Most people want to be as healthy as they can be so they can reach old age. Perhaps we're not as devoted as tech millionaire biohacker Bryan Johnson, but we make do with what we have. We try to eat healthier, exercise more, and cultivate healthy relationships.
Indeed, 59% of Americans say they're worried about their health. That sometimes leads us down rabbit holes about detox smoothies, intermittent fasting, HIIT workouts, and many more. The thing is, not all of them work. At least not for everybody.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach in life in general, but it's especially true for health, and more and more people are becoming aware of that. We've rounded up the health trends most people think are unnecessary or straight-up bogus from two recent threads on Reddit.
"What's the most overrated 'healthy' habit that people push on everyone, but you think is total BS and why?" the netizens asked. Turns out, people have lots of opinions about what a healthy lifestyle really looks like!
#1
Forcing everyone to be morning people.
I am a morning person. I love getting up early and getting a lot done.
I do not like non-morning people being forced to be up and doing stuff during that time. It’s not fair to them and it’s annoying to me and my fellow morning people.
It is absurd to assume people are irresponsible if they aren’t up and functional early in the morning.
Porkins_2:
My parents equate being a morning person with being successful, so they assume everyone who isn’t a morning person is a deadbeat loser. It has been a lovely life of being a night owl, constantly chastised for my nightly ways.
I am a morning person. I love getting up early and getting a lot done.
I do not like non-morning people being forced to be up and doing stuff during that time. It’s not fair to them and it’s annoying to me and my fellow morning people.
It is absurd to assume people are irresponsible if they aren’t up and functional early in the morning.
Porkins_2:
My parents equate being a morning person with being successful, so they assume everyone who isn’t a morning person is a deadbeat loser. It has been a lovely life of being a night owl, constantly chastised for my nightly ways.
73points
#2
Detox anything. Your liver and kidneys do that, the powder you’re dumping into a smoothie is essentially just a laxative.
joeniebc:
The real detox is taking d**gs and alcohol out of your diet and doing nothing.
joeniebc:
The real detox is taking d**gs and alcohol out of your diet and doing nothing.
53points
#3
Eating breakfast. People act like I'm insane for not being able to eat before noon, I've never needed to. Eating that early upsets my stomach.
AnonymousMayday:
The motto of breakfast is the most important meal of the day is what Kellogg’s came up with to sell more cereal around the war period.
AnonymousMayday:
The motto of breakfast is the most important meal of the day is what Kellogg’s came up with to sell more cereal around the war period.
53points
#4
Positive thinking. Can even beat cancer.
Until it can't. But then it's your own fault. You didn't think positive enough.
TineNae:
Oof yeah toxic positivity is a pest. There's even those kinds of people who will blame people being sick on a former life where you did bad stuff, so basically they believe if you're really sick it's your own fault.
And I guess there's people like that even without the previous life bs, but just ''well if you were a little bit more positive / energetic you wouldn't feel bad all the time!'' And it's like... no, I don't have energy because I'm sick lmao. (not saying that a healthy lifestyle can't improve certain things over time, but you should still never ever BLAME a person for their condition)
Until it can't. But then it's your own fault. You didn't think positive enough.
TineNae:
Oof yeah toxic positivity is a pest. There's even those kinds of people who will blame people being sick on a former life where you did bad stuff, so basically they believe if you're really sick it's your own fault.
And I guess there's people like that even without the previous life bs, but just ''well if you were a little bit more positive / energetic you wouldn't feel bad all the time!'' And it's like... no, I don't have energy because I'm sick lmao. (not saying that a healthy lifestyle can't improve certain things over time, but you should still never ever BLAME a person for their condition)
44points
#5
One thing I didn't see on any of the comments, MSG. Everyone says to stay away from msg, but it's literally found in most of the produce and foods we have. All it is is a flavor enhancer. I'll take any down votes please.
eldritchelder:
Myself and my wife are with you. People will say it gives em a headache, then you tell them all the foods on our grocery store shelves that contain it and they look wide-eyed.
eldritchelder:
Myself and my wife are with you. People will say it gives em a headache, then you tell them all the foods on our grocery store shelves that contain it and they look wide-eyed.
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39points
#6
The whole 10,000 steps thing
It can discourage people from sticking with their walking goals
Newer research shows that even 7-8000 is enough movement for serious positive health changes, and the benefits of doing 10,000 is not remarkably higher than 8000.
