Ditch unhealthy habits

You’ve been watching your diet carefully and following your exercise routine. You think you’ve got your health on track but, you may not realise that certain habits could be unhealthy.

Going green : If you are one of those who opts for salads when out for dinner, don’t automatically assume you’re doing yourself any good. A lot of salads contain extra ingredients like fried chicken chunks, croutons, and mayonnaise based dressings that are loaded in fat. Try asking your waiter about the ingredients that go into the salad and eliminate the cheese, sour cream, bacon bits etc. Choose a light dressing instead.

Musical workout: While music is always a great motivator to use at the gym, the volume level on your music player should be kept in check. The normal range of a music player is 60 to 120 decibels; constant exposure above 85 may cause hearing loss. The best option is to turn down your player or switch on the gym stereo system instead.

Sunscreen dilemma: Just because you apply sunscreen on a daily basis, doesn’t mean you are protected enough from the sun. Applying sunscreen too carelessly can rob away it’s benefits. Experts say to ensure you do not miss areas like the feet, top of the ears, temples, and the entire neck. Don’t be skimpy when applying it and spread it directly on to your skin.

Floss daily: Though we spend lots of time in the bathroom getting our face clean, when it comes to flossing most people skip out. The result is severe gum diseases that attack the tissue surrounding teeth and could lead to tooth loss. Floss once a day after brushing.

Ignoring body signs: We tend to be so consumed with the rush of daily chores that our health gets overlooked. If you are suffering from a severe pain in some body part, recurring cold or a severe case of indigestion, take some time to visit your doctor. These small body signs may signal something bigger.