Some people can go great lengths when it comes to maintaining health. You tell them something and they are ready to try anything and everything, whatever floats the boat.
If you grew up listening to facts like if you swallow the seeds you will grow a tree inside your body, then we can relate. While these are just the scary-tales our parents told us there are in fact a number of seemingly ridiculous health tips that are actually quite true.
These health tips may be odd, but these ideas have science on their side and can help you improve your overall health.
1. Avoid brushing teeth immediately after eating
If your meal and drinks contained a lot of acids like citrus fruits, tomatoes and fizzy drinks then it is advisable not to brush your teeth immediately. The abrasive action of brushing can cause the acid to attack the tooth enamel and the layer underneath. It is best to hold that toothbrush for half an hour before brushing.
2. Chocolate milk is for fitness
After exercise one needs to recover and encourage the muscles you have worked to become stronger. So if you drink milk, you are getting a consistent source of protein, and along with chocolate will provide useful carbohydrates and even the relatively high sugar content is an acceptable means of restoring lost energy.
3. Exercise to increase your energy levels
After an exhausting day, exercise is definitely the last thing on your mind, but getting down with exercises can actually energise you. Because by working out we recharge the tired cells by giving them more oxygen. Physical activity that builds muscle strength also improves the efficiency of the mitochondria that produce the energy in the cells.
4. Eat more calories and lose weight
Carbohydrates if taken alone can spike your blood sugar, leaving you even hungrier than before. Adding proteins and fats like peanut butter and cheese will increase the calorie count of your meal but will help you get full more quickly and stay satisfied for longer, which will lead to ingesting fewer calories in the long run.
5. Flush with the lid down
You should always flush the toilet with the seat lid down. If you don’t, polluted water particles float for a few hours around your bathroom before they all land, some on your toothbrush. And faecal-based bacteria and viruses really can make you ill, so unless you want to brush your teeth with what was in the toilet, close the lid.
6. Ditch the whiskers to beat sneezing allergy
A moustache can aggravate hay fever by trapping pollen. Like clothing, skin and hair, a moustache will trap pollen throughout the day. One study found men who washed their moustaches twice a day with liquid soap used fewer antihistamines and decongestants as the cleaning got rid of stuck pollen grains. So either rinse it off or get rid of it altogether.
7. Build muscle to fit into a smaller size
On a human body one kilogram of muscle weighs the same as a kilo of fat, but surprisingly muscle is more compact and takes up less space than fat. So now you know why a muscular person who weighs the same as a fatty one will most likely fit into a smaller pair of jeans.
8. Sniff an apple to stop a migraine
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and also, turns out, the odour of green apple helps reduce the severity of migraines. This may have something to do with the ability of pleasant fragrances to relax us and reduce tension, say the experts. The happy associations of the odour may also help to distract people from thinking about the pain of a migraine.
9. A hot beverage to help you cool off
According to a study, a hot drink on a hot day will cool you off faster than a cold drink. When you drink a hot beverage, your body produces more sweat which, and then when it evaporates it cools you off. Luckily Indians have the norm to drink hot tea in hot weather.
10. High heels will save knees
High heels, as favoured by Sarah Jessica Parker, may actually be good for you. Wearing high heels may make women less likely to develop arthritic changes in their knee joints as they age. Heels can also do wonders for a woman’s sex life as they have beneficial effects of toning legs and strengthening pelvic muscles.
