1. Slouching (Poor Posture)
If you want to instantly approve your appearance and attractiveness, straighten your posture and you’re done! Posture sends a signal to everyone about how you feel about yourself. That is the social aspect of posture, which is reason enough to maintain good form, but the health problems associated with poor posture provide an even more convincing reason to sit up.
When your posture is poor, it’s similar to letting your organs get between Justin Beiber and a teenage girl. *squish* Poor posture pushes your organs out of alignment. I’ll let Dr. Joel Goldthwait, a renowned orthopedic surgeon from Harvard Medical School, explain why that’s a problem.
“With the poise such that the viscera of both the abdomen and thorax must be out of place, as can easily be demonstrated with X-rays, the best health could hardly be expected. The malposition of an organ will disturb its function. If malposition continues long enough, permanent damage will result, but if the faulty mechanics are corrected, damage will be prevented.”
He said this from his years in surgery. He also found that improper posture caused tension in nerve and blood vessels, calcium deposits on spinal vertebre, and it even stretched and “kinked” cerebral arteries!
As a warning, the human body isn’t meant to be completely straight, so don’t force that position for the sake of “good posture.” We have natural curves in our lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine areas. It’s a bit like a skinny S shape that gives our body natural shock absorption ability. You can see proper spine curvature in this Mayo Clinic slideshow.
Don’t mess with poor posture. Give your organs some breathing room starting today and you’ll avoid long term damage.
2. Not Brushing AND Flossing
You knew it would be here, but have you considered the non-dental reasons to keep good oral hygiene?
Think about what your mouth represents. It’s the primary gate to your castle (body)! As such, it is your first and primary defender. Full of beneficial bacteria, your saliva starts off the war on unwelcome guests (just like in real life, huh?). You even have two assassins in the back for trapping and killing unsuspecting germs – your tonsils. You are a formidable fortress. Congratulations, but there’s a problem…
The enemy has a lot of troops. In fact, they are relentless. When you fail to brush your pearly white gates and floss out the mud between them, you give the enemy a great hiding spot in which to “divide and conquer.” That is my first ever bacterial reproduction joke. With this given advantage, they can overwhelm your soldiers, damage the gates themselves, and even burrow in your gums.
If they are really bad guys, they’ll look exactly like the ugly deformed white orc from Lord of The Rings. If you see this guy on your toothbrush, call your dentist psychiatrist. In the worst case scenario, the bad ones might say, “forget the gates, I’m going for the heart!” They seem to literally do that, actually. WebMD says that up to 91% of patients with heart disease also have periodontal disease (66% is the normal rate of periodontal disease)!
Sally Cram, DDS, PC, says, “The theory is that inflammation in the mouth causes inflammation in the blood vessels.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA. Are you making this connection too?
Even without scientific proof, common sense says your mouth is loud your first and main vulnerability to invaders. When it is clean and healthy, your immune system can focus on other areas… like your spleen (I admit it, I just picked a random organ). It won’t have to send the big guns to the entrance to fend off the Witch-King of Angmar (i.e. trench mouth).
J.R.R. Tolkien’s books seem to be useful metaphors for dental hygiene.
In short, I believe there are a staggering number of health problems that originate from poor oral hygiene, but could never be traced to it. When your first line of defense is anything but solid, you’re in trouble. Your mouth is YOUR territory, but it’s near the border of the enemy’s state, and you’d do well to watch it like an elf (from The Lord Of The Rings. They have excellent vision.).
White teeth are just a bonus. Brush your teeth to save you life!
3. Lacking Variety In Your Diet
Why do you think vegetables are universally considered healthy?
It’s because they’re loaded with many different bioavailable vitamins and minerals! Processed foods use nutritionally void ingredients and if the ingredients had quality ingredients, they were stripped of their nutrition through processing. You’ll see in most bread and bread-containing foods that the bread is enriched. That means they’ve added back some vitamins after destroying them through processing.
99.4 out of 100 people know that vegetables are healthier than candy, but far fewer realize is how important variety is. A varied, healthy diet naturally balances your intake of vital nutrients. Vegans and vegetarians tend to eat healthier food than most, but since they don’t eat meat, it’s very easy for them to unknowingly develop a severe vitamin B-12 deficiency (a vitamin primarily found in meat), among others. I’m an omnivore for this reason, and because steak and salmon make my mouth water.
