There are many products out there that, on the surface, seem like wonderful things to use. However, if you dig a little deeper, you may often find an uglier side to their appeal.

Products can be deceptive. They can be engaging in their promotional materials, but a glance at any labels will soon introduce you to the sobering realities of their usage. There may be valid concerns to harbor beyond the information the label shares, also.

You may be purchasing and utilizing expensive tech to make yourself healthier. However, it would help if you adopted the right mindset and discipline alongside its usage. While you should certainly not swear off chocolate forever, it could be an idea to bring yourself up to speed on what common products can undermine your well-being when consumed or used in excess.

Below, you will find some of the common products that may be doing you more harm than good.

Home Cleaning Products

Many of the products you use to maintain your home daily can be incredibly hazardous. You are undoubtedly aware of this, use your common sense, and know how to use these products safely. Still, in some circumstances, that may not be enough.

For instance, many of these products contain formaldehyde, a colorless yet potent gas found in most homes today. You will find it in fabric softeners, household cleaners, gas cookers, latex paint, and even glue, among other things. Of course, there is a good chance you may not get sick upon contact, but these gasses have caused alarming breathing symptoms before. If you have asthma or other respiratory conditions, then extra caution could be crucial.

Of course, everyone knows not to misuse home cleaning goods due to fumes and chemicals in many of them. Still, some homeowners may fall into the trap of believing that thoroughly cleaning their house obsessively will kill bacteria and thus preserve their health. Instead, you may only be replacing harmful germs with an excess of toxic chemicals and fumes. Be careful, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.

Fragrances and Deodorants

The idea of freshening the air up with a sweet scent is understandably appealing to many. Still, once again, a few problems can be found here.

Complications can occur with fragrance products when the chemicals are not circulated through the air. The harmless chemical of limonene is often found in fragrances to give off a citrusy smell. However, if it is left to stagnate indoors, it can begin to manifest into something uglier: the aforementioned formaldehyde. Obviously, it cannot be allowed to have a permanent presence in your home.

If you use these products in a well-ventilated space, you should be fine. Be sure to open windows regularly or to have any air filtration units on and functioning on a routine basis. Try not to be over-reliant on sweet scents, either. They are a nice treat on occasion, but they should not be the basis of a comfortable lifestyle. If you want to breathe in something positive to improve your well-being, fresh air is always best – and it is free!

Alcoholic Beverages

It is common knowledge that, when drank in excess, alcohol can be highly hazardous to your health. It can land you in a few uncomfortable social situations, and of course, wreak havoc on your liver.

However, the intricacies of how it can be destructive to a person’s well-being may sometimes be underappreciated. The benefits of not drinking have been detailed well by Ed Latimore, who summarizes his many insightful points by claiming that “if you stop drinking, you start thinking.” Saving money, building accountability for yourself, a better social life – all these perks and more are discussed without any reservations. For more information on the benefits of not drinking, check out their full article.

Reckless spending on alcohol might mean that you cannot afford healthcare in times of need. Additionally, not being accountable for your health will lead to further health complications later. Sadly, many people can pass away sooner from a lifetime of loneliness and become weary from periods of social isolation too. Alcohol can be the root cause of all of it, so engage with informative resources and strive to reduce your intake if necessary.

Sugary Snacks

It is drilled into people from an early age that sugary snacks, while delicious, should be consumed with limitations. Otherwise, rotted teeth, heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain will surely follow.

Still, there are more intricacies to these issues as well. For instance, though you may not suffer any significant health problems for a time, a high intake of sugar can cause your blood sugar levels to skyrocket. While the high is a pleasant experience, what goes up must also come down. The crash can be terrible, causing intense feelings of tiredness and agitation in many people. More dangerous is the craving for additional sugary products, and you can likely guess where this destructive cycle might lead.

It is important to remember that just because you are not packing on the pounds or having your teeth fall out, it does not necessarily mean that you are ‘home free’. Continuous sugar crashes, and even the addiction to sugary snacks, can be incredibly disruptive forces in your day-to-day life. Your agitation may cause you to lash out at friends, while tiredness may prevent you from enjoying the swathes of your life. Therefore, it is worth contemplating these consequences more closely.

Tea

The drink of the English can cause health problems if people are not monitoring their intake effectively.

Two years ago, theories surfaced about how hot beverages could damage the lining of your esophagus, which is the 8 inches long muscular tube connecting your throat with your stomach. If you are regularly drinking tea at piping hot temperatures, it may be time to cool down on your approach.

Drinking tea in excess can also cause digestive problems, disruptions to your sleep, and headaches. Additionally, it can also stain and rot your teeth considerably, depending on how much sugar you have put in and how much you drink.

Not only this, but certain varieties of tea can be better for you than others. For instance, more health-conscious tea drinkers may consume green tea over the others due to its properties, such as being higher in protective polyphenols. Some teas can efficiently support a weight loss effort also. Do your research, and tailor your tea drinking patterns in line with your needs.

Coffee

The lifeblood of many workers in the US and beyond, it seems strange to suggest that coffee could be bad for you. After all, it often plays a crucial role in the well-being of many people.

Obviously, coffee is a hot drink like tea. Therefore, you should follow the same measures with temperature control for the same reasons.

Coffee can increase the rate at which your stomach releases acids, which occasionally might cause stomach aches or heartburn. In the worst cases, unfiltered coffee can be often associated with higher rates of early deaths too.

Studies also contend that too much caffeine, in general, can cause increased feelings of anxiety in people with similar disorders as well. Once again, it might be worth counterbalancing your intake of coffee with any pre-existing conditions. Each serving should be consumed proportionately, so keep your circumstances in mind.