1. Drinking at least five glasses of water a day can reduce your chances of suffering from a heart attack by 40%.
2. Repeatedly using a plastic water bottle can release chemicals into your water. Why not try a reusable bottle instead? It’s good for you and the planet.
3. Brushing teeth too soon after eating or drinking can soften the tooth enamel, especially if you’ve just been eating or drinking acidic foods.
The Academy of General Dentistry recommends waiting at least 30 to 60 minutes before brushing.[1]
4. Breathing deeply in moments of stress, or anytime during the day, brings many benefits such as better circulation, decreased anxiety and reduced blood pressure.
5. On average, there are more bacteria per square inch in a kitchen sink than the bathroom.
6. 39% of adults in the world are overweight.
There can be a number of reasons a person might be overweight, such as their genetics or environment.
Many also put it down to the lack of physical activity we do as a nation.
Learn more about how daily movement can improve your health by reading our facts about exercise.
7. Swearing can make you feel better when you’re in pain.
In a study conducted by Keele University in the UK, participants were asked to submerge their hand into a bucket of cold water.[2]
While swearing, participants reported less pain and were able to withstand it longer.
8. Gardening can be an effective way to build strength throughout your body.
Though you might initially think of hitting the gym when it comes to building strength, there are lots of ways to build muscle without lifting weights.
9. 86 million adults in the US use a health or fitness app.
10. Men and women store fat very differently.
11. The average person burns 50 calories every hour while they sleep!
Get an early night and you’ll do more than burn calories!
A healthier heart, improved memory and a stronger immune system are just a few of the benefits of going to bed early.
12. During workouts, women tend to burn more fat, but post-workout men burn more fat.
13. According to a study from Harvard University, people who are always running late tend to be happier and live longer!
14. Between 2000 and 2015, the average global life expectancy increased by five years.
15. The US spends almost three times more on healthcare than any other country in the world, but ranks last in life expectancy among the 12 wealthiest industrialized countries.
16. During an allergic reaction your immune system is responding to a false alarm that it perceives as a threat.
17. Maintaining good relationships with your friends and family, reduces harmful levels of stress and boosts your immune system.
18. The microbe that causes anthrax can numb multiple types of pain in mice.
A toxin from the microbe targets pain-sensing cells to change signals and block pain.
Results offered hope to scientists looking for pain management alternatives for their patients that don’t have the systematic effects of opioids and other painkillers.
19. Men who live alone for several years are prone to higher levels of inflammation.
20. Scientists have discovered 14 genes that cause obesity and three that prevent weight gain.
Focus on YOU!
If you want more truths about health and wellbeing, then take a look at the latest facts about wellness.
You can learn about the power of rosemary and how to potentially slow the aging process…
References
- O’Connor, A. (2012). Really? Never Brush Your Teeth Immediately After a Meal [Online]. The New York Times. Available from: https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/really-never-brush-your-teeth-immediately-after-a-meal/ [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
- Stephens, R., Atkins, J. and Kingston, A. (2009). Swearing as a response to pain [Online]. Neuroreport. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/neuroreport/Abstract/2009/08050/Swearing_as_a_response_to_pain.4.aspx [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
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