The Seemingly "Lazy" Healthy Habits

The Seemingly "Lazy" Healthy HabitsPerhaps everyone had moments as a child when they were "disliked" by their parents for being "lazy": they were too lazy to hand-wash their underwear and simply threw them into the washing machine; they were too lazy to fold their blankets after waking up and just left them on the bed. There are so many big and small things in life, it's inevitable that we'll be lazy from time to time

The Seemingly "Lazy" Healthy Habits

Perhaps everyone had moments as a child when they were "disliked" by their parents for being "lazy": they were too lazy to hand-wash their underwear and simply threw them into the washing machine; they were too lazy to fold their blankets after waking up and just left them on the bed. There are so many big and small things in life, it's inevitable that we'll be lazy from time to time. Moreover, these seemingly "unclean" and "unsanitary" "lazy behaviors" may be much healthier than many people think.

1. Throwing underwear and socks into the washing machine

Many people wonder if it's really okay to throw underwear and socks, such intimate garments, into the washing machine. They are concerned if there are too many bacteria and if they can be washed clean.

In fact, washing machines often agitate and tumble clothes during the washing process, and the surfactants in detergents also have a bactericidal effect. A study by a German university showed that in 20.5C water, washing for only 15 minutes can kill over 99% of microbes.

After washing, we will dry the clothes, which also involves removing moisture and is essentially another "sterilization" process. If you use a dryer for high-temperature drying, the remaining microbes will be completely removed.

At the same time, our skin also provides a protective barrier. After washing, drying, and airing, even if there are still a few microbes left, they will be blocked by the skin.

Of course, this requires you to have a clean washing machine and qualified detergents. Also, if you have athlete's foot or contagious skin diseases, it's best not to throw all your clothes into the washing machine indiscriminately.

2. Putting eggs in the refrigerator without washing them

When choosing eggs, most elders prefer those with chicken feathers and droppings on the surface, because they believe these show that they're natural and healthy. The first thing they do after bringing them home is to clean the eggs or place them neatly in the egg compartments of the refrigerator. However, this practice actually affects the safety of the eggs.

This is related to the structure of the egg. After being born, a protective film forms on the surface of the egg, sealing the pores on the eggshell to isolate microbes and bacteria. However, once you wash or wipe the eggs, you destroy this protective film, allowing airborne microbes to quickly come into contact with the egg, accelerating contamination.

Moreover, the eggshell carries various bacteria like Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, which can still multiply in low temperatures. If you put them directly in the refrigerator, they will contaminate the environment and cause cross-infection.

Therefore, the best approach is to put them in bags and then into the refrigerator. If the surface is not clean, you can simply wipe it off. Although it seems lazy, it actually keeps the bacteria in an enclosed environment, preventing them from entering the eggshell or invading the refrigerator. You can just wash them before eating.

3. Not using facial cleanser in the morning if your face isn't oily

For contemporary young people, getting a few extra minutes of sleep is crucial. Using facial cleanser can naturally be skipped.

Some people might say: that won't clean your face properly. However, whether you need to use facial cleanser in the morning truly depends on individual circumstances. If your face isn't oily, there's really no need to use facial cleanser.

The essence of washing your face is actually using the surfactants in facial cleanser to remove various impurities from your face. These impurities mainly include three categories:

• Physiological impurities: The metabolic products produced and secreted by the human body, including sebum, sweat, and excretions of aging cells and mucous membranes.

• Pathological impurities: Pus, scabs, etc., caused by certain skin diseases.

• Exogenous impurities: Microbes, environmental pollutants, residual cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

It's necessary to use facial cleanser to clean your face after a whole day of activity. If you go to bed with these impurities, they will affect the smooth flow of your pores and hinder the normal functions of your skin and mucous membranes.

For people with oily skin or acne, using facial cleanser both morning and night can significantly improve your skin condition. However, for people with dry skin, after a night's rest, there's only naturally secreted oil on their face. Overusing a strong-cleaning facial cleanser can damage the skin's barrier.

