World Health Day | Questions about Healthy Lifestyles: Have you made more mistakes than minefields?

Audit expert: Peng Guoqiu

Deputy Chief Physician, Fourth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

April 7th of each year is World Health Day , a global holiday set by the World Health Organization. The establishment of this holiday aims to draw the attention of people around the world to health issues and to raise public health awareness.

Source｜Original design

However, in this era of information explosion, there are endless claims about healthy lifestyles, many of which are misleading. So, is the healthy lifestyle you think you live in really healthy?

See if you have been infected?

Myth 1

Use white paper to wrap food = clean and hygienic

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Many people often use white paper to wrap food for convenience or because they think it is clean. But in fact, in order to make white paper "white", many manufacturers use various additives such as bleaching agents and fluorescent brighteners during the production process. These additives may not only be harmful to the human body, but also easily contaminate food, increasing food safety risks.

Myth 2

Vegetarianism = Healthy Eating

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Vegetarianism has been highly sought after in recent years, and many people believe that as long as they don't eat meat, they are healthy. However, vegetarianism does not mean complete nutrition. Long-term lack of animal protein and certain nutrients may lead to malnutrition and decreased immunity. A healthy diet should be nutritionally balanced, including appropriate amounts of meat, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Myth 3

Sugar-free drinks = healthy drinks

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Many people choose sugar-free drinks as their daily drinks in order to lose weight or control blood sugar. But do you know? Sugar-free drinks often contain a lot of artificial sweeteners, which may interfere with the body's normal metabolism of sugar. Long-term drinking is actually bad for health. Healthy drinks should be low in sugar, low in calories, and free of additives, such as pure fruit juice, green tea, etc.

Myth 4

Staying up late = Night owl

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Some people feel that they are born night owls, energetic at night and drowsy during the day. However, staying up late for a long time will disrupt the body's biological clock, affect sleep quality, and lead to problems such as decreased immunity and memory loss. A healthy lifestyle should be a regular schedule and ensure adequate sleep time.

Myth 5

Make the quilt after getting up = keep the bed tidy

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It is also a common misconception to fold the quilt immediately after getting up. Many people think that this can keep the bed clean, but in fact it is not good for health. People sweat during sleep, and folding the quilt immediately after getting up will cause the sweat to be wrapped in the quilt, which not only affects comfort but also creates a living environment for pathogens. Doing this for a long time may cause skin problems or increase the risk of respiratory diseases.

Through the above five misunderstandings, we can see that a healthy lifestyle is not simply to follow a certain rule or habit, but requires a comprehensive judgment based on personal circumstances and scientific knowledge . World Health Day reminds us to pay attention to our health and use scientific methods to understand and improve our lifestyle.

How to develop a healthy lifestyle?

1

Maintain hand hygiene

Washing hands is a key step in maintaining hand hygiene. When washing hands, be sure to use running water, avoid using basin water, and ensure that your hands are fully rinsed. The rubbing time should be no less than 15 seconds to ensure that every corner is thoroughly cleaned. Washing hands with water alone is not enough. Soap or hand sanitizer should be used, which can effectively remove pathogens and protect your health. At the same time, it is very important to keep the soap dry, and clean the soap box regularly to avoid bacteria from growing in a humid environment. Sharing soap with multiple people is also an unhygienic practice and should be avoided as much as possible to maintain personal and public health. By washing hands correctly, we can effectively prevent diseases, protect hand hygiene, and add points to health.

Source of the seven-step hand washing method｜Science Popularization China

2

Keep the environment clean

Our living environment has a vital impact on our health. First of all, we must keep our home environment clean and tidy. Regularly cleaning the room, removing garbage, and keeping indoor air circulating can reduce the breeding of bacteria and viruses. At the same time, we must pay attention to the cleaning and disinfection of household items, especially bedding, towels, tableware and other frequently used items, which must be replaced and washed regularly. Secondly, in public places, we must abide by hygiene regulations, do not litter, do not spit, and try to use disposable sanitary products to reduce the risk of cross infection.

Source: AI generated image

3

Pay attention to food hygiene

Diet is the main way for us to obtain nutrition, but it is also an important way for bacteria and viruses to spread. Therefore, we must pay attention to food hygiene and ensure the safety and hygiene of food. First of all, we should choose fresh and clean food. When purchasing ingredients, we should pay attention to check the freshness and hygiene of the food, and avoid buying expired or spoiled food. At the same time, during the cooking process, we should thoroughly wash the ingredients to ensure that pesticide residues and bacteria are removed. Secondly, we should pay attention to the hygiene of tableware and kitchen utensils. Tableware and kitchen utensils should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to avoid bacterial growth. In addition, we should develop good eating habits, avoid overeating, maintain a balanced and diverse diet, and enhance the body's resistance.

Source: AI generated image

On this World Health Day

Let's take action together

Created with scientific methods

Create your own healthy lifestyle!