Experts reveal 9 lifestyle habits that are not as healthy as you think – from drinking bottled water and eating too many veggies
When it comes to our favourite chocolate bar, a portion of chips or pretty much any high-calorie treat – they say everything in moderation.
But did you know this also applies to some healthy foods and lifestyle habits that Brits deem healthy too?
A number of experts have revealed the top nine healthy habits that people might want to reconsider, and some of them might surprise you.
1. Vegetables
According to The Sun, eating too many vegetables can have a negative effect on your body, particularly for those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends adults eat at least 400g of fruit and vegetables a day in order to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
And although these fibre-rich foods are important for your overall health, overconsumption can lead to serious health problems.
Andrea Burton, Technical Advisor at Bio-Kult, says many sufferers of IBS experience an increase in symptoms like bloating, gas and diarrhoea after eating vegetables like cabbage and broccoli.
She explained: ‘With raw vegetables, your digestive system may not break down all the fibre effectively which may then irritate the digestive tract as it passes through.’
She said foods such as mushrooms, celery, cauliflower, and onions and are high-FODMAP foods that can trigger symptoms.
Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols or FODMAPs, are the collective abbreviation for a group of fermentable, short-chain carbohydrates.
The expert advised embarking on a low FODMAP diet for a short period of time and that any increase should take place gradually to reduce digestive distress.
2. High-histamine foods
Histamine is a chemical your immune system releases and is mainly known for its role in causing allergy symptoms.
The chemical is often in foods we consider to be healthy such as dried fruit, avocados and dairy products like yoghurt.
Hannah Braye, Nutritionist at Bio-Kult, warns that ingesting too much histamine may cause the body’s control mechanisms to become disrupted, which can in turn lead to histamine intolerance (HIT) in some individuals.
Hannah says this can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, painful periods, hay fever, difficulties breathing, blood pressure issues and headaches, to name a few.
3. Supplements
A few extra vitamins alongside a balanced diet are highly recommended, however, David Wiener, Training and Nutrition Specialist at Freeletics says moderation is the key.
An increased amount of vitamin C, often found in fruit and veg like oranges and broccoli, could result in you feeling sick and having stomach cramps, or digestive problems.
David advises sticking to the recommended amounts labelled on supplements, packets and jars, and to keep a look out for odd symptoms – which should be reported straight to your GP.
4. Bottled water
It’s convenient, it’s quick, and more often than not it’s a regular reminder to ourselves to drink enough water.
However, consuming only bottled water can have a detrimental effect on the body, and could even be worse than drinking tap water, Andrea warns.
She suggests looking out for a label that states the water is from a particular special spring or is filtered, or else it may not be as healthy as you think.
The expert encourages people to filter their own tap water and make up their own bottles at home.
5. Ditching fatty foods
It’s become common place to check food labels for high amounts of fat and calories, but limiting too much fat has its consequences.
And although fats do contain over twice as many calories as carbohydrates and proteins, healthy types of fats do exist.
Eating healthy fats – found in foods like nuts, seeds, avocados and olive oil – can promote good health.
These fat sources also provide a readily available and storable source of energy, and support healthy cells and hormones.
6. Brushing your teeth too much
Dentists have long advised that we brush our teeth both in the morning and right before bed to maintain good oral hygiene.
However, Liz Cooper, Nutritional Therapist at Bio-Kult, says brushing can be abrasive, so brushing them too much could be damaging to your teeth.
She adds: ‘Brushing our teeth immediately after eating, especially if we’ve eaten acidic food such as soft drinks, refined grains, citrus fruits and tomato products, can soften the enamel on our teeth, weakening them, making them more susceptible to acidic substances and ultimately leading to tooth tissue loss.’
It’s best to wait 30 to 60 minutes after eating a meal before brushing your teeth, in order to avoid damage to the enamel layer of the tooth.
7. Using too much hand sanitiser
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, hand sanitiser has become a staple in many of our homes, cars and handbags.
While the antibacterial gel is essential for keeping bacteria at bay, over-using the product can cause an imbalance in our skin’s microbiome, which is an important part of our immune system.
The seemingly harmless gel could also cause damage to the microbiome of the skin, which can increase the risk of penetration of UV rays, allergic reactions, and germs.
8. Exercise
Maintaining an active lifestyle can help to improve brain health, help you manage your weight, and also reduce the risk of disease.
However David warns that doing too much exercise or pushing too hard too quickly, especially if you are a beginner, can lead to doing more harm than good.
Over time, overtraining can weaken your immune system and may cause osteoporosis and bone loss – especially in women
He suggests working out every other day, making sure to take rest days in between.
9. Chewing gum
The quick, sweet treat makes for a tasty filler between meals – or even in place of dinner for rigorous dieters.
However, when we chew gum, we naturally ingest pockets of air, which can leave us feeling bloated.
And sugar-free gum isn’t any better, as it contains artificial sweeteners which can be difficult to digest which in turn also causes bloating.
Chewing gum can also make you hungry, and can lead to overeating as your stomach expects that food is imminent.