Even doing 5000 a day can be hugely beneficial to cardio
I think the 10K came from the Fitbit marketing.
bigfatpisces:
Oh this is one of my favorite random facts! The 10000 step number came from a Japanese pedometer that was marketed right before Olympics in Tokyo in the 1960s! The marketing department decided on 10000 steps because the character for it looks like someone walking: 万
It can discourage people from sticking with their walking goals
Newer research shows that even 7-8000 is enough movement for serious positive health changes, and the benefits of doing 10,000 is not remarkably higher than 8000.
Even doing 5000 a day can be hugely beneficial to cardio
I think the 10K came from the Fitbit marketing.
bigfatpisces:
Oh this is one of my favorite random facts! The 10000 step number came from a Japanese pedometer that was marketed right before Olympics in Tokyo in the 1960s! The marketing department decided on 10000 steps because the character for it looks like someone walking: 万
35points
#7
Being proud of your body isn't good if you're heavily overweight or obese.
Tons of influencers advocate for this.
Zealousideal-Rent-77:
I think you have fundamental misunderstanding about what fat positivity means. It's not about being proud of being fat. It's about not being ashamed of being fat. It's about not letting other people make you think you're a bad person because you're fat.
Not being ashamed of your body is the first step in having a healthy relationship with your body and food. People who are ashamed and can't stand having people look at them, who haven't built up a resistance to other people's judgement and stares, do not go out and exercise. They stay home and feel bad and eat poorly.
People who accept their body as is and then work to become healthier by getting more activity and a better diet, rather than trying to punish themselves for being fat the way society wants them to, those are the people who successfully become more fit and improve their quality of life.
Most of those influencers are just trying to normalize seeing fat people do physical things in public.
Tons of influencers advocate for this.
Zealousideal-Rent-77:
I think you have fundamental misunderstanding about what fat positivity means. It's not about being proud of being fat. It's about not being ashamed of being fat. It's about not letting other people make you think you're a bad person because you're fat.
Not being ashamed of your body is the first step in having a healthy relationship with your body and food. People who are ashamed and can't stand having people look at them, who haven't built up a resistance to other people's judgement and stares, do not go out and exercise. They stay home and feel bad and eat poorly.
People who accept their body as is and then work to become healthier by getting more activity and a better diet, rather than trying to punish themselves for being fat the way society wants them to, those are the people who successfully become more fit and improve their quality of life.
Most of those influencers are just trying to normalize seeing fat people do physical things in public.
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35points
#8
Assigning moral worth to literally everything. "Oh I'll be good today and skip dessert", "I did a spin class this morning, so I can be bad at dinner tonight", "I've been so bad this week, I haven't counted any calories!"
We are on a floating rock hurling through the vacuum of space at 140 miles per second. Eat what tastes good, move in a way you find enjoyable, and stop pretending that everything is so black and white.
We are on a floating rock hurling through the vacuum of space at 140 miles per second. Eat what tastes good, move in a way you find enjoyable, and stop pretending that everything is so black and white.
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33points
#9
Cold showers.
I have the luxury of being able to have hot showers. They are also extremely enjoyable.
No way on gods green earth am I giving that up 😂.
I have the luxury of being able to have hot showers. They are also extremely enjoyable.
No way on gods green earth am I giving that up 😂.
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31points
#10
The 7 product skincare routines, before red light therapy, needling, guasha-ing etc. Skin can only absorb so much product, but companies have done such a good job with social media that now 11 year olds are using retinoids. It's landfillcore.
West-Season-2713:
I have such a gripe with skincare in general. The only things you need to do are to use gentle soap and moisturiser and to wear sunscreen every day, drink enough water and eat a healthy diet. That’s it, unless you have a specific skin condition, in which case a dermatologist will advise on extra products and diet/lifestyle changes.
Dragons_and_things:
Absolutely. My mum is 61 and doesn't look over 40. People ask her her skin care routine, she washes her face with soap every day and wears very little make up. Part of it is genetic, part of it is just being gentle on your skin aka, doing nothing to it.
I'm 27 and people have started asking me the same question (I look a lot younger). My answer is always, no make up, wash my face with face soap once a day, a gentle moisturiser before bed, sleeping well, and drinking a lot of water. People are always miffed that they waste so much time and money on their skin care when the answer is just be gentle with yourself.
