Forbidden Fruit Is Good for You: Bad Habits That Might Actually Benefit Your Health (6 Photos)
A number of habits widely considered bad may actually be good for your health—a claim backed by numerous international studies. The guilty pleasures we often try to keep hidden can actually boost bodily functions and relieve uncomfortable or painful symptoms. Read on to discover which bad habits might actually do you good. 
While gossiping, nose-picking, and swearing are usually frowned upon, researchers say they can actually work wonders for your health. These so-called bad habits trigger defense mechanisms in the body that help ease pain and ward off other issues.
Here is how seemingly taboo behavior can actually boost your well-being.
Sex Relieves Headaches Better Than Painkillers 
Many people brush off sex with the classic "Not tonight, I have a headache." In reality, making love relieves symptoms better than most over-the-counter painkillers. A 2013 study by German researchers revealed that migraine sufferers experienced significant relief after sex.
Scientists attribute this to the surge of endorphins released during intercourse. Endorphins act as the body’s natural painkillers. At the moment of orgasm, the body is flooded with feel-good hormones, bringing noticeable pain relief.
Swearing Eases Physical Pain 
Don't hold back when you stub your toe or bump your elbow. Researchers at Staffordshire University asked study participants to submerge their hands in a bucket of ice water and found that those who swore tolerated the pain much better. The cursing participants lasted for two minutes—nearly twice as long as those who kept their language clean.
Experts explain that an emotional response to discomfort triggers a natural defense mechanism in the body, boosting adrenaline levels and blunting the sensation of pain.
Picking Your Nose Might Actually Be Good for You 
Even though it is widely regarded as one of the grossest habits, scientists advise against fighting the urge. In fact, some researchers claim that eating boogers has health benefits! Microbiologists explain that nasal mucus contains beneficial bacteria that can help the immune system fight off environmental pathogens. When swallowed, the mucus acts almost like a natural vaccine in the gut.
Sleeping Naked Is Great for Your Waistline 
While it might sound a bit cheeky, sleeping in the nude offers a host of health benefits. First, it improves sleep quality by allowing body temperature to cool down naturally. Second, sleeping in a cooler environment boosts your metabolism by encouraging the body to produce more brown fat to stay warm. Brown fat generates heat, burning calories and enhancing metabolic rate in the process. What's more, sleeping naked reduces the risk of infections—such as thrush in women and jock itch in men—since bacteria thrive in warm, humid conditions.
Gossiping Helps You Reflect on Your Own Behavior 
Even though talking behind someone's back is widely considered poor etiquette, it turns out gossiping isn't all bad. Talking about others' behavior encourages us to reflect on our own actions.
Back in 2014, Dutch researchers discovered that people who listen to gossip tend to adjust their own behavior to avoid becoming the subject of similar rumors.
When thinking about men's bad habits, smoking and drinking are usually the first things that come to mind. But in reality, the world of male vices is far more diverse.
