Flushing the Toilet
Scientists have discovered that closing the toilet lid before you flush can keep your bathroom from becoming engulfed in a mist of microscopic poo particles.
On flushing with the lid open, the sudden influx of water into the bowl causes a geyser of tiny droplets to rise up at a speed of 2 meters per second before fanning wide in a fecal mushroom cloud. Needless to say, this is probably sufficient information for you to cap your toilet after every visit as if your life depended on it.
Sniffing Your Breath
Giving your breath a cheeky sniff test can help you assess your health. If you detect the following niffs, check in with a health professional:
* A sour smell can indicate acid reflux. This means bits of food are making their way back towards the throat, making it a fertile breeding ground for bacteria. * A smell like mothballs can be a sign that you’re suffering from an allergy or a cold. * Fruity-smelling breath indicates high levels of ketones in the blood. This is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to use as fatty acids to make energy. * A sweet or mouldy note to your breath could be a sign of fetor hepaticus, which is an indicator of liver disease. * Fishy breath, assuming you’ve not been guzzling seafood, is a sign of end-stage renal failure, in which the kidneys fail to get rid of toxic waste like urea and ammonia.
Taking Painkillers
We often reach for analgesic medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce or relieve mild or moderate discomfort caused by anything from a headache to sore muscles.
It can be tempting to ignore the claims on the packaging that certain painkillers act fast, but this is a tightly regulated market and such statements have to be legit.
The fact is that the body absorbs analgesic medication in salt, gel, or liquid form quicker than the tablet variety. While these forms might have the edge in terms of how swiftly the painkilling effects kick in, the generic cheaper ones will still get the same job done in their own time.
Taking Antibiotics
If you’re prescribed antibiotics, which don’t just nuke the bad bacteria but also the good guys, here’s a simple way to minimize the inevitable digestive disruption:
* Increase your fiber (prebiotic) intake (nuts, seeds, vegetables, and beans) to encourage good bacteria to thrive. * Alternatively, consider a fiber supplement such as psyllium husk (available from health food shops). This is commonly available as a soluble mix that’s gentle on the gut. * Consider adding in sources of natural probiotics to your diet: yogurt, cheeses, fermented vegetables, etc.
Buying Berries
We know that fruit such as raspberries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants like polyphenols (protecting against heart disease and cancers), but it’s worth checking the label for the country of origin before you buy.
Why? Because fueling the demand for fruit out of season—that has often been imported from around the world—not only drives up the price but also increases your carbon footprint.
Instead, check out their frozen counterparts, which contain the same (if not higher) levels of polyphenols as they’re harvested, packaged, and cooled when fresh. They’re also cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and you can eat them all year round.
Peeing on Plants
You might have heard that plants thrive when you pee on them, and it’s true. The fact is there’s nothing your gladioli like more than a golden shower.
* Strictly speaking, aim to pee on the soil rather than the plants. This is because urine contains a good ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When watered down, it’s effectively an elixir of life that can be absorbed at the root. * What’s more, uric acid in wee can speed up the decomposition of compost. In this view, it’s a valuable resource for every corner of your garden, and one you should deploy as a free resource to help it thrive.
Testing Hydration Levels
Checking that your pee is straw-colored or even clear is a simple way to check you’re properly hydrated. An even quicker method, which doesn’t involve a trip to the toilet, is to pinch the skin over any finger joint for a second or so.
This is known as the Skin Turgor Test. The more hydrated you are, the more elastic your skin will be, which means it’ll swiftly settle back into shape. If it takes a while, you’d be wise to sip a glass of water to top up your fluid intake.
Taking a Shower
We all want a shortcut to a good night’s sleep, and a warm shower before bed might just be the key. Paradoxically, the raised temperature of the water serves to cool down your core body temperature and lowers the sleep threshold.
Conversely, a cold shower in the morning can kick-start your day by raising your body temperature and making you more alert. Also cleaner.
Slowing Down Neurodegeneration
Here’s a quick and easy way to slow down neurodegeneration, the term used to describe how your brain and central nervous system lose their performance edge with age.
* Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain, keeping you sharp into later life. * Sleep clears away toxic proteins that accumulate in the brain through your busy day. * Social interaction is known to keep the brain engaged, which means making friends is a smart move. * It’s never too late to challenge yourself! Try learning a new language or take up a musical instrument to reduce the risk of developing dementia. * Do something that fills you with wonder and awe. Whether it’s a simple walk surrounded by nature to gazing at the stars and contemplating the meaning of your existence, studies show that blowing your mind can help to keep the brain firing on all cylinders long into old age.
Minimizing Heartburn
Heartburn is another name for acid reflux—a term used to describe that feeling when stomach juices travel upwards towards the throat. It’s uncomfortable and unpleasant, but the good news is that you can minimize the chances of it happening by cutting down or even avoiding certain foods.
* Onions are a rich source of fermentable fiber, which can result in increased burping. This can stir up stomach acids and cause it to head against the traffic. * Limit high-fat foods because they stimulate the release of the hormone cholecystokinin. This can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, increasing the risk of acid reflux. * Be wary of spicy food. This is because it often contains capsaicin, a chemical that slows the rate of digestion so that food sits in the stomach for longer and increases the risk of heartburn.
Cleaning Your Butt
Cleaning your bum hole with a cheeky finger whenever you shower or bathe could save you from a world of irritation and pain. Karan doesn’t mean a full insertion or internal examination, but getting in and around those crevices where fecal flakes can stick to is imperative.
* As a gut surgeon, Karan examines rusty tailpipes on a daily basis. All too often—with the help of a glove and lubricant—a sweep of his finger encounters poo flakes that are the single biggest cause of pruritus ani, also known as “itchy bum.” * For most people, an itchy bum is an annoyance, but poor peri hygiene (as it’s known) can lead to infections such as anal abscesses—basically an internal pimple that can hurt like hell.