Women's Health: The Six Dirtiest Habits in Life
1. Not Brushing Teeth Before Bed
Brushing your teeth before bed is more important than in the morning. It not only removes plaque from your mouth but also helps protect your teeth and promotes a better night's sleep.
43% of women admit they occasionally forget to brush their teeth before bed. Experts remind us that during sleep, saliva production decreases significantly, and saliva is the primary force for killing bacteria. Therefore, skipping just one brushing can allow oral bacteria to take advantage, greatly increasing the risk of cavities and periodontal disease. Furthermore, many studies have confirmed that bacteria causing periodontal disease can also lead to heart problems.
2. Bathing with Just Water
A warm bath (35°C-45°C) before bed can relax your muscles and joints, improve blood circulation, and help you fall asleep. A survey shows that nearly 1/3 of women do not use shower gel every day, merely rinsing with water. Experts point out whether to use shower gel should depend on how much you sweat. Bacteria that cause body odor feed on sweat, especially from the armpits and groin. When you sweat a lot, rinsing with water alone is not enough to wash away bacteria, leading to their accumulation. The longer they stay, the "smellier" you become.
3. Not Washing Hands with Soap After Using the Toilet
Even children know to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet, but are you really washing them thoroughly? A survey shows that only 38% of people use soap to wash their hands after using the toilet, and only 2% wash for more than 10 seconds. Experts explain that when you wipe after using the toilet, your hands are very close to a source of E. coli, which can cause bacterial infection. Without soap, it's impossible to completely remove the bacteria. Therefore, it is essential to wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer and rinse thoroughly with water after using the toilet.
4. Not Changing Underwear Every Day
Women's underwear should be washed and changed frequently, but a survey shows that 52% of women do not change their underwear daily. Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba points out that after one day of wear, underwear can contain about 0.1 grams of feces, and one gram of feces contains 10 million viruses, 1 million bacteria, 1000 parasite cysts, and 100 worm eggs. These bacteria can get on your hands, and if you touch your eyes or handle food without washing your hands, you can get sick.
Tips for Washing Underwear
1. Use special detergents, such as soap with a disinfectant effect.
2. Do not mix underwear with other clothes when washing to prevent cross-contamination.
3. Use a dedicated basin, and regularly scald it with boiling water to disinfect. Do not share laundry basins among family members.
4. After washing, do not dry underwear directly in the sun. It should first be air-dried in a cool, shaded place, then placed in the sun for disinfection. Otherwise, the underwear can easily become hard and lose its shape.
5. Picking Up Food from the Floor to Eat
Over 40% of women say they eat food that has just fallen on the floor and been picked up. There was also a "5-second rule," suggesting that food is safe to eat if picked up within five seconds of falling. Researchers point out that this rule is extremely misleading. Experiments have shown that food is contaminated by bacteria just two or three seconds after hitting the floor. Therefore, all food that falls on the floor should be thrown into the trash immediately. Young mothers should pay special attention to this when teaching their children and set a good example, as children are great imitators.
6. Working Out Barefoot
A survey found that 32% of people work out barefoot, especially when doing aerobics or belly dancing. Experts recommend wearing lightweight shoes during exercise. This is because your feet sweat a lot during a workout, and a moist environment is ideal for bacteria to grow. These bacteria can be left on the floor by others' feet, and when you step on them, you might get infected with athlete's foot (commonly known as "Hong Kong foot") or plantar warts (a type of wart on the sole of the foot).