Old wives’ tales have abounded no matter what you’re talking about, but especially when it comes to stress, we think things that are not necessarily true. Misinformation has spread far and wide, but now you don’t necessarily have to believe all of the mistruths about stress.
- 8 Glasses of water a day – Starting in 1945, people were told that a healthy person should drink 8 glasses of water a day. This was just meant to be a guideline, because how much you drink and how much water you need depends on you. If you weigh more, you need more water, if you have certain body types, you need more water or maybe less. However, while the stress has always been on water, other drinks such as juice, milk, and tea can be just as good at keeping you properly hydrated.
- Stress turns your hair grey – Too much stress has long been said to turn your hair grey or even white in extreme cases. However, there is no scientific evidence to back either of these ideas, they are only in the movies. Too much stress can age you at an accelerated rate from the inside out, but your hair won’t necessarily be the first thing to go. According to expert Nancy L Snyderman MD, chief medical editor for NBC,
”Too much stress does age us inside and out”
There is just no evidence that it actually turns locks grey.
- Too little light ruins your eyes – Again according to Dr. Snyderman MD,
Reading in dim light can strain your eyes. You tend to squint, and that can give you a headache.
However, there is no substantial proof that his will actually cause permanent damage to the eyes. It may increase your risk of crow’s feet, but that’s about it. - Coffee is Bad – Actually, studies have recently shown that the antioxidants in coffee can substantially lower the risk of diabetes in patients who have a family history of diabetes. Other studies have shown other benefits. Yes, the caffeine in coffee can give you jitters, but it’s not overtly dangerous for most.
- Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever – Colds and fevers tend to be caused by viruses’, not temperature. Temperature can make you more susceptible,but fasting does not actually help colds and fevers. These viruses
tend to last 7 to 10 days, no matter what you do.
However, even if you are not hungry, you still need plenty of fluids. - Fresh Vs. Frozen – Scientists have focused on the benefits of antioxidants and other vitamins that are supposedly more abundant in fresh foods, making frozen foods second rate. However, the truth is that frozen foods can actually be just as good at locking in the nutrients, there is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.
With high crime rates, traffic congestion, and long commutes, the quality of life in most major cities may exclude them from being the best places to live. Yes, you are close to a lot of different amenities, but you can get many of the same benefits without the hustle that can cause so much stress.
Everybody from scientologists to health enthusiasts have been known to tell us all about how toxins can harm our bodies, and ultimately, how toxins can drag us down and cause us stress. There are of course skeptics, and there are medical professionals who are unsure of the benefits of detoxes. However, no one has disputed the harmful effects of things like air pollution, processed foods, and other things that supporters claim toxify your body. However, whatever you think, there are a few easy ways to detox your life. At the very least, avoiding certain types of extra steps like sleeping pills might help.
Many who are looking for ways to live longer have found that lower levels of stress can add years to one’s life. However, there are quite a few things that go into stress if you haven’t already noticed, and there are quite a few other things to consider if you want to live a lot longer.
When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, medical experts stated that he had the heart of a 60 year old man, which could have eventually lead to an early death due to all of the stress that came with the 13 year civil rights movement that he effectively led. Judging by changes in hair color that seem inevitable for US Presidents, you would think that these individuals would have the same problems, especially when times are hard as they have been for Obama and other presidents before him. Just think about events like Pearl Harbor for example, which is being memorialized today by the way.
Racism has been extensively studied in many different settings as a major cause of stress, but it has only been recently that scientists have officially connected racism to health problems. While we have long known that stress can increase blood pressure, cholesterol, etc., the scientific community has never really connected stress associated with racism with the fact that many African American and other minority communities have a higher rate of heart disease and other similar conditions.
With the recent Penn State scandal, at least one famous hockey player has come forward to say that he was abused at one time, but he does not like the label of “victim.” He has said that there are only survivors or non-survivors. Other famous faces such as Ashton Kutcher have also commented on the Penn State scandal, in his case drawing quite a bit of bad press for evidently not reading the facts on the case before opening his mouth.
In this economy, many have faced the trouble involved with unemployment or being laid off. Things don’t always turn out the way you want, despite your best efforts, and sometimes you just have to face change. Unfortunately, this can cause quite a bit of stress, how are you going to pay your bills, how are you going to find another job, etc. The best thing that you can do is to take a minute, step back, and evaluate. People take different approaches, but it’s completely possible to get through it and move on with life.
Holidays are the most stressful time of year, and it has been said before, many were basically created by the card companies (sometimes based on old Greek celebrations) to sell more merchandise. In fact, Christmas is said to have the highest rates of reported suicide. Go figure.
Traditionally, we are taught to and choose to believe that high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes., etc. are all largely related to diet and exercise, which is true. In the general population, people who consume more antioxidants, stick to a low calorie diet, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight tend to have lower instances of those problems. In addition, some have been able to overcome type 2 diabetes through diet and exercise. What about the other cases though?