We always try our best when it comes to maintaining our health, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle despite eating right or exercising; we still don’t feel better. Science has identified 8 things that can destroy our bodies and health, according to a report from the medical website Eat This Not That.
**1. Lack of Vitamin D**
Vitamin D plays an important role in countless body functions, and not getting enough can increase the risk of depression, weakened immune function, and other diseases. It can be obtained from foods such as fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, fortified milk, and juice. If you think you aren't getting enough vitamin D from food or sunlight, consider supplements.
**2. Exposure to Light**
Exposure to light is the primary driver of our circadian rhythms that regulate all of our metabolic functions. The relative increase and decrease of blue light content in daylight is an important signal for the body’s biological clock, indicating various energy production or maintenance activities. Blue light causes the body to produce stress hormones and disrupts melatonin production and natural rhythms. To reduce your light exposure, avoid staring at your phone a few hours before bedtime or consider buying blue light-blocking glasses.
**3. Exposure to Stress**
Stress is also a significant burden and not easy to deal with, as it prompts the adrenal glands to release hormones in an attempt to fight stress, leading to more inflammation, weight gain, muscle loss, and weakened immune function.
**4. Not Moving Enough**
Physical inactivity is a vital factor for our health because the heart needs exercise to work efficiently. A 2017 study revealed that active women had higher levels of health-promoting microbes compared to sedentary women. Excessive sitting also puts pressure on the digestive system, causing bloating and constipation.
**5. Overconsumption of Sugar**
Sugar contributes to dull, puffy skin and is associated with weight gain, anxiety, and weakened gut microbes. A 2018 study found that artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame alter the microbial communities in the gut and may lead to glucose intolerance in both mice and humans.
**6. Not Drinking Enough Water**
Not consuming enough water leads to cellular failure, not to mention significant loss of vitamins and minerals; without sufficient water intake, the loss of minerals can lead to decreased cognitive performance, motor skills, and memory, according to one study.
**7. Not Spending Enough Time in Nature**
Avoiding the outdoors, sunlight, and nature sounds can negatively impact our mood and mentality. Studies have investigated the benefits of spending time in the forest on stress levels, showing that it can reduce anxiety.
**8. Poor Sleep Habits**
Poor sleep habits such as browsing social media in bed are dangerous, according to Harvard Medical School. It reported that the blue light emitted by electronics boosts alertness, reaction times, and mood. While these effects can be beneficial when the body needs to be alert, at night, they can become problematic as they limit melatonin production. Melatonin production at night helps you sleep and provides quality rest.
