8 Vices To Avoid For Your Health

FLORIDA — BACKGROUND: Vices, or bad habits, whatever you call them, we all have them, from biting our nails to smoking, to drinking, or picking our nose. Some of our habits are not only crude, but some can affect our health and the health of those around us, but did you know some "bad: habits could actually be good for your health?

NAIL BITING: BAD AND GOOD?  When you chew on your fingertips, bacteria or possibly even pinworm eggs under the surface of the nails can enter your mouth. This can be bad. However, biting your nails can also be good for you, unless your hands are filthy, the "bugs" we encounter when biting our nails can actually help boost our immune system. This is because our immune system has a memory, making a note of how to fight every bug it has ever encountered. When a bug is encountered a second time, the immune system reaches into its memory and releases weapons — called memory lymphocytes -- that it knows will beat it. (SOURCE: www.oprah.com/health; www.dailymail.co.uk/health)

BURPING:  A loud burp -- or belch -- though offensive, may in fact protect your body against damage from stomach acid. Burp gas is formed of a mixture of substances. As well as containing air we swallow when we bolt down food, it also contains carbon dioxide. This natural gas release -- the belch -- is a normal part of digestion, and suppressing it can cause problems.  "If you don't belch and the gas stays on the stomach, this can cause the valve that separates the gullet and the stomach to relax, allowing stomach acid to splash up into the gullet, triggering heartburn," Dr. Nick Read, a consultant gastroenterologist for the charity the IBS Network, was quoted as saying. (SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk/health)

PASSING GAS: As with burping, it's important that we pass gas. Most of the gas comes from the fermentation of protein and carbohydrate. Releasing the gas eases pain and bloating, especially if you have a sensitive stomach that becomes bloated regularly. (SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk/health)

KNUCKLE CRACKING: The loud pop of someone cracking their knuckles makes most people wince, but though it sounds harmful, it has no effect on the health of our joints and may make the joint feel more flexible. (SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk/health)

WFTV