10 Surprising Body Facts That Can Help You Focus On Your Health

Believe it or not, even the smallest details of your lifestyle can affect your body and overall health. It turns out that eating healthy can make us hear better, and closing our eyes can help us remember things.

We've put together 10 incredible facts that can make us all rethink our habits and improve our health.

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1. A couple of cups of coffee a day are beneficial.

According to the British Medical Journal, drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day is good for our health. Existing data link coffee consumption to positive health outcomes. Drinking coffee in moderation seems to reduce the risk of heart disease. Coffee drinkers can also be protected from a number of other illnesses such as diabetes and dementia.

2. Optimists live longer.

According to research, optimists live longer than pessimists. Because they tend to exercise more and eat healthier foods, optimists are more likely to have a healthier body, normal blood pressure, and normal cholesterol levels.

3. Our bodies were built for carbohydrates.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo studied 46 species of mammals and found that human bodies did evolve to be able to digest more carbohydrates. Indeed, humans have more amylase genes, an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates and produces energy, thereby fueling our bodies.

4. LED lights can cause severe eye strain.

We find LED lighting fixtures in most modern facilities, both domestic and public, and LED lighting technology is quite common. However, these lights pose a significant risk of eye damage. A 2018 study links the use of backlit devices to poor sleep. People who turn off their phones at least an hour before bed report having better sleep performance than those who use LED devices after 10 pm. In fact, LED lights can interfere with our circadian rhythm, the process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and can cause us to develop headaches, visual fatigue, and general visual discomfort, which in turn increases the risk of accidents.

5. Your body does not benefit from the diet.

The math is simple: burn more calories than you eat and you will lose the extra pounds you want to shed. But the diet can't be that simple. A recent study found that severe calorie restriction slows down our metabolism, which in turn forces our bodies to go into "survival mode" to conserve energy. Plus, skipping meals just doesn't work. In fact, dieting can be more harmful than we think. Hunger signals are a way of telling your body that it needs a dose of energy.

6. Learning a new language rejuvenates the brain.

The advantage of bilingualism is undeniable. Learning a second language as an adult can be more difficult than learning as a child, but the effort is worth it. In addition to being a useful skill, second language proficiency slows down brain aging, even when learning begins at a later age.

7. Oatmeal makes us happier.

Oatmeal has become more popular lately, and for good reason. In addition to a nutritious breakfast, oatmeal has a beneficial effect on our mood. Oatmeal is a healthy carbohydrate that stimulates serotonin production. Serotonin is a chemical responsible for our overall well-being and happiness.

8. People who walk at a brisk pace make their hearts healthier.

Fitness buffs are already getting their weekly workouts, but some of us cringe at the sight of a treadmill. However, physical activity does not necessarily involve complex equipment and complex exercise: walking for only 30 minutes a day at a fast pace helps our overall health. People who engage in regular brisk walking are 31% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who do not exercise and reduce their risk of death by 32%.

9. People who eat healthy foods have better hearing.

Bloating, excessive weight gain and vitamin deficiencies are just a few of the harmful effects of an unbalanced diet. But did you know that food affects hearing too? Research shows that the amount and quality of food we eat play an important role in our hearing health. Although sometimes it’s only a temporary effect after a large meal, researchers have linked our daily diet to hearing loss.

10. Closing your eyes will help you remember things better.

Research shows that closing your eyes boosts your memory, so if you've forgotten where you parked your car or left your keys, it might be worth turning off the outside world for a minute. Blocking distractions is believed to release the necessary brainpower to remember things. Research shows that closing your eyes can even help you remember events that happened several years ago.