Taking baths less often can protect your skin better. Those "bad" habits that are good for your health

Everything has two sides. Even the bad habits that we generally recognize in life have their advantages. Recently, some experts have concluded that some of the "bad" habits that are common around us are not completely undesirable. As long as we grasp the "timing", they will not only not harm our health, but can also improve brain power and prevent diseases.

Eat chocolate to protect your heart

Studies have shown that although eating chocolate may cause tooth decay, it has good heart-protecting effects. Overall, eating chocolate has more benefits than disadvantages.

Experts explained that the reason is that cocoa contains flavonoids, which can increase blood vessel elasticity and lower blood pressure. The study found that among 114,000 respondents, those who ate the most chocolate had a 37% lower risk of heart disease and a 29% lower risk of stroke than those who ate less.

Recommendation: Choose chocolate with as little sugar as possible and a cocoa content of more than 70%. Eat no more than 7 ounces of chocolate per week, which is roughly equivalent to 4 bars of dark chocolate.

Sleep in and boost your metabolism

Since childhood, our parents and teachers have told us that sleeping in is not a good habit, but a recent study found that people who sleep until they wake up naturally are three times less likely to be obese than those who are woken up by an alarm clock and get up on time every day. Experts believe that alarm clocks can disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythm, leading to eating disorders, indigestion and other problems, and affecting the normal metabolism.

Tip: If you always rely on an alarm clock to wake up, try to set your bedtime a little earlier every day until you can wake up naturally the next day. On weekends, turn off the alarm and sleep until you wake up naturally.

Eat sugar moderately and control your weight

People who want to control their weight always regard sweets as their enemy. In fact, candy will not make you fat as long as you eat it right. Studies have found that compared to people who do not eat sugar at all, people who eat sugar regularly have a lower body mass index (BMI), smaller waist circumference, and less inflammatory substances in the body.

Experts point out that although candy tastes about the same sweetness as cakes, desserts, etc., it contains less saturated fat and calories and can make people feel good.

Recommendation: It is best to eat sugar after exercise, because a large amount of glycogen in the muscles is burned at this time and the muscles are in a hungry state. You should choose candies with a sugar content of less than 30 grams, and eat them with high-quality proteins such as soy products and sunflower seeds, and do not eat them more than twice a week.

Take a bath less often to protect your skin

Taking a shower every day, or even twice a day, is not a good habit. Skin experts point out that excessive bathing can make the skin drier and more sensitive. Taking a long hot bath and then using alkaline toiletries may destroy the skin's natural oils and reduce the body's self-protection function.

Recommendation: It is best to control the bathing time, no more than 10 minutes, and keep the bath warm, not too hot. Autumn and winter are dry, so you should not bathe too often, 1 to 2 times a week is appropriate. You can take a bath more frequently in the summer, but it is best not to use shower gel every time.

Withstand stress and improve immunity

It's not bad for your health to have a little stress at work. Low-intensity stress can make the brain and body more energetic.

Stress can increase the body's alertness, stimulate the body to secrete more protective hormones, enhance immunity, and reduce the risk of certain cancers. In addition, studies have confirmed that people who are under a certain amount of stress have better emotional regulation abilities and are more likely to be satisfied.

Suggestion: To withstand stress, you must first distinguish the types. The kind of stress that brings benefits is stress that passes in a short period of time, rather than stress that is difficult to get rid of in the long term. If you are experiencing the latter, it is best to seek regular help from a psychologist. Because unresolved, long-term chronic stress can lead to problems such as heart disease, obesity, and depression.

Drinking red wine reduces the risk of heart disease

Alcoholism is indeed not a good habit and may lead to many health problems, but having a glass of red wine after get off work or before going to bed is good for your health.

Experts point out that moderate drinking is one of the three "keys" to longevity, the other two keys being a proper diet and sufficient exercise. Experts at Harvard University in the United States explained that the ethanol component in wine has anti-inflammatory and "good" cholesterol-raising effects, thus helping to keep arteries healthy.

Recommendation: Do not drink more than 2 glasses of red wine per day. The current safe drinking standard is that the daily alcohol intake should not exceed 15 grams, and women should drink less. The alcohol intake can be roughly calculated using the formula "amount of alcohol consumed × alcohol concentration × 0.8".

Drink beer, build muscle

Unlike red wine, beer is mostly brewed from malt and hops. The flavonoids in hops can improve muscle mass and alleviate the loss of muscle strength caused by long-term sitting.

Not only that, the antioxidants in hops can also reduce the risk of heart disease.

Recommendation: Drinking beer, like drinking red wine, should not be excessive. Nutritionists remind that adults should not drink more than 300 ml (about one can) each time and no more than 500 ml (about one bottle) a day.

Being a little lazy can help you live longer

People who get up early and are busy every day may "go into the grave" prematurely. Taking a break from work not only reduces stress at work, it's also the key to longevity.

Studies have shown that taking a short nap at noon can help prolong your life more than playing tennis. On the contrary, always running and exercising will consume energy that could be used for cell regeneration or fighting disease. Psychological experts say that even if you are lying at home and daydreaming, your brain is processing important information and your thinking is more active.

Carbonated drinks stimulate brain power

Despite the threat of tooth corrosion and obesity, drinking two cans of carbonated drinks a day can improve a person's memory by 20%, effectively preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Because the hippocampus area in the brain becomes very active when stimulated by rising blood sugar, the hippocampus area in patients with Alzheimer's disease declines in function and the hippocampus shrinks.

Occasionally gambling can drive away depression

Gamblers are mentally healthier than ordinary people. Studies have found that people who participate in moderate gambling games, such as going to the racetrack once a week, will have a more active brain and be better at communicating with others.

Playing some online poker games or electronic gambling games can effectively relieve depression and prevent premature brain aging.