes. Otherwise you'll damage your enamel, which can lead to pain-sensitive teeth!
Use whirlpools
They are super relaxing, but: hot tubs are also a gathering place for bacteria and germs at the same time.
Anyone who sits in such a pool in a spa can be sure that the load is low. Because here the pools must be checked regularly. For this purpose, water samples are taken and the chemicals are used if the value is not correct.
Nevertheless, the following applies: do not drink water, do not put it on your face and take a shower afterwards.
Use antibacterial soap
Washing hands with antibacterial soap does not protect against infectious diseases better than ordinary soap. Allegedly, this soap even increases the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Avoid the sun
Too much sun can redden your skin and give you sunburn. But if you avoid the sun altogether, you will soon suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. This is very bad for your bones, muscles and skin.
Have your vitamin D level checked 1x a year with a blood test.
Getting out in the sun for 10 minutes every day in the summer sets a good foundation for balanced vitamin D levels in the winter.
Shower daily
If you shower too often, you dry out your skin. Through the shower gel you destroy the natural skin barrier.
Your skin becomes dry and prone to rashes. Occasionally a cat wash will do the trick, unless you've really sweated a lot and are dirty.
Catch up on sleep
You haven't slept enough during the week and want to catch up on sleep on the weekend? Unfortunately, that doesn't work very well.
This brings your inner clock out of balance. By Monday morning at the latest, you'll feel the consequences. You feel really groggy. It makes more sense to rely on a regular sleep rhythm.
Sit upright
Yes, sitting upright is healthy. But not all day. If you really want to do something for your back, you should get a standing desk.
People who regularly change their working position are also more productive and can concentrate better. Studies even say that sitting is the new smoking.
Cleaning with disinfectants
Allegedly, disinfecting cleaning agents promote asthma. In most cases, such aggressive cleaners are not necessary. Except for the toilet, you can use normal cleaning agents everywhere in the household. It serves its purpose just as well and is not as harmful!
And then we come to the last point: exercise. Yes, exercise is healthy, but it can also turn into the opposite if you make mistakes.
Cardio only
Lacing up your running shoes is healthy. But don't forget about strength training. Your workout should always be a mix of cardio and strength.
If you do too many endurance sessions, you cause the stress hormone cortisol to rise sharply. In addition, your body also needs muscles when running or doing other endurance sports so that you don't injure yourself and stay healthy.
Do 500 crunches
The secret to a flat stomach is not one crunch after another. In addition to exercises for the abdomen, try running and changing your diet.
By the way, this also applies to challenges where you go from doing 0 squats to suddenly doing over 20 or even 50 a day. This can over-acidify your muscles and in severe cases even become life-threatening.
With sports, the rule is always: start slowly and increase slowly.
Long stretching
Stretching is important when warming up. But: doing only two exercises and holding each of them for 10 minutes is pointless. Rather, do different exercises for different parts of the body.
Every day to the gym
Don't get us wrong - of course working out is important! But spending too much time in the gym is not a good idea. Your muscles won't have a chance to recover. Take at least one day off.
During this time, your body can recover from the exertions, which is also very healthy for the psyche and motivation in the long run.
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