Breaks my heart that children have been manipulated into this skincare routine nonsense. 😭
West-Season-2713:
I have such a gripe with skincare in general. The only things you need to do are to use gentle soap and moisturiser and to wear sunscreen every day, drink enough water and eat a healthy diet. That’s it, unless you have a specific skin condition, in which case a dermatologist will advise on extra products and diet/lifestyle changes.
Dragons_and_things:
Absolutely. My mum is 61 and doesn't look over 40. People ask her her skin care routine, she washes her face with soap every day and wears very little make up. Part of it is genetic, part of it is just being gentle on your skin aka, doing nothing to it.
I'm 27 and people have started asking me the same question (I look a lot younger). My answer is always, no make up, wash my face with face soap once a day, a gentle moisturiser before bed, sleeping well, and drinking a lot of water. People are always miffed that they waste so much time and money on their skin care when the answer is just be gentle with yourself.
Breaks my heart that children have been manipulated into this skincare routine nonsense. 😭
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29points
#11
"Low fat" diets. Fat isn't bad for you. Fat is actually good for you, in the correct quantities, with the correct amount of physical activity.
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29points
#12
Making your bed every morning. Apparently, all highly successful people make their bed every freaking day. I don’t think I’ve ever made my bed. I’m a very successful person who runs a very successful company and pays their employees well above a fair wage. I just do not care about my bed.
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28points
#13
Something is good for you just because it’s all natural or organic. Snake venom is natural but I’m not going to ingest them.
AgHammer:
Raw sewage is organic, too. Don't eat it.
lowrads:
The big thing now is "clean" food. This can mean almost anything, but usually includes salt that isn't treated with iodine. This will often include pink salt, or sea salt, which ironically contain more elemental substitutions in the mineral.
There's going to be a lot more goiters showing up under neofeudalism.
AgHammer:
Raw sewage is organic, too. Don't eat it.
lowrads:
The big thing now is "clean" food. This can mean almost anything, but usually includes salt that isn't treated with iodine. This will often include pink salt, or sea salt, which ironically contain more elemental substitutions in the mineral.
There's going to be a lot more goiters showing up under neofeudalism.
27points
#14
Women who have a multitude of responsibilities and who have mental health problems are sold heaps of solutions and told to 'manage your stress".
It is complete nonsense. People are not designed to be responsible for caring for a number of other people, managing a household and bringing money in.
Honestly we've been sold an absolute pipe dream, and the only reason I know is that my elders left me a bunch of money and my kids grew up. In a relatively short period of time most of my responsibilities disappeared and so did my mental health problems.
It is complete nonsense. People are not designed to be responsible for caring for a number of other people, managing a household and bringing money in.
Honestly we've been sold an absolute pipe dream, and the only reason I know is that my elders left me a bunch of money and my kids grew up. In a relatively short period of time most of my responsibilities disappeared and so did my mental health problems.
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23points
#15
Pretty much any autism “cure”.
Pur1wise:
I’m so sick of people telling me they know someone who can cure it for me. Who says I want to be cured anyway. I like my operating system. It has some downsides but the upsides are pretty awesome.
Pur1wise:
I’m so sick of people telling me they know someone who can cure it for me. Who says I want to be cured anyway. I like my operating system. It has some downsides but the upsides are pretty awesome.
22points
#16
Eating gluten-free, unless you are gluten sensitive/intolerant, is no healthier than arbitrarily removing foods from your diet that start with a certain letter.
InannasPocket:
I noticed a bunch of friends/colleagues going gluten free (for diet fad reasons, not an actual intolerance or medical reason), and claiming they felt so much better!
Yeah, you started reading food labels, cooking from scratch a lot more, and not drinking as much ... pretty much everyone is going to notice feeling better switching from a steady diet of "frozen packaged dinner/fast food and 8 beers" to "homemade chilli and a cocktail".
InannasPocket:
I noticed a bunch of friends/colleagues going gluten free (for diet fad reasons, not an actual intolerance or medical reason), and claiming they felt so much better!
Yeah, you started reading food labels, cooking from scratch a lot more, and not drinking as much ... pretty much everyone is going to notice feeling better switching from a steady diet of "frozen packaged dinner/fast food and 8 beers" to "homemade chilli and a cocktail".
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22points
#17
The idea of "guilt free" receipes for things.
Using Greek yogurt in your tuna salad and then a bell pepper for the bread doesn't magically extend your life by decades. Chill. A regular tuna sandwich is already a healthy choice.
