MEN’S LIFESTYLE
10 Strange Men’s Habits With Amazing Health Benefits
While these habits might sound uncomfortable in theory, it turns out they're actually pretty good for you.
Most of us have been told not to do a good amount of the things on this list. Maybe there wasn’t a good reason for that though. It turns out they can actually do your body wonders.
Preferring One Stall Over Another
We all have our own varied preferences and particulars. After all, we like what we like, and we want to have access to whatever that may be.
While many might view wanting to use one particular bathroom stall everyday at work as opposed to another one as somewhat high-maintenance, and even a little difficult for the sake of being difficult, that’s not necessarily the case.
Alright, fine, on some level, maybe refusing to use one stall because you’re used to another does display a bit of nitpicking, but that doesn’t dispute the fact that there is also a pretty decent reason as to why you might have said preference.
Microbiologist Charles Gerba, Ph.D., has conducted research which concluded that the stall which happens to have the location nearest to the entrance of the bathroom actually possesses less bacteria than any of the others. It also has more toilet paper than the other stalls. Maybe you’re onto something after all.
Hanging on the Floor
Remember those middle school sleepovers when everyone would pile on the living room floor and play Nintendo 64 until it was time to pass out? Turns out, you might want to bring that floor-sleeping back.
It might not sound like a good idea, especially if you don’t have the best neck or back, but according to pain medicine specialist Charles Kim, that’s not necessarily the case—in fact, the opposite might be more accurate. “Anatomically, when one lies on their back on a soft surface, they sink in, like a C-shape,” he says. “Lying on your back on a more firm surface reduces this C-shape and thus the stress on the discs.”
The same goes for sitting on the floor rather than your everyday chair, especially at work. Nikki Naab-Levy, an exercise physiologist, mentions that when you sit on a chair, you’re actually allowing your body to slack off, and instead, “outsourcing muscular work to your furniture and locking your hip flexors and spine into a static position.”
By opting for the floor, you’re actually giving yourself more options, such as the ability “to switch between various sitting and kneeling postures,” which results in your spine and hips feeling less rigid.
Talking to Yourself
While this is rarely an advocated pursuit, treating yourself to some words of encouragement every now and then isn’t actually an inherent sign that someone’s lost a few marbles here and there.
Rather, according to a study that was published by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it was discovered that giving yourself a pep talk, particularly if you speak in the second person, has the potential to bolster your possible success.
This can work in any situation, from that workout you’ve been dreading, to an early wakeup call, or when you’re trying to resist any and every temptation to eat one more piece of cake.
This can also act as a convenient means of meditation as, according to Kevin Campbell, M.C., talking to yourself has the ability to reduce your blood pressure and stress.
What’s more is that taking part in this can even serve to better your health, both physically and mentally speaking.
Separating Your Food
Purposely separating all the food you’ll be eating in one meal is definitely considered by many to be a pretty quirky move. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its merits though.
Despite the fact that the food will eventually all be mixed when you eat it, Aaron Clark, D.O., says that separating your food in such a fashion has the propensity to help you learn and establish better habits when it comes to eating, not least of which is the speed at which you’re consuming your food. It’s all about slow and steady, in the end.
The <a href=”http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(13)01673-0/abstract”> Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also published a study back in 2014, which came to the conclusion that the slower people in the “normal-weight” category would eat, the fewer calories they ended up consuming.
This did not apply to those who fell into the overweight and/or obese group though.
Being Fidgety
Believe it or not, if you tend to have a habit of fidgeting, that isn’t actually a negative thing.
A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic took into account both thin and overweight people who identified as “couch potatoes,” and through their research, discovered that for the people in the group who fidgeted—this was counted in multiple forms, including, but not limited to a person tapping their feet, or frequenting one particular spot—as a rule, actually burned 350 calories more each day than those who didn’t fidget.
So next time you look back on that teacher who insisted that you sit still and keep your feet stationary when sitting, you can feel free to disregard that advice.
Whether or not you want to indulge in an extra cookie for the day though, is something that will probably cross your mind, and you would probably still be wise to opt for a banana instead.
Walking Barefoot
Sure, you most definitely don’t want to do this if on the streets or sidewalks of a city (can you even begin to imagine all the things you’d step on in New York alone?), but when it comes to ditching the shoes and socks at home though, or in your own backyard, podiatrist Keith Penera is all for it.
This is because without the cushions or insoles that shoes tend to have, the muscles in both your ankles and feet will be forced to work harder and in turn, they’ll get stronger, and who doesn’t want that?
This is especially helpful if you like to try your hand—or feet—at more damaging types of shoes or if you spend a lot of time on your feet.
Taking a break can actually do some good for your back, says chiropractor Todd Sinett. So go ahead, let your feet go au natural now and then; you’ll be glad you did.
Shaving Obsessively
Did you know that shaving, at least for men, can actually serve more of a purpose than one that’s purely aesthetic? Yeah, we didn’t, but it appears that for those with both allergies and a mustache, using liquid soap to wash said mustache two times a day can help in that area.
A study concluded that those who followed this advice ended up utilizing fewer decongestants, as well as antihistamines, to assist with their allergies because pollen grains can get stuck in facial hair. Cleaning it scrapped them.
Having Honey Every Day
Honey isn’t just a delicious addition to snacks and breakfasts. In fact, it’s much more useful than that, as it can actually help to heal an injury. It possesses some antibacterial properties that are pretty strong.
A study discovered that honey actually has the ability to get rid of a good amount of the strains of the bacteria which happens to be the most prevalent amongst infected injuries.
Refusing to Slouch
Your friends might make fun of you for refusing to just relax, but if you listened to your mother growing up, then you probably have fantastic posture. And that dedication to your spine is going to turn out to be the best decision you’ve ever made.
If you’re going to be embarking on a lengthy drive and you’re worried about what the extended time on the road will do to your back, there’s a simple solution. If you imagine that a cold drink was just poured down your back (because someone wanted to torture you, clearly), you might instinctively move your shoulders back as your spine simultaneously begins to curve. This just so happens to be the position that’s best for you when you are driving.
Being Obsessed With Your Dog
Not only are canines quite arguably the most precious creatures we can own as pets, but they also serve a purpose when it comes to health, and we’re not just talking about service dogs either.
The mere act of petting a pup can actually decrease your chances of having both a stroke, as well as a heart attack. Studies argue that this simple act can help your blood pressure as well
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario