Stop exaggerating! Eight healthy habits that can harm health

Meven healthier habits can be harmful when pushed to the extreme. From the excess of sleeping supplements, even training, one must be careful not to fall too far. 

A Real Article Simple highlights eight of these habits. 

1. Perform high intensity daily training

Physical exercise contributes to heart health, improves mood and increases longevity; however, there are many who confuse sweat and muscle pain with progress. 

“ Excess training overloads the heart, weakens immunity and accelerates joint wear”, says doctor Zaid Fadul. 

In addition, these trainings can also lead to chronic injuries, hormonal imbalances, mental exhaustion and even heart rhythm problems and arterial stiffness. The secret is to balance intensity and rest. 

2. Oversleep

Sleep is essential for recovery, but too much is not recommended, especially if you are trying to compensate for sleep deprivation or to combat fatigue, 

“ Sleeping regularly more than nine hours is related to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline,” Fadul said. 

In addition, too much sleep can disrupt the circadian rhythm, making you feel lethargic during the day. Therefore, the recommended is seven to nine hours a night, always trying to maintain a consistent routine.

3. Worry about your health

Paying too much attention to health can be exhausting. “Long-term health-related anxiety is linked to depression, generalized anxiety disorder and even obsessive-compulsive patterns,” says Allison E. Gaffey, a professor at Yale School of Medicine. 

It recommends taking a more balanced approach. “Set regular tests and, among them, trust your body’s vital signs unless new clear symptoms emerge.”.

4. Prioritize work

If for many people to stay busy and productive is a sign of commitment and ambition, when work overlaps with relationships, their emotional resilience begins to wear out.

Gaffey explains that loneliness is a risk factor, since chronic social isolation can increase the risk of early mortality, heart disease and cognitive decline.

Try to balance work with meaningful social connections.

5. Force yourself to be positive instead of dealing with stress

It's easy to assume that repressing difficult emotions is a sign of strength, but keeping them is worse. “When we suppress our truth, especially pain, fear or sadness, we trigger a chronic state of physiological stress,” said Cannectd Wellness Shari B. Kaplan.

“To pretend that everything is fine when you are not warning your nervous system that the threat has not passed, keeping you in a state of struggle, escape or freezing”, continues. 

6. Use mindfulness applications

“App dependency can inhibit your ability to feel secure and connected with your own body. If it calms down only when it uses these applications, the nervous system does not develop resilience, it only postpones suffering,” says Kaplan.

The excessive use of technology to feel better can prevent the complete processing of your emotions. 

7. Always be connected to the internet to stand out

Many associate constant productivity with a purpose, but this mentality can be harmful. “Our culture celebrates exhaustion disguised as ambition,” notes Kaplan. 

“ When it never slows down, your nervous system lives in constant alertness. This increases cortisol, increases inflammation and causes wear in the immune, cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal systems.”. 

Therefore, you should always save time just to be and not always be busy.

8. Restricting the diet

“ Eating less than necessary consistently can, and most likely will cause nutritional deficiencies,” says nutritionist Lena Bakovic.

“ Other potential effects include greater loss of muscle mass, progression of osteoporosis and osteopenia, and increased risk of falls and fractures.”.