9 Seemingly Good Habits That Actually Bring a Lot of Trouble

The eco-friendly movement has conquered millions of people all around the world. It is about taking care of the environment in general and your own health. Dozens of new good habits appear every day. But if you blindly follow every single one of them, you might actually harm your health.

We at Bright Side wanted to find out which of the new “healthy” habits are actually pretty harmful.

9. Using sunscreen every day

In the past, people used sunscreen only during vacations but today they use it even before they go out for a short time. In 2019, FDA got concerned about the fact that some chemicals in the creams might get absorbed by the skin and they started doing research. The result is an update to the 2011 rules of using sunscreen.

Until then, as long as we don’t have the exact estimation of the risks, experts recommend using mineral-based sunscreen instead of the alternatives. This is because the minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide create a physical barrier on the skin that reflects the sunlight. They don’t dissolve and they don’t get absorbed so they are safer and more effective.

8. Taking lots of dietary supplements

At the moment, dietary supplements are very popular and you can buy them not only in pharmacies. But it might be dangerous to take them without consulting a doctor first. So, the most recent studies show that high supplement dosages with magnesium, vitamin B6, and iron might have a negative effect on the health of the elderly.

Before taking any supplements, you should talk to a specialist. Of course, you need to get enough vitamins to be healthy but it’s better to get them from a balanced diet. The opinion that you can take dietary supplements without a risk for your health is wrong. Too much is as bad as too little.

7. Giving up on dairy products

Lately, dairy products are often demonized. If you don’t have any dietary constrictions (allergies or other problems), not eating dairy products will leave you without some really important nutrients and might lead to digestive problems. Also, dairy products contain calcium and vitamin D that are necessary for your bones.

6. Brushing your teeth after every meal

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, every morning and evening. But there are some people that do it too often: after each meal to try and maintain the health of their teeth.

Think about what you eat. If you’ve just eaten some acidic foods, don’t use a toothbrush. Acids have a negative effect on the tooth enamel by weakening it, and brushing your teeth after acidic food will only make the job easier for the acids.

5. Using cotton swabs to clean your ears

You might be surprised but in fact the packs of cotton swabs say that they shouldn’t be used to put into your ears. The thing is, when you are cleaning your ears using a swab, you actually push the earwax deeper into the canal. Besides, if you try too hard, you might damage the eardrum.

4. Eating protein bars

Protein bars are what you need after an intense and difficult training. At least, this is what many fitness coaches are telling us. But is it really true?

The thing is, protein bars are not fresh vegetables and fruits that grow on trees. Very often, many people forget that they contain not only a lot of calories but also fats and sugar. This is definitely not what your body needs after a difficult period of training in the gym. And you shouldn’t eat too many protein bars regularly.

3. Using hand sanitizers

Now, washing your hands is extremely important which is why more and more people are using hand sanitizers. But CDC insists that there’s nothing better against germs than washing your hands with soap.

The thing is, a combination of soap and water removes all kinds of germs whereas sanitizers are good only for some. Also, such products can’t remove harmful chemicals and metals. Of course, sanitizers are great when you can’t wash your hands but if you can, it’s better to do it with soap and water.

2. Using daily sanitary pads

Sanitary pads are very comfortable to use and they can be extremely helpful for women, so they are really tempting to use. But experts are sure they might irritate sensitive skin. This is especially true for scented napkins.

1. Using kitchen towels or sponges too much

Of course, you need to clean the kitchen regularly and thoroughly — this is true for the tabletop, the sink, and other surfaces. Most people clean them with a kitchen towel that they don’t throw away after but leave them to dry near the sink.

Unfortunately, wet surfaces might spread bacteria and germs around the kitchen. In order to prevent this from happening, use this trick: Put the wet sponges and towels into the microwave oven for 60 seconds to dry them well.

Do you know about any other bad habits that seem to be good habits? Tell us about them in the comment section below!