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DAILY SIN: SHOWERING EVERY DAY Using piping-hot water combined with harsh soaps can strip the skin of its oils, resulting in dryness, cracking and even infection. The modern preoccupation with personal hygiene could be to the detriment of our skin, according to Dr Nick Lowe, consultant dermatologist at the Cranley Clinic in London. ‘For the majority of us, there is no need to have a thorough wash every day.’ If the prospect of skipping a daily shower horrifies you, at least make sure you wash with cooler water, he says. DAILY SIN: SLEEPING EIGHT HOURS A DAY A short four to 15-minute 'power nap' can be as effective as an extra hour at night. The notion of getting eight hours of solid sleep each night is a ‘modern convention’ that could leave you feeling more tired, says Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Centre. ‘We’ve evolved to have very flexible sleep patterns and fragmented sleep — including daytime napping — can be of real benefit,’ he says. DAILY SIN: RINSING AFTER BRUSHING TEETH Rinsing washes away the protective flouride coating left by the toothpaste, which would otherwise add hours of protection. Fight the urge to rinse after cleaning your teeth, says London dentist Dr Phil Stemmer, from The Fresh Breath Centre in London. ‘Rinsing washes away the protective flouride coating left by the toothpaste, which would otherwise add hours of protection.'  DAILY SIN: SITTING ON THE LOO Squatting instead of sitting on the toilet is a more natural position, and requires less straining Modern toilets are bad for us, suggests research. A study published by Israeli scientists in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences revealed that squatting instead of sitting is a more natural position, and requires less straining. This in turn reduces the risk of bowel problems such as haemorrhoids and diverticular disease. DAILY SIN: CLEANING Those who took on most of the responsibility for running the home had significantly higher blood pressure than those who left it to their partner. It’s the perfect excuse to unplug the vacuum and abandon the washing up — housework can actually be bad for your health, according to research published earlier this year. DAILY SIN: BREATHING WRONGLY As we get older we revert to the more inefficient style of chest breathing. Luckily, you can train your body to go back to breathing properly. Ask anyone to take in a deep breath and they will no doubt puff out their chest as they inhale — but this is wrong, says Neil Shah, psychotherapist and director of the Stress ManagemenSociety. ‘As babies we all breathed from our bellies, which uses all the lung capacity,’ he says. 2011-08-01
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