6 Ways You Unknowingly Harm Your Body

There are certain habits we know to stay away from, like smoking, staying up late, and not drinking enough water. We know these practices are harmful because people warn us against them all the time. However, there are other less-known activities we partake in that also damage our body. Let’s take a look at them.

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Showering In Hot Water

When you get up in the morning, it’s tempting to step into the shower and go for a hot rinse. However, the temperature of the water you’re bathing in could do you harm as well. While warm or tepid water isn’t damaging, the scorching heat can dry out your skin and damage its top layer.

It isn’t only your skin that suffers. It can also hurt your hair cuticles. You’ll find yourself experiencing dull hair and even hair loss. Moreover, it has additional detrimental effects on men’s health. Studies show that hot baths decrease sperm count significantly.

“Most advice about coping with infertility is female-centric. But… men need support and help during this anxiety-inducing time as well,” writes Georgia Witkin Ph.D.

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Giving In To Crash Dieting

Got an event to attend in a month? You’re sure that with a crash diet, you’ll fit into that suit or dress in 30 days or less. Well, this may not last.

While you’ll find yourself slimmed down after you cut down on food, it won’t be a sustainable approach. Such a method can cause muscle loss or breakdown, resulting in a slower metabolism. Additionally, your immune system will weaken due to the lack of nutrients and vitamins.

Sleeping In During The Weekend

For most of us, weekends are for catching up on sleep. Somehow, we believe that getting extra hours of rest will fill in for lost sleep. However, it doesn’t look like it is true.

Sleeping in will throw off your circadian rhythm (your body clock). Researchers call this effect “social jet lag.” This disruption leads to further problems for your health. You’re more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, overeat, and consume caffeine. Likewise, extra hours of sleep won’t reverse the damage sleep deprivation has done to your body.

“In order to stay synchronized to the real world your clock needs to reset itself every day,” writes Alex Korb Ph.D.

Storing Your Wallet In Your Back Pocket

Too many items in your back pocket mean that you’re not sitting on a completely flat surface. When sitting, it tilts the position of your spine to some degree.

Although it may seem insignificant, sitting in such a way for several hours every day will take a toll on your body. Poor posture can lead to back pain, nerve constriction, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Not Wearing Sunscreen

For many people, sunscreen only becomes a staple when they’re out on the beach. But even when the sun isn’t out, you have to get some of that SPF. While clouds can filter out the sunlight, it doesn’t protect people from harmful UV radiation.

“Ultraviolet radiation is a major cause of stem cell DNA damage – a factor that eventually leads to signs of skin aging,” writes Danielle Citrolo Pharm.D.

Wearing sunscreen protects you from these damaging rays. Skipping out on such can lead to skin damage and even skin cancer in the future. It also ages your skin faster, causing wrinkles to appear earlier.

Lying About Being Okay

We’re sure that everyone is guilty when it comes to lying about being okay. Sometimes, it’s so much simpler to fake it than talk about our feelings. But keeping them in is bad news for your mental health.

Bottling up emotions and problems keeps you from finding ways to solve them. Doing such can further worsen the situation and cause you to feel worse. Letting people help you would help ease your anxiety and worries.

Summary

Because we’ve gotten used to our daily routine, it’s challenging to realize when the habits we have are harmful. Hot showers, quick diets, and getting extra hours of sleep can do more harm than we think. Placing items in your back pocket, skipping out on sunscreen, and bottling up emotions is likewise detrimental. It pays to evaluate your actions and research to avoid unwittingly damaging your body.