Is it all pseudoscience? Writer, Rebecca McCormick, assesses whether popular wellness tips can really help us to lead happier, healthier lives
A happy life is the goal of many people – to have clear skin, low stress, and a healthy diet. A simple search on TikTok is all it takes to get a plethora of hints and tricks. There is always a new product, a new ‘life hack’ to be tried out. However, they often seem to come out of nowhere, and without a lot of backing. How do we know what works? Here’s some tips from social media, along with the scientific backing to go along with it, if there is any.
Drinking water is probably the most common and well-known route to wellness. We’ve all heard it before, drinking 6-8 cups a day is what we need for basic health. Influencers also love to add things to their water: ice, lemon and even cucumber. These additions are nice, but even just run-of-the-mill tap water works. Humans ourselves are about 60% water, and our bodies use it for everything, from regulating our electrolytes to fighting off illnesses through mineral absorption. Moreover, it keeps our skin clear and glowing by promoting collagen production. It is also one of the most accessible wellbeing tips, as water can be found everywhere we go – it’s literally on tap.
A slight upgrade from the baseline of water, green tea brings many of its own advantages. Packed full of natural antioxidants, it contains a chemical known as a catechin. This helps to protect our cells (like skin cells) against damage that may occur in our daily lives without us even noticing. While there’s more investigation to be done into its benefits, research into Alzheimer’s has found that it does wonders for cognitive function, and neural longevity.
A healthy body also requires a healthy mind, and daily affirmations are, while a bit more holistic, a great way to practice self-love. Affirmations help us to reframe the way we see ourselves and change our perspective. We stress enough in our daily lives about external factors, sometimes it feels like too much to worry about what lies within. A recent study, however, showed MRI evidence pointing towards the strengthening of neural pathways when people practiced these self-affirmations. It seems like there might be something there, and while they might not be a miracle cure, they’re simple and accessible – no money or equipment required.
Could it also be possible that the best way to improve our wellbeing is by not doing anything active at all? Sleep is the number one way to relax, and what else is better than a warm, cosy bed after a long day. It must be added that when it comes to rest, it’s a game of numbers. Seven to nine hours is the golden medium, as too little sleep brings our health down. Too much sleep might be bad for us as well, and clocking more than nine hours regularly can be tied to immune system issues, mental illness and heart problems. When it works, however, sleep restores our brains and fixes up our muscle tissue. This process is known as Oswald’s Restoration Theory of Sleep, a proposal that while non-REM sleep is used for restoring our bodies, REM sleep is important for restoring our minds, which is why it’s so hard to think straight after a restless night. There’s also the unfortunate problem of stress making it harder to drop off, which can compound the problem.
Going outside is often presented as a simple and straightforward solution to feeling a little better. The vitamin D we absorb from the sun helps to strengthen our bones and helps our skin. Being out in nature also improves our mental wellbeing. It’s a break from the stuffiness of classrooms or cityscape pollution, and a space away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Mind UK, the mental health charity, states that going out into nature can reduce stress and anger and can help us to be more active. Even basic activity can help keep our bodies functioning, and getting out in the fresh air can refresh us – which is helpful especially during exam season when we spend hours hunched over desks, pouring over notes.
All in all, many of these principles have solid scientific backing – it’s clearly important to get enough sleep and to keep drinking water. Even the ones that don’t have as much research behind them are still nice to do – like positive affirmations. In a chaotic world, it’s important to take a step back and think about what we can do to make life easier, even if only for ourselves.
