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Health sins or bad habits?
Is a trip to the drive-thru or forgetting to floss really so awful? Or is not getting more than 5 hours of sleep a night really so detrimental to your health? Woman's Day finds out which bad habits need to be fixed ASAP and which you can relax about. Among them are:
n You eat a burger and fries for lunch once a week: There's solid evidence eating a fatty meal will almost immediately affect the functioning of your blood vessels, making it harder for them to dilate for up to four hours after you've eaten. But having fast food once a week is probably OK.
n Make it healthier: Order a small or child's size burger (sans mayo and cheese), downsize the fries and add a side salad. Try to limit fast food to every other week — or even
better, once a month.
n You only sleep five hours a night: It may seem harmless, but it's not. Besides the laundry list of negative health effects including an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, not sleeping enough on a regular basis can make you fat.
n Fix it ASAP Go to bed 10 or 15 minutes earlier each night until you're getting at least 6 hours of sleep. If it takes you longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep or you wake frequently during the night, talk to your doctor.
n You brush twice a day but hardly ever floss: Although brushing is
crucial, flossing is just as important because it's what keeps the bacteria that cause gum disease from building up between your teeth. Research has also linked gum disease to an increased risk of heart
disease.
n Fix it ASAP: Keep your floss next to your toothbrush as a reminder to do it every day.
n Once or twice a month you smoke a few cigarettes: The line between smoking a few a month and smoking a few a week or even a day can be thin. Women who smoke just one cigarette a day have triple the risk of heart disease and five times the risk of lung
cancer, according to a recent study.
n Fix it ASAP Quit. Smoking is usually tied to drinking, so it is often recommended that people give up alcohol for about a month. For help, call
(800) QUIT-NOW to talk to a counselor who can help map out a personal stop-smoking plan.
n You keep losing and regaining the same
10 pounds: Although you may have heard that this messes up your metabolism, experts say this isn't the case. Rather, the
damage is psychological because weight cycling chips away at your
confidence.
n Make it healthier: Choose a weight-loss plan you believe in and pick a start date in the next few weeks. As you count down to the big kickoff, take time to gather healthy recipes, clear the junk food from your kitchen and stock up on healthy low-calorie foods. This way, when your start day comes you'll be ready mentally, physically and environmentally.
— Woman's Day
For more tips, pick up the latest issue of Woman's Day magazine or visit www.womansday.com. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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