Healthy Habits Gone Awry November 24
We have been rather vocal about advocating temperance and moderation, and here is yet another example on why that is important. A WebMD feature shares several practices that may be healthy – as long as they are not overdone – and the consequences of taking things a little too far.
The first couple of things mentioned involved two of the practices that health buffs indulge in: eating “wholesome” food and working out. The former is good for people, but as in any kind of food, overeating may eventually “make you fat and prone to illness.” Exercise, when overdone, can lead to “injury and fatigue.”
And then there are others. Obsessed about keeping your kitchen spotless? A dish cloth and damp sponge may be a staple in your kitchen. Using them and then leaving them for use another time, while cleaning your countertop or sink on the surface, may actually increase you and your family’s exposure to such elements as E. coli, salmonella and other such disease-causing microbes. The feature’s suggestion is to microwave the damp sponge or cloth for a minute each day to kill bacteria.
There is also a surprising health habit that can go awry – drinking water. A lot of us are familiar about the dangers that dehydration can bring, but few probably know about hyponatremia. This condition, which is brought about by excessive intake of water or drinking more than what the body needs, can reportedly lead to dangerous drop in the concentration of sodium in the bloodstream. This can cause fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Taking vitamin supplements can help ward off certain diseases, but that does not mean that we should go around gulping excessive quantities and expect that to increase our protection “coverage”. Au contraire, overdosing in vitamin supplements can actually cause serious health problems. The example given in the feature was going overboard on vitamin A, which can reportedly cause nausea, diarrhea, rashes and metabolic disturbances.
Tags: too healthy habit, unhealthy habit