But even for omnivores, a lack of food variety can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Can’t you just take vitamins to make up for it? The debate on multivitamins continues, but I’d say no. Some vitamins and different forms of the same vitamin are absorbed better than others, but we know that vitamins in food are absorbed the best. You can’t completely make up for a poor diet with a multivitamin. For example, fruits and vegetables have a number of different beneficial compounds (antioxidants for example) that a multivitamin won’t contain.
The more diverse and healthy your diet, the less chance there is for you to miss out on a vital nutrient. If you live for years deficient in a critical vitamin or mineral, there may be harsh health consequences or disease down the road. Vitamins and minerals play an important role in immunity and a well-functioning body.
Today, I recommend that you eat spinach, brush your teeth afterwards, and stand up straight against a wall for four hours.
Image by Lourdes Nightingale
Stephen Guise frequently generates effective ideas for life improvement at the award-winning blog, Deep Existence - Personal Development’s Deep End. If you subscribe for updates, you’ll receive Stephen’s Stress Management Redefined E-book as a gift. It’s recommended for those who want to eliminate stress in their lives.
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Thanks for hosting this post Stacy!
Readers, what do you think about The Lord of The Rings? Er…I meant, what do you think about these habits? Are you consistent with sitting up straight, brushing/flossing, and varying your diet?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Stephen invites you to read… “Why Do I Eat So Much?”
[Reply]
Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 10:30 am
Thank you very much for sharing these important habit, Stephen! It’s great to have you here!
I know that all three are very important to healthy living.
Thanks again!
Stacy
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[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Thanks again Stacy.
I absolutely loved the comments from your community. You’ve got a great group here! Thanks for hosting and best of luck with your novels. You’ll have to teach me how to write a full length book someday.
Cheers,
Stephen
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Yeah man you gotta take care of your grill, seriously.
I also encourage ambitious people to focus on getting their bodies in shape that way you’ll have a daily reminder of success, this is important.
There’s nothing worse than having NOTHING going well in your life.
Imagine your blog sucks, you’re flat broke, and you’re flabby and out of shape with bad teeth.
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Stephen Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 11:44 am
I agree. There are not many things more important than fitness. I’ve found that exercise has a dramatic effect on other areas besides the obvious (health). It’s a great mental stimulant if you need to think of ideas, it’s a natural anti-depressant, and it helps build self-discipline.
That scenario sounds terrible! Thanks for your thoughts, Darnell.
Stephen invites you to read… When To Turn Your Brain Off
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Hi Stephen,
I really enjoyed your post and thanks to Stacy for introducing us to Stephen.
Stephen, I could really resonate with all the points in your post. One point I would like to add, is for those who may be having difficulties with their posture. Practicing yoga is an excellent way to develop and maintain a good and healthy posture.
Thank you.
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Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Nice to meet you too Hiten.
I agree fully. I practice yoga.
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Hey Stephen,
Well I would definitely have to agree with you on these three. Not that I’m perfect by any means.
I had an issue early on with my posture. The doctor’s actually told my parents I should wear a back brace. I couldn’t believe it but they asked me if I wanted to wear it and of course what child is going to say yes. I said no so they didn’t make me and my spine is curved today because of that. They felt that I would just take it off when I got to school and they wasted all that money which is why they asked. If they had known me better though they would have known I would have never taken it off. I wish they would have made me wear it. Slouching is so unattractive and can really cause problems with your back.
Great tips so hope most people aren’t too terribly late in doing the right thing today.
~Adrienne
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[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Oh no!
They should have definitely made you wear it if it would have helped your spine and posture. This isn’t as serious as posture, but I wish my parents would have forced me to wear my retainer. I had to get braces again. Not many people get to be a metal mouth twice!
Stephen Guise invites you to read… Here’s Why Looking For Success Is Like Looking At Medusa
[Reply]
Hey Stephen,
I’m working on all these 3 habits, as we speak. Ok, I’ll admit that I should make more progress. These are things that everyone knows we should go for, yet few of us really take the action.
You got me scared with this though “He also found that improper posture caused tension in nerve and blood vessels, calcium deposits on spinal vertebrae, and it even stretched and “kinked” cerebral arteries!”
So, I promise I’ll take more serious action!
Nice post! Cheers!
Cornelius
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[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Oh yes, that part scared me too. It takes poor posture problems to a whole new level people don’t consider. It makes sense though. If your body is aligned properly, everything is “lined up” as it should be.
