Everyday Things You Think Are Harmless That Are Destroying Your Health l Harmful Habits l Ways to Be Healthy

The most common health concern in America is obesity, substance abuse, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and depression. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 117 million people—had one or more chronic health conditions. "Two of these chronic diseases—heart disease and cancer—together accounted for nearly 48 percent of all deaths." Many of us are aware of the diseases we face and the toxins found in our foods and everyday products. Products like skin lotions, sunscreen and mouthwash are dangerous agents that may cause allergy-related symptoms or cancer. Exposure to the chemicals can be associated with autism, ADHD, behavior and developmental disorders in kids. With this, we often overlook what we are doing in our lives that encourage an unhealthy lifestyle, which fuels health difficulties. Over time what seems to be safe is actually pernicious. Here is a look at 6 everyday things you think are harmless that are destroying your health.

Rinsing Raw Meat

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"Many people don’t know it, but some food-borne illnesses can actually lead to long-term health conditions and 3,000 Americans a year die from foodborne illness," Food Safety found. Handling food in a safe way can reduce your risks from getting sick and guess what? We make this mistake daily! One common error that we make is rinsing raw meat in the sink. You can contaminate the entire sink area by handling raw meat and you can pass the bacteria onto other areas in the kitchen. Rinsing raw meat increases your risks of getting sick because the juice splashes and gets on the counters and onto other areas that you forget clean like the floor. Pat your meat with a paper towel instead to remove any undesired debris instead.

Ingesting Dairy

We are hearing more about how dairy can be harmful to the body. It can cause inflammation, cancer and digestive issues. Dairy consumption can also increase the level of insulin growth factor, a cancer promoter. High-fat dairy products and all dairy products should be taken out of the diet. The body can’t digest dairy and leaves room for bloating, and indigestion. There's no evidence that dairy is good for your bones or prevents osteoporosis. "In fact, the animal protein it contains may help cause bone loss! Dairy causes digestive problems for the 75 percent of people with lactose intolerance," author Dr. Mark Hayman wrote. Look into alternative non-dairy items like almond, rice or soy.

Eating Genetically Engineered Foods

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American farmers started growing genetically engineered crops (GMOs) in 1996. Most of our foods today come from the result of a "Laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal," IRT reported. Genetically Engineered Foods are in 90 percent of corn, sugar and soybean products. This also includes meats, dairy, vegetables and fruits. The impact of GMO's could increase resistance to certain antibiotics in some people and animals. When you go shopping look at the labels and be mindful of what you are putting in your body. "Altogether, 64 countries around the world require this kind of labeling. In the U.S. food conglomerates are vigorously spending money to defeat," Jo Ann LeQuang wrote. Knowing this, we need to become our own advocates regarding our health.

Using Soap Dispensers

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There are microbes found on and in dispensers that could cause urinary tract infections, bladder infections and could damage the immune system according to the Journal of Environmental Health. Mold and fungus could also be found on dispensers at home and in public rest areas. A refillable soap dispenser can cover your hands with 30 times twice the germs so what is the point of even washing your hands! Bring your own soap and wipes to avoid contamination from pour-style soap dispensers. Throw out old soaps to avoid cross contamination. If you are on the go, take your antibacterial wipes with you, so you don't have to use the public soap dispensers.