Did you
know that being too healthy for your own good can be a form of illness?
It sure sounds like a lame paradoxical excuse for those who
preach indulgence as the way of life over abstinence, but in truth, there exists
an eating disorder known as Orthorexia nervosa, whereby one is so obsessed with
eating to improve one’s health that when they break abstinence over
“prohibited” foods, they may suffer from similar kind of guilt pangs and
depression that anorexics and bulimics do.
Orthorexia nervosa is a less-known radical example of being
too healthy beyond wellness. Overall, most people are too unhealthy for their
own good and could do with a bit more self-discipline. However, as the old
saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad. Here are some misconceptions
that even wise, healthy people get wrong.
Obsessing over hygiene.
Clean-freaks are often joked about as eccentric, but there is good reason to be
critical of them. According to the hygiene hypothesis, living in an overly
sterile environment can be bad for your immune system as it makes you more vulnerable
to illnesses. In addition, good bacteria can be vital to your health. Good
bacteria exists in various parts of the body, such as the skin and digestive
tract. You should practise good hygiene especially before eating and preparing
food, and after a trip to the washroom, but don’t feel the need to sanitize
your hands every time they touch something, or freak out when your child starts
going on all fours.
Waking up too early.
Early to
bed, early to rise is often touted as a model sleeping habit. However, most
people need seven hours of sleep a night to be considered as having ample rest.
Unless you’re sleeping as early as 9pm, waking up at the wee hours of the
morning is not advisable. In addition, your lungs undergo repair from 3 to 5amin the morning. That is why some people with lung and respiratory issues are
wakened to violent fits of coughing around this time. If possible, you should
not disrupt the lung’s repair works by waking up at this time.
Restricting your diet or organic.
Organic food
is produced by methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as
synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They are generally healthier
than their non-organic counterparts, but it is not always the case, and the
term “organic” can give a false sense of security. Organic eggs for example,
are not much different from normal eggs, so one should not assume that it’s
fine to eat more organic eggs. In addition, some cereals and fruit bars are
touted as organic but in fact, contain many unhealthy elements like fats and
sugars.
Consuming too many supplements.
Certain
vitamins and minerals can be dangerous when taken in access. Too much calcium
for example, can lead to calcium accumulations in the form of kidney stones.
Excess vitamin D leads to Vitamin D toxicity and a myriad of problems
including tiredness and constipation. Have a balanced diet, and only turn to
vitamins to replenish what you’re short on. If you think you’re deficient in
certain vitamins, you should consult a doctor instead of self-medicating.
Unnecessary checkups
The use of certain scans and medical equipment exposes one
to radiation, and getting too much radiation is never a good thing. Some
doctors are overly keen to encourage their patients to go for tests, and it is
important to clarify your doubts, and understand the side effects before
blindly adopting recommendations. You should not require regular tests for
certain conditions if you’re not one of the at-risk people.
Constantly requesting
for antibiotics.
Many people ask for antibiotics and anti-virals because they
think it helps them get better faster. While this may be true, antibiotics not
only kills off good bacteria in your body, but also develops drug resistance in
the bad bacteria. Should you fall ill to the same condition again, the
antibiotic may work less effectively.
Forgetting about
sodium/salt
Many of us talk about watching calories and sugar levels, we tend to forget
about sodium/salt when checking the nutritional contents of our food purchases.
These days, many of us consume packaged and prepared foods for convenience, and
most of these contain excess sodium. High sodium intake has been linked with
increased risk of high blood pressure.
In Singapore, the recommended maximum intake is 5g a day for adults.
Drinking too much water
It sounds surprising, but drinking too much water can be a problem. This is
especially so you down a huge amount of water before running a marathon or
doing something that is physically vigorous. Drinking too much water leads to
water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia, in which the other nutrients in
the body become so diluted that they can’t function normally. In serious cases,
it can lead to coma and death. This is why sports drinks contain electrolytes
in addition to fluids. The presence of these electrolytes prevents the body
fluids from being too diluted so that materials and nerve messages can move
into and out of cells and throughout the body.
You should still get your eight glasses of water a day, but spread it out
throughout the day, and never gulp it down in one sitting.
Assuming that all healthy claims
equate to healthy food
“Low fat” and “refuced fat” sound healthy enough, but this may be cancelled
out by high sugar, high sodium etc… Don’t pounce on an item just because it
makes such claims.
Health Promotion Board has an extremely detailed guide on making sense of nutrition labels.
Skipping vaccines
HPV vaccinations, flu vaccinations (for elderly aged 65 years and above and people with low immunity
due to certain treatments and diseases), Hepatitis B vaccination and
travel-related vaccinations when you go abroad are examples of shots you should
get. For further advice and support, do visit the Health Promotion Board
website
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/
Thinking that all you need is the internet
While it is true that the internet is a wealth of useful information,
self-diagnosis from what you read online is never a substitute for professional
diagnosis in person by a doctor. Everybody’s constitution is different and what
works for one may not work for another. Online resources are good for staying
informed and general health information, but do seek a doctor’s advice if you
have a medical concern.