Stephen Guise invites you to read… How To Make Your Life An Adventure
[Reply]
As soon as I read your first tip I straightened up my posture. I’m a little tired from a workout I did yesterday but I never thought that sitting with an awkward posture could harm internal organs. Thanks for the tips!
[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Paul, my best friend and I used to say “posture pals” whenever we noticed one or both of us with improper posture. It was probably more fun than it sounds.
Stephen Guise invites you to read… Minimalist Living: Because Anything Else Is A Waste Of Time And Money
[Reply]
Paul Lee Reply:
March 15th, 2013 at 8:58 am
It is a game worth playing. My posture pal catches me slouching when I less realize that I’m slouching.
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Great and fun post Stephen,
Well, I try to sit right with my heard on my shoulder and I kind of stand tall, so I think I’m OK.
Then, I bush my teeth 3 times a day and floss and do all kind of things NOW because I am paying for past mistakes, yes. But now I take care of my mouth like I won’t get another one any time soon
As far as food, thank God I was born and raised in France where people definitely know how to eat healthy. Lot of fresh food, veggies, fruits and not much of processed food like here in the US.
Thank for this entertaining post.
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Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
Yes! I need to visit France. I am visiting Italy in May and have been to Germany and Ireland. I loved the food in Germany – the bakeries in particular were amazing. But I found the food there to be healthier overall than the USA. I’m a big health nut.
Of the three, eating well is my best. I need to work on the other two some. It’s one habit at a time for me now though, and it’s “wake up early.”
Stephen Guise invites you to read… “Why Do I Eat So Much?”
[Reply]
Hello and thank you for this article that can benefit any of us.
As I was reading it, I found myself sitting up, tummy tucked in, shoulders back, back straight. For me I find that I can become slouchy when I am relaxed or I am trying to stay up, when I should be sleeping or resting.
My diet is not bad, but I can still improve. I eat salads everyday and I drink lots of water, but still there is room for improvement.
Thank you for reminding us to take care of ourselves.
Gladys invites you to read…Awareness by Living your life consciously
Gladys invites you to read… Awareness by Living your life consciously
[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Hi Gladys,
I’m happy you found this helpful. If you want to get serious about posture, there is a product called iPosture that you place on your upper chest that will buzz when you slouch, reminding you to sit up. It has gyroscopes and such that detect your movement and body position. It’s pretty pricey, but I might get it at some point.
Cheers!
Stephen Guise invites you to read… Minimalist Living: Because Anything Else Is A Waste Of Time And Money
[Reply]
I agree with all of these, Stephen! They’re all important to health, especially in the long run. I would add stretching to this list (if I were asked to add to this list!). My grandmother lived to be 93 and stretched every day of her life, first thing in the morning.
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Stephen Guise Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Carolyn, would you please add to this list?
Oh! Thanks!
I think it’s great when people add to lists. We all have different ideas and knowledge.
I like stretching, but I don’t know how important it is for general health. It does feel really good. Do you know any details about the benefits? I’m pretty inflexible, but I get better when I do yoga (which is great!). Cheers!
Stephen Guise invites you to read… Here’s Why Looking For Success Is Like Looking At Medusa
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The bad habit of not brushing and flossing teeth daily will have adverse effects in the future. This is because it will make the teeth look yellow and they will surely decay and fall off in a very early age. That also causes loss of confidence because people start ignoring you and the bad smell is unbearable.
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Slouching (poor posture) has an adverse affect on an individual later on in life. There are people who have a habit of leaning backward or forward all the time, especially when they sit or stand. This will surely disturb the actual posture of the body making you look unattractive and causing pain in the back in the long run.
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I suffer greatly in the posture department, but the bit about what it is doing to my organs has made me rethink how much importance I give to my daily posture! All I knew was that I didn’t want to end up looking like a hunchback, but now I got a few extra motivators.
As far as diet goes, I’m pretty good. I watched a woman on TV yesterday who has ate only french fries for 20+ years for breakfast, lunch, and supper. When I say only, I mean only. I’m surprised she has survived so long as a health individual – she even went through a pregnancy like that! I feel like a rockstar compared to her.
I am a vegetarian though, and you mentioned that you cannot get B12 without eating meat. I was going to try being vegan this year, so I did a lot of research on diet and being healthy, and I found that there is a vegan source for B12. Don’t quote me but I think that plants, humans, nor animals actually make B12, and the vitamin comes from the foods that we (or the animals) eat that are contaminated with B12. I can’t remember everything about where it comes from – something about bacteria being responsible for making it. However, one thing I do know for sure is that vegans can get the vitamin in fortified food, pill form, and nutritional yeast. In fact, it is mandatory that you get your vitamin B12 in one way or the other for good health.