Eat the ice cream every once in a while. Don't eat the protein ice cream that tastes like cardboard. Ice cream is a treat. You're allowed to eat things for fun.
Sugar is fine. Eat the fruit. Put 1 sugar in your coffee instead of 5 stevias.
Food isn't just to keep you alive. It's also something to enjoy.
Using Greek yogurt in your tuna salad and then a bell pepper for the bread doesn't magically extend your life by decades. Chill. A regular tuna sandwich is already a healthy choice.
Eat the ice cream every once in a while. Don't eat the protein ice cream that tastes like cardboard. Ice cream is a treat. You're allowed to eat things for fun.
Sugar is fine. Eat the fruit. Put 1 sugar in your coffee instead of 5 stevias.
Food isn't just to keep you alive. It's also something to enjoy.
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22points
#18
Raw milk. Humans figured out how to boil things for a reason. If we won't drink water that hasn't been either filtered or purified/and or distilled, then we shouldn't be drinking straight milk that could be contaminated. Unless you raised the cow yourself and know it's healthy. Even then there's still risk. Unless the world goes down and the zombie apocalypse happens where I can't buy milk from the store, count me out of the drinking raw milk trends.
BoozeIsTherapyRigh:
Even if you raised the cow yourself, and you know she's healthy, don't drink raw milk. Bacteria can enter the udder through the teat or be in the milk without making the cow sick and make you sick and the cow's health has nothing to do with it.
I grew up on a dairy farm. My father has a degree in microbiology and we never drank milk we produced. We bought pasteurized milk from the store even though we had a bulk tank filled with thousands of gallons of fresh milk right there. Dad always said that pasteurization was one of the greatest public health discoveries of all time.
My then-boyfriend wanted to try milk straight from the cow. I told him the risks, he didn't care. I pulled him some milk straight from the teat from my favorite cow. I'd sanitized her udder myself. He said it was the best milk he'd ever tasted.
He also s**t himself for six days.
BoozeIsTherapyRigh:
Even if you raised the cow yourself, and you know she's healthy, don't drink raw milk. Bacteria can enter the udder through the teat or be in the milk without making the cow sick and make you sick and the cow's health has nothing to do with it.
I grew up on a dairy farm. My father has a degree in microbiology and we never drank milk we produced. We bought pasteurized milk from the store even though we had a bulk tank filled with thousands of gallons of fresh milk right there. Dad always said that pasteurization was one of the greatest public health discoveries of all time.
My then-boyfriend wanted to try milk straight from the cow. I told him the risks, he didn't care. I pulled him some milk straight from the teat from my favorite cow. I'd sanitized her udder myself. He said it was the best milk he'd ever tasted.
He also s**t himself for six days.
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22points
#19
Insisting on fresh/refusing to eat canned and frozen vegetables and fruits. Studies have found similar if not superior nutrition retention in shelf stable and frozen produce vs fresh, especially during off-seasons.
TLDR: Disregarding taste as a factor, canned and frozen options are equally healthy as its fresh counterpart.
TLDR: Disregarding taste as a factor, canned and frozen options are equally healthy as its fresh counterpart.
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20points
#20
Whatever 'superfruit' is currently popular - acai, mangosteen, etc.
Just eat your local produce ffs
ETA: to clarify, I'm talking about fruit selections for health reasons, not eating something just for the love of it!
Perllitte:
I was in affiliate marketing a long time ago and made so much money on Acai.
The real reason this stuff becomes "super" is because some bro was able to get a freeze dryer or an industrial blender near enough some low-cost fruit the average American has never heard of.
Honestly, it was so much fun. We had like six distinct brands making different claims for different demographics of woo woo. We'd get wild reviews saying X-brand was so much better than Y-brand because of some nonsense. It was all shipped from the same sketchy warehouse in Alabama.
Just eat your local produce ffs
ETA: to clarify, I'm talking about fruit selections for health reasons, not eating something just for the love of it!
Perllitte:
I was in affiliate marketing a long time ago and made so much money on Acai.
The real reason this stuff becomes "super" is because some bro was able to get a freeze dryer or an industrial blender near enough some low-cost fruit the average American has never heard of.
Honestly, it was so much fun. We had like six distinct brands making different claims for different demographics of woo woo. We'd get wild reviews saying X-brand was so much better than Y-brand because of some nonsense. It was all shipped from the same sketchy warehouse in Alabama.
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19points