Are You Putting Your Health at Risk?
Certain seemingly “innocent” behaviors could wreak havoc on your body! So here are a few health habits you may want to ditch.
- Popping an extra pill when a headache won’t go away. This is VERY BAD! According to Dr. Mark Green of Columbia University Medical Center, the most effective dose is already printed on the box – so more isn’t better. Plus, taking extra meds can cause dangerous side effects like stomach bleeding. So don’t pop extra pills! If you’re having headache issues, talk to your doctor.
- The next bad habit: Eating food past its expiration date. According to Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at New York University, there’s a good reason for expiration dates. Consuming highly perishable items – like dairy or eggs – past the expiration date can lead to food poisoning and you don’t want to risk it with other items, either. So, if something’s past the expiration date, toss it. Know this: Bacteria starts to grow the second you pop the seal and the air hits it. So, if you’ve got a partially used jar of sauce, or an open package of deli meat, throw it out by the expiration date. Yes, even if it still smells okay.
- One more habit that isn’t very good for you: Eating unwashed fruit. It may make you sick. The fruit could contain lingering pesticides. Or it could’ve picked up bacteria during transit or handling. Basically, it’s not worth the risk. So rinse ALL of your fruit with a scrub brush to remove dirt and germs – and toss the brush into the dishwasher when you’re done. That goes for fruits like cantaloupes too. Even though you don’t eat the rind, cutting through it can spread germs from the rind throughout the fruit’s flesh. Also, cut the stems off tomatoes, strawberries, and peppers AFTER washing them - so bacteria can’t seep inside.
