The human body has some pretty amazing properties and capabilities. Understanding health facts and interesting insights about the human body may help you take better care of your own. These facts will also help you appreciate all that your body does for you day in and day out.
Surprising connections between lifestyle and health
1. Drinking a cup of coffee can reduce feelings of depression.
Feeling a little down in the morning? One study found that a cup of coffee can boost your mood and lower your risk of depression. But don’t go for the decaf. You need caffeine for this effect.
2. Owning a dog may reduce heart disease risk.
The American Heart Association says owning pets improves mental health and may lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lowering your risk for heart disease.
3. Stress increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
You may already know that stress can increase your heart disease risk, but it also increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to cortisol level increases. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels.
Intriguing facts about the human body's capabilities
4. The body can produce enough heat in just half an hour to boil water.
Each hour, the human body creates 350,000 joules of energy, which creates the same amount of energy as a 100-watt light bulb. This ends up being enough heat to boil a half gallon of water in just 30 minutes.
5. Humans are the only animals who cry due to emotion.
You may see tears in other animals, but they don’t stem from emotions. That’s a human trait.
6. Your nose has a superpower.
The average human nose can remember 50,000 different smells. While a dog’s nose may be more powerful, that number’s still impressive.
7. Your brain is powerful.
The brain operates on 12 to 25 watts, which is enough power to light an LED light bulb.
Surprising effects of sleep on health
8. Getting more exercise may mean better sleep.
Moderate exercise may increase the amount of deep sleep you get. While you won’t want to run a mile before bed if you want to be ready to sleep, getting some exercise earlier in the day may improve your overall bedtime experience. Get motivated to work out with Evidation, and you may notice an improvement in your sleep.
9. Sleep affects almost every tissue in the body.
The National Institutes of Health indicate sleep impacts your growth, hormone levels, immunity, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, appetite, and breathing.
10. Adequate sleep reduces your risk of many diseases.
The Sleep Foundation indicates a decreased risk for high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease when you get sufficient sleep.
Impact of laughter on overall well-being
11. Laughter can actually decrease pain and release happy hormones.
When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which help you feel happier. These happy hormones boost your mental health. This can also lead to less pain.
12. Laughter causes more oxygen consumption.
The process of laughing increases your respiratory rate. The increased oxygen consumption causes you to enter a state of relaxation for a period of time.
13. Laughing impacts blood sugar.
One study found that watching a funny television show lowered participant’s overall increase in glucose levels after a meal, and research has also found that laughter therapy reduces the heart-related complications of type 2 diabetes.
Lesser-known facts about hydration
14. You may lose 3% of your body weight in fluids before you feel thirsty.
Instead of going by thirst, check the color of your urine. It should be close to clear. If not, you’ll want to drink up.
15. Eight glasses of water is a myth.
While eight glasses of water daily can be the right amount for some people, it may be too little or too much for others. Your hydration needs depend on activity levels, body weight, and temperature.
16. You get hydrated through food.
As much as 20% of your hydration levels come from foods. Soups and produce are high in liquid content, which adds to your overall hydration.
17. You can get too much of a good thing.
People can actually overdose on water. This condition, which is called hyponatremia, causes swelling in the body’s cells and a dangerous drop in sodium levels.
Nutritional facts and their implications for health
18. Not all fats are bad.
Fat has a bad reputation, but you need some fat for heart and brain health. Unsaturated fats, including omega-3 fats, are a vital part of a healthy diet, but unsaturated fats can have negative health implications.
19. Lemons are one of the world’s healthiest foods.
Not only do they contain high doses of vitamin C, but lemons also aid in weight loss and immune system function. Adding some to water can be a simple way to add a wellness boost to your day.
20. The sun is part of your nutrition.
Getting sunshine exposure is essential to making vitamin D. So soaking in some rays is actually part of a healthy diet.
Debunking health myths with facts
21. Eight glasses of water is a myth.
While eight glasses of water daily can be the right amount for some people, it may be too little or too much for others. Your hydration needs depend on activity levels, body weight, and temperature. However, it’s a good average, so you can aim for this amount if you feel you need more water intake.
22. Coffee doesn’t cause dehydration.
Coffee has plenty of water in it. The caffeine in it does serve as a diuretic, but the water content compensates for this. According to a study in PLOS One, You can get hydrated with coffee in moderation.
23. Diet is highly personal.
What’s a healthy diet for one person may not work well for the next. For instance, some people thrive on a low-carb diet, while others need a balance between carbs and protein to feel their best. For that reason, working with a doctor or nutritionist when making dietary changes is important.
Motivate yourself to take care of your amazing body with Evidation
These interesting facts about health and the human body may have motivated you to take better care of your body. Evidation can give you the tools to stay motivated. Check out the app, and download it today to start tracking your health and getting rewarded for doing so.
