(Ecns.cn)—It's a no-brainer that certain simple routines like washing hands and brushing teeth can help to maintain health. However, it's time to keep an eye on some bad habits and routines that can undermine health.
1) Excessive use of hand sanitizer
A small bottle of hand sanitizer has become a "must-carry" item wherever we go. Not using it to wash our hands in public is more offensive than burping and not using it in our home is at least as bad as not brushing our teeth. In short, a lot of hand sanitizer is being used nowadays, perhaps a little too much.
Sixty percent of the ingredients in hand sanitizer are alcohol and are effective enough to kill 90% of bacteria on hands. Sounds like a good idea to help keep clean, right? However, for those who get too obsessive with hand sanitizer and use it six to seven times a day, the habit can be harmful.
Some studies have found a connection between the excessive use of anti-bacterial products in healthy households and compromised immune systems in humans, as well as the development of resistant strains of bacteria. A weak immune system means a higher risk of contagious disease and allergies.
2) Frequent replacement of skin care products
As many options are available in the market with irresistible advertisements and promotions, many customers, especially female, have become product junkies.
Chilling but true: too frequent changes in skin care products can cause acne rosacea. It gets even worse when one keeps trying out new perfumes and anti-aging products, as our skin can get more and more sensitive and difficult to take care of.
When getting a new skin care product, one must not change products too often. This can make skin cells mutate, causing discomfort.
3) Brush teeth after every meal
It's a universal goal to try and stay away from tooth stains, which has driven many into the habit of brushing their teeth after every meal.
If one brushes immediately after meals, it will damage enamel. This is because you are rubbing the normally harmless acids of fruit and vegetables into the enamel.
4) Aerobic exercise during exhaustion
Though aerobic exercise is a recommended method to keep health and stay fit, it's NOT that helpful when one tries to exercise during exhaustion because it's not "the more the better."
The truth is that too much exercise can actually do a person harm because it spells the curse of "exercise bulimia," which is like the eating disorder. One can get devastating results from this practice, just like the eating disorder.
Excessive exercise certainly helps to lose weight, but not the kind one wants. The body goes into starvation mode and releases cortisol (a hormone produced by adrenal glands to keep people awake and alert and to mobilize sugar for energy).
Increased cortisol inhibits any fat metabolism and eats into muscle mass. Surprisingly scary, the body basically starts eating itself under such circumstances.
So instead of becoming a lean, mean, fitness machine, you'll find you've less strength, a weakened immune system, are more prone to injury, and if women's body fat gets too low their periods might cease.
