Too much of a good thing?
While being careful about your health has its set of benefits, getting too fixated on it and overindulging yourself with the minute details can be detrimental in the long run. Here’s what you need to be careful about:
1 Vitamin supplements
Some of us spend a fortune on vitamin pills to supplement our diets — but experts say that taking too many tablets can cause problems. Bridget Benelam, of the British Nutrition Foundation, says, “High doses of vitamin C can potentially cause gastrointestinal discomfort, and excessive amounts of nutrients, such as iron or vitamin A, can be dangerous. For most people, a healthy varied diet should be able to provide all the nutrients needed for health.”
2 Painkillers
These are a good way to relieve headaches, but overuse can actually cause more headaches. Nitin Makadia, consultant pharmacist at evolvehealthsolutions.co.uk , says, “Medication overuse for headaches can occur when you take more than the recommende d dose. It’s usually advised that overthe counter pain relief should be taken for no more than three days at a time or for no more than 10 days during a month.”
3 Too many naps
Research has shown that short naps can help refresh you, lower stress and improve concentration and alertness. But keep them short for the best health benefits. Dr Guy Meadows, a sleep specialist, says, “Ideally, you should nap for 10 to 20 minutes and no longer than 30. After this, you enter deep sleep, and being woken from that can leave you feeling groggy and disorientated.”
4 Citrus fruits
Though they are a rich source of vitamin C, fruit and fruit juices (especially lemon, orange and grapefruit) contain a high level of acid, which can damage tooth enamel. Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director at Elleven Dental, says, “Acid erosion can increase teeth sensitivity, and when eaten regularly, citrus fruits can contribute to the build-up of plaque and tooth decay. I recommend chewing gum to promote the production of saliva to help cancel out the acids.”
5 Over moisturising
Skincare experts say that although it’s important to moisturise, applying too much can make skin ‘lazy’ because it receives signals that it has enough water, lipids and protein which can slow down production of these important nutrients. This can leave your skin dry and leads to a vicious circle where you have to use more and more moisturiser.
6 Exercise
Yes, it’s vital to keep active for all aspects of your health, but overdoing it could make you more prone to infections, colds and flu. While regular moderate exercise can boost your immune system, research shows that overdoing it can have the opposite effect.
7 Too many nuts
Nuts are good for your health, but they are very calorie dense (high in fat, low in water), so eating unlimited amounts can easily add several hundred calories a day to your diet.
While being careful about your health has its set of benefits, getting too fixated on it and overindulging yourself with the minute details can be detrimental in the long run. Here’s what you need to be careful about:
1 Vitamin supplements
Some of us spend a fortune on vitamin pills to supplement our diets — but experts say that taking too many tablets can cause problems. Bridget Benelam, of the British Nutrition Foundation, says, “High doses of vitamin C can potentially cause gastrointestinal discomfort, and excessive amounts of nutrients, such as iron or vitamin A, can be dangerous. For most people, a healthy varied diet should be able to provide all the nutrients needed for health.”
2 Painkillers
These are a good way to relieve headaches, but overuse can actually cause more headaches. Nitin Makadia, consultant pharmacist at evolvehealthsolutions.co.uk , says, “Medication overuse for headaches can occur when you take more than the recommende d dose. It’s usually advised that overthe counter pain relief should be taken for no more than three days at a time or for no more than 10 days during a month.”
3 Too many naps
Research has shown that short naps can help refresh you, lower stress and improve concentration and alertness. But keep them short for the best health benefits. Dr Guy Meadows, a sleep specialist, says, “Ideally, you should nap for 10 to 20 minutes and no longer than 30. After this, you enter deep sleep, and being woken from that can leave you feeling groggy and disorientated.”
4 Citrus fruits
Though they are a rich source of vitamin C, fruit and fruit juices (especially lemon, orange and grapefruit) contain a high level of acid, which can damage tooth enamel. Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director at Elleven Dental, says, “Acid erosion can increase teeth sensitivity, and when eaten regularly, citrus fruits can contribute to the build-up of plaque and tooth decay. I recommend chewing gum to promote the production of saliva to help cancel out the acids.”
5 Over moisturising
Skincare experts say that although it’s important to moisturise, applying too much can make skin ‘lazy’ because it receives signals that it has enough water, lipids and protein which can slow down production of these important nutrients. This can leave your skin dry and leads to a vicious circle where you have to use more and more moisturiser.
6 Exercise
Yes, it’s vital to keep active for all aspects of your health, but overdoing it could make you more prone to infections, colds and flu. While regular moderate exercise can boost your immune system, research shows that overdoing it can have the opposite effect.
7 Too many nuts
Nuts are good for your health, but they are very calorie dense (high in fat, low in water), so eating unlimited amounts can easily add several hundred calories a day to your diet.
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