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Stephen Guise Reply:
March 15th, 2013 at 6:01 am
French fries?! Wow, that is surprising. Potatoes are a fairly complete food though, so it makes some sense. I just hope it’s not just McDonald’s fries or a similar kind that is full of transfats. Even so, she’s overloading with Omega 6 oils, which can cause problems. That’s so interesting, thanks for sharing.
You’re right about B12. We can’t produce it ourselves. I am a meat eater, but I still take a B12 pill every day because it’s an incredibly beneficial vitamin (and my meat intake varies).
Stephen Guise invites you to read… Minimalist Living: Because Anything Else Is A Waste Of Time And Money
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Kari Reply:
March 15th, 2013 at 9:36 am
I’m glad you mentioned the vitamin in your post because I don’t think a lot of people understand its value to our health.
The girl ate store bought fries that had already been fried and then she fried them again! Turns out she had some sort of medical issue with her taste, where she was very sensitive to tastes, and could only stand the smell/taste of french fries. I wish had that problem with healthy food, it would save me a lot of willpower and bad eating!
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the way we all are working i guess we need to take some time out for our health as well.. otherwise there is no point working so hard and making money and not having a good health later to enjoy it…. for me health is always the first priority and some of the tips above are really helpful as we need to start with little steps to correct our mistakes…
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Stephen Guise Reply:
March 15th, 2013 at 6:01 am
Agreed Jgar. Too many people sacrifice health for their career.
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[Reply]
These three tips surely come in handy!
Still working on my posture. Being five foot tall, I cannot afford to slouch he he – but I do
Sitting in front of the computer most of the time, I catch myself doing that. So in between things I get up and do some stretching. It is an on going challenge for me!
As for for the other two…I’m on it! Especially eating well. Now many people say they eat well and destroy their food in a microwave….I don’t own one. I am so crazy about eating well, that I actually moved from NYC to Ithaca NY so I can be around local farmers and eat my food while it is still alive! I don’t eat anything with furry faces only because I just never liked it. But I do eat local organic chicken and fresh caught fish. Some people eat to live, I live to eat he he.
Thanks for the important tips we must be aware of,
Donna
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[Reply]
Stephen Guise Reply:
March 15th, 2013 at 6:05 am
Frequent breaks to stretch/move are great. It’s one of those tips we all know about, but I don’t know of many people who do it consistently.
It sounds like you eat very well. When’s dinner?
You’re welcome Donna. Thanks for sharing!
~ Stephen
Stephen Guise invites you to read… “Why Do I Eat So Much?”
[Reply]
Lacking variety in diet will not only make us lose on important vitamins and minerals needed by our body, but also we will get bored of the same type of diet. Then, following it would become difficult. A change in the diet can do wonders for our health as well.
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Uh oh! I hate to disappoint you, Stephen, but it looks like I violate two of these. There are times when I am too lazy to floss and I only do it every so often. Your analogy of our mouths as the gatekeeper is great! In fact, it’s making me head to the restroom right after this comment.
As for diet, my eating habits are pretty terrible. Other than the fact that I’m incredibly skinny, a lot of my diet consists of the same things and none of them are too healthy. I like that “99.4 out of 100.”
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Stacy,
Thanks so much for this post. I am aware of all three, but I have to really be conscious of my posture. I’ll tell you, I find myself slouching so much when I sit. I can really feel it in my back. I have to give myself frequent posture checks. Thanks for the reminder. I’m all of a sudden 2 inches taller.
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“Lacking variety in your diet” is something I really need to look into. I am very fuzzy about the food I eat. Like a normal person, even I go for the taste which is very bad for my health. Your article is very enlightening for people like me who eats lot of fast food. Thanks for sharing this post!
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Posture-wise I would recommend investing in an uber-high quality desk chair that encourages good posture. I started off with a standard one from Ikea and have no moved to one from Hag. Wow! I actually look forward to sitting down now and makes 10 hour working sessions a breeze.
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Thanks Stephen sharing the 3 little habits. I totally agree you mentioned above and I always remind myself to look at these habits. Thanks for information about the poor oral hygiene would leading to heart disease that i never heard before.
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