From exercise and healthy foods to your daily beauty routine, too much of anything is bad. Top experts weigh in everyday habits that when done in excess may cause more harm than good.
Can Eating Too Vegetables & Fruits Be Unhealthy?
Although vegetables and fruits are vital components of a healthy, well-balanced diet, eating too many can result in unpleasant and even unhealthy consequences. According to Franci Cohen, a personal trainer, certified nutritionist and exercise physiologist in New York City, “whether you overindulge in one specific vegetable or a variety of vegetables and fruits, consuming too many may cause digestive upset and deprive you of other essential nutrients. For example, can eating too many carrots turn your skin orange? “You’re getting an excess of beta-carotene, a pigment that’s deposited in the skin when you eat carrots. The good news is that too much beta-carotene won’t hurt you. But if you do eat a lot of carrots and begin to turn orange, switch to broccoli, tomatoes, or other vegetables lower in beta-carotene until the hue fades,” advises Franci.
We constantly hear about the positive benefits of fiber, but despite all these benefits, too much fiber can cause several health problems. “Fiber is a natural substance found in fruits, vegetables and grains. It’s an essential part of healthy digestion,” says Franci. “But too much fiber can cause severe GI upset including cramping, diarrhea, bloating and constipation. Another thing to consider is that when you are stuffing yourself full of veggies, you are doing so at the expense of other important food categories.”
Fruits offer a plethora of vitamins and minerals to the body. They are packed with antioxidants, water, fiber, and so much more! However, too much fruit can lead to problems involving hormones that regulate blood sugar, insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone. “Experts have said that too much of any sugar (fructose included) can cause diabetes. It isn't that cut and dry, but too much fruit can definitely mess with your hormones. On another note, let's not overlook the mechanics of eating. Your teeth bite into every sugary piece of fruit that you intake. Too much may have you running to the dentist for help!”
Can Too Much Cardio Make You Gain Weight?
It would seem logical that burning loads of calories via exercising and consuming minimal calories would lead to weight loss. However, doing just that may have a reverse effect, causing weight gain and fat storage more than anything else. Any intense exercise regimen requires more energy and fuel than you may think. And overtraining your muscles by either working out too frequently for too long as well as skipping recovery days can do more harm than good.
“Intense aerobic activity without sufficient fuel can force your body to burn its own muscle as fuel, resulting in a loss of muscle mass,” says Burr Leonard, Founder & Creator of The Bar Method. “Since muscle burns most of the calories you consume, losing muscle and then eating the same the number of calories you did before the loss will result in weight gain.” www.barmethod.com
Does Washing Your Face Too Much Cause Acne?
According to Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a New Jersey board certified dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor at NYU Dermatology says over-washing doesn't cause acne, but it doesn't help. “Acne is caused by hormones, bacteria and clogged pores. Over-washing irritates and dries out the skin and then patients cannot tolerate their acne medications. I recommend washing two to three times a day. That's plenty.” www.cosmedical.com
Can You Wear Too Much Moisturizer?
Every skin needs moisture, considering how much heat, air conditioning and air pollution dry it out. But there is such a thing as overdoing the extra help. “A light layer of moisturizer left on for 20 or 30 minutes is just as beneficial as heavy moisturizer left on all day or night,” says Dr. Susan Stuart, a board certified dermatologist in San Diego. “Over-moisturizing will clog the skin pores, trapping bacteria in the skin resulting in outbreaks. It also prevents shedding of the outer dead skin layers called the stratum corneum. This prevents skin products from penetrating the skin and makes them ineffective.” www.lajollaskin.com
Common Cosmetic Procedures That Are Overdone
Cosmetic surgery is performed to enhance or restore one’s appearance through medical and surgical procedures. While many undergo plastic surgery in order to transform into a better and more desirable version of themselves, sometimes the results are anything but desirable. Dr. Richard Chaffoo, a triple board certified plastic surgeon in San Diego says, “Plastic surgery should restore a normal appearance, or enhance features so that people look good. Normal, but good; not superhuman and certainly not alien.”
A rising issue of concern in the medical and surgical field today is the rising number of cases of cosmetic surgery gone wrong. For example, the three most common yet overdone cosmetic surgeries are brow lifts, eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty. www.drchaffoo.com
Dr. Robert Kratschmer, a board certified plastic surgeon in Houston, says, “Practically any procedure can be overdone and can cause both aesthetic and medically-related issues. For example, with tummy tucks (abdominoplasties), if the muscles are over-tightened, it can lead to intra-abdominal problems with the organs, sometimes requiring release of the muscles in order for the organs to function properly.” Below are other procedures that can go wrong when overdone?
• Too much liposuction with the wrong liposuction cannula can cause the "tracking" that has been seen on the front part of the legs and the abdomen.
• Calf implants that were too large to be placed into a patient have been known to cause compartment syndrome in the leg, causing loss of muscles and sometimes have required amputations.
• Multiple attempts with rhinoplasties usually have more problems than successes as the tissue in the nose tends to scar and contract with each surgery, often worsening the end result.
• Facelifts and eyelifts that have been overdone have obvious aesthetic deformities, but sometimes the eyelids won't shut because too much tissue was removed.
• Very large breast implants have a habit of "bottoming out," with the implant below the breast, requiring revision surgery and sometimes special implantable tissue (Alloderm, Stratis, Surgimend) in order to correct the deformity. www.MySurgeonForBeauty.com
Can Every Day Habits Age Your Fertility?
You want to do everything you can to stay healthy and become pregnant. But can “too much of a good thing” actually backfire? When taken to an extreme, certain healthy habits may do exactly that. With a little care, however, you can prevent problems.
1. Avoid hot tubs and saunas. “Yes, it's important to relax, but avoid these methods of relaxation when trying to become pregnant. Raising your core body temperature too high may increase the risk of birth defects, miscarriage and low sperm counts,” says Dr. Isabelle Ryan, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco.
2. Exercise, but don’t overdo it. Not only can very intense workouts raise your core body temperature, but in women they may also cause irregular menstrual cycles and hormonal imbalances. “Use your best judgment on hot, humid days. Cool down between intensive workouts. In most cases, however, reasonable but vigorous exercise may actually help you become pregnant,” advises Dr. Ryan.
3. Protect against cycling risks. Leisurely recreational biking shouldn't pose a big problem. But serious endurance cycling may increase the risk of male infertility by overheating the groin area or creating hormonal imbalances. Racing saddles or a poorly fitting bicycle seat may also affect the testicles, but pain should provide a warning before you get into big trouble.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. According to the Nurses Health Study, women with the lowest, as well as the highest, body mass index (BMI) were most likely to experience problems with infertility. You need about 22 percent body fat to maintain normal menstrual function.
5. Rethink dairy—for now. In general, a low-fat diet is laudable. But here's another surprising finding from the Nurses Health Study: Women who consumed a lot of low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat milk, were more likely to experience fertility problems than those who did not. Having a daily serving or two of dairy products made from whole milk appears to protect against ovulatory infertility. Just watch out for the extra calories.
6. Know your vitamin RDA. Sure, certain vitamins and minerals are essential to your overall health. Some may even help you get pregnant and protect your unborn baby. But, if you have a habit of taking mega doses of vitamins, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. You need to know safe recommended daily allowances. www.PacificFertilityCenter.com