Everyone has habits that they’d like to change.
Maybe yours is sleeping in after a busy week or skipping breakfast on your way to work.
But what if we told you that some of these naughty habits might actually be beneficial for your health?
Here, we look at some of the things that you shouldn’t feel guilty for!
Eating eggs
Eggs help you stay fuller for longer.
Who doesn’t love a serving of something poached at brunch?
Eggs are high in protein, cholesterol, healthy fats and key vitamins and minerals.
Their cholesterol levels have been criticised, but the cholesterol in eggs does not lead to high cholesterol levels in healthy people.
Eggs are great for brekkie because they keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Using social media
Studies suggest that social media actually helps people feel more connected.
Ever since social media became a big part of our everyday lives, critics have said that it can be bad for both our health and relationships.
Recent studies have found that these preconceived ideas were a result of poorly undertaken studies and pseudoscience.
Now, the majority of studies suggest that social media helps people feel more connected and provides us with emotional support.
Drinking coffee
Coffee is full of essential nutrients like vitamin B and potassium.
For most of us, the day doesn’t begin until we’ve had a brew.
And although it’s an addictive habit, extensive scientific research suggests that there are many benefits to drinking coffee.
It’s loaded with antioxidants and essential nutrients like vitamin B and potassium.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can help burn fat and enhance brain function.
And coffee drinkers have a 60 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
You can safely have up to four cups a day so enjoy that morning cappuccino!
Skipping breakfast
Skipping breakfast can help with weight loss, it is called intermittent fasting.
Contrary to popular belief, breakfast isn’t the most important meal of the day.
Research has shown that allowing your body to fast regularly can help with weight loss, lower your risk of type two diabetes and reduce inflammation.
This is called intermittent fasting.
The most widely followed form of it is referred to as the 16:8 where you stop eating at 8pm, skip brekkie and have your first meal for lunch.
So you fast for 16 hours and eat for eight.
Having 1-2 glasses of wine
Cheers! Having a glass or two of vino can be good for your brain.
Having a glass or two of vino can be good for your brain!
The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published a study which found that people who drank regularly in moderation were more likely to reach 85 years old without signs of cognitive decline!
Sleeping in
Sleeping in could improve your life span.
Hitting snooze on the weekend has long been thought to disrupt your sleep cycle, but after a busy week many of us are tempted to catch up on the precious hours we missed in waking early for work or family obligations.
According to a new study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, people who consistently slept five or fewer hours a night were 65 per cent more likely to die early than those who slept six to seven hours a night on average.
It found that the extra hours you grab on the weekend really can help your weekly total, even if you’re doing it by playing catch-up on Sunday morning.
Eating chocolate
Eating chocolate can cause a reduction in appetite.
There’s a reason that the Latin name for chocolate Theobroma Cacao directly translates to ‘Food of the gods’.
It’s delicious and can have some health benefits if you opt for dark chocolate varieties.
Cacao in chocolate has been proven to improve your cardiovascular health and circulation.
Another study revealed that chocolate can also cause a reduction in appetite.
Participants were served 100g of either milk or dark chocolate two hours before a buffet lunch.
The participants who ate the dark chocolate had a calorie intake 17 per cent lower than those who had the milk variety.
Keep this in mind next time someone offers you a selection box!
Messiness
A little mess could be a good thing.
If your desk or bedroom is covered in clutter, it may be because you’re extremely creative!
A study published by the journal of Psychological Science found that working in a tidy room encourages people to do socially responsibly things like eat well and do their taxes, while working in a messy environment helps people to think outside the box and use their creativity.
Take that neat freaks!
Swearing
Swearing can help process pain.
It may not be very ladylike but bad language can actually help us feel less pain!
For years, many people believed that swearing in response to pain would make it feel worse.
But a study by psychologist Richard Stephens revealed that letting fly with some choice language in response acts like a release, allowing subjects to withstand more pain.
It doesn’t mean you should be cursing like a sailor at any opportunity, but don’t feel bad if you say a naughty word when you stub your toe.
Eating carbs
Carbs are a great source of fibre.
Many people believe that carbohydrates are the cause of unwanted weight gain.
But carbs are extremely important in keeping your body energised and feeling fuller for longer.
The US institute of Medicine claims that ditching carbs as part of your diet can impair brain function and reduce your ability to concentrate properly.
They’re also a brilliant source of fibre and absolutely delicious.
