Sometimes we see a viral health craze that seems too good to be true, but people swear the results are life-changing, so we believe them. The thing is, a lot of health trends are basically BS, but even worse, some can cause more harm than good. Redditors are calling out the so-called “healthy habits” that ended up being more harmful than helpful, so we can learn from their experiences.
- “The whole 'early bird' thing. I tried the 5 a.m. routine for like three months, and just felt like garbage constantly — it turns out my body actually runs better on 7–8 hours of sleep starting around midnight.”
- "It's embarrassing, but I always brushed my teeth too hard. I didn't know you were supposed to do it softly to protect your enamel. I had great teeth growing up, and later my enamel got really effed up, and I have sensitive teeth now.”
- "I have a fitness tracking watch that I've been using for the past several years. I'm a personal trainer, so I understand the importance of exercise, but in the last year, I've had the issue of not being able to take it off... And if I do, it only lasts a day or two before I feel this 'need' to put it back on. I feel like I'm losing data and progress, and that I'm exercising for the watch instead of for me."
- "Going vegan. When I went vegan, I started losing tons of hair, and felt horrible. I was cold all the time, and had intense bone and joint pain. I still cook a lot of vegan meals and enjoy them, but a more balanced diet has made me feel so much better."
- "Therapy. Don't get me wrong, it works, but it's all about getting the right therapist."
- "Running, oddly enough. I developed plantar fasciitis, which then led to achilles tendinopathy, and now heel fat pad syndrome. For the last 12+ months, I've been unable to work out the way I used to, even before the running. So much regret."
- "I stopped using cotton swabs to clean my ears for six months, because everyone says it's dangerous. But I ended up with wax blockage in both ears so bad, I couldn't hear, and had to go to urgent care to get them flushed out."
- "Drinking water. I drank too much and poisoned myself. It was a REALLY lousy few days. I had to eat salt and get electrolytes into my body, and once I did, I felt way better."
- "Trying to optimize every second of my day. It started as being productive all the time, and ended with me feeling guilty any time I relaxed."
Source: BuzzFeed