In light of this, all you dry-skinned office workers who set multiple alarms each morning can rest assured and skip the "facial cleanser in the morning" step.

4. Lazing in bed in the morning and sleeping in on weekends

I wonder how many people have been dragged out of bed, feeling groggy and going to wash up and have breakfast. But today, we're going to defend it: lazing in bed and sleeping in are both right.

Immediately after waking up, the human body goes through a transition from a suppressed state to an excited state. If you get up immediately at this point, your body hasn't had time to adapt, and you might feel dizzy. This seemingly "lazing in bed" is actually your body slowly waking up. Of course, this doesn't include turning off the alarm and going back to sleep.

Many studies have proven that sleeping in on weekends has benefits, such as:

• For people with depression, sleeping in can reduce the probability of suicide.

• For people who lack sleep, it can partially compensate for the risks associated with insufficient sleep, such as angina, coronary heart disease, and other cardiovascular diseases.

However, it's important to note that while sleeping in is okay, two hours is enough. Otherwise, it will create a vicious cycle and affect your circadian rhythm (biological clock).

5. Not making your bed after getting up

Here's a fun fact: the bedroom is the easiest place for dust mites to breed, and the place they inhabit is your bed, where you sleep every day. This is not an exaggeration.

Dust mites feed on the keratin flakes shed from human skin. As long as the temperature and humidity are right, they can multiply massively. Studies have shown that people lose up to one liter of fluid each night while sleeping.

If you make your bed immediately after getting up, the side that was in contact with your body will be compressed in the innermost layer. The temperature and humidity accumulated overnight will then become a breeding ground for dust mites.

Some people are too lazy to make the bed and simply flip it over. This is actually healthy. The sunlight will evaporate the moisture, suppressing the growth of dust mites.

6. Not washing raw meat before cooking

Many people are accustomed to turning on the faucet and letting the water flow down to wash raw meat. This practice seems hygienic but is very dangerous.

Raw meat often carries bacteria, such as raw chicken, which may carry pathogens like Salmonella. If you wash it directly with water, the splashing water will carry pathogens to various corners of the kitchen in ways you can't see.

If you buy meat from street vendors, it needs to be washed properly because of the unsanitary environment, insufficient cleaning, or residual dust. You can prepare a basin of water and put the meat in it without letting the water flow. After cleaning, use kitchen paper to dry it.

Also, after washing raw meat, remember to clean your hands and the container holding the meat with detergent.

Many people have a habit of blanching meat to remove its fishy smell: put it in cold water and then boil the water. In fact, this process is already the best way to kill bacteria.

7. Taking short showers and getting out quickly

Some people believe that showering should be like those on e-commerce platforms, using every tool and following every step, taking at least half an hour, even up to an hour. Those who shower quickly are often seen as lazy.

However, taking a long shower is not good for your body.

• First, the surface of human skin has a protective barrier. Excessive cleaning can damage this barrier, leading to dry and itchy skin.

• Second, showering with hot water in an enclosed space for a long time can cause oxygen depletion, leading to brain hypoxia and even cardiovascular disease.

The best shower time is 10 to 15 minutes, just enough time to sing two or three songs.

8. Not washing your hair every day if it's not dirty or oily

People have different opinions on washing their hair. The frequent-washing group believes that washing your hair once a day keeps it clean and prevents itching. The infrequent-washing group believes that washing it too often can damage the scalp and cause hair loss.

In reality, how you wash your hair also depends on individual circumstances.

The scalp has a high density of sebaceous glands, making it easier to get oily than other parts of the body. When the oil builds up and dead skin forms, insufficient cleaning can easily lead to skin problems.

If you have oily hair and work in a dusty environment or spend the whole day outdoors, it's still recommended to wash your hair every day.

However, if you have dry hair and are not exposed to polluted environments, you don't need to wash it every day. You may only need to wash it every two or three days.

9. Not turning off the washing machine immediately after use

After finishing a wash cycle, the inside of the washing