If a little bit is good for you, then surely more must be better, right? Turns out the answer is wrong. Like most things in life, moderation is the key when it comes to looking after your health ... even if it involves things that are good for you.
Here we look at six examples of how going overboard can, in fact, have the opposite effect on your health.
Too much exercise
“If you exercise too much you can definitely hurt yourself in terms of muscular-skeletal injury,” says Sports Physiotherapist Fiona Gutschlag. "Or if you exercise too much and don't have the proper recovery, you won't get the maximum benefit from the exercise. You also risk getting rundown, and then you're more susceptible to injury."
Injuries can include stress fractures, in areas such as the back, and muscle tears.
As a rule Gutschlag recommends slowly beginning an exercise regime if you haven't worked out for a long time, and listening to your body.
Too much tooth-brushing
Researchers at England's University of Newcastle say that brushing for more than two minutes and applying more pressure than needed can increase the risk of oral-health damage.
"You can brush away the gum, leaving the root of the tooth exposed," says Sydney dentist Dr Anthony Burgess. "The tooth then becomes sensitive to hot and cold. Also, as we age, we produce less saliva to protect the teeth from decay, so if the root is exposed, they are more prone to root caries."
Too much fibre
We all know a diet high in fibre can help prevent a number of gastrointestinal diseases, such as certain cancers, but there are side effects to consuming too much. In fact more than 50 grams of fibre a day could lead to malnutrition. Too much fibre also can lead to intestinal discomfort and dehydration. You should aim for about 30 grams of fibre a day.
Too many vitamins
A number of studies have shown that taking too many supplements can be harmful. Beta-carotene from fruit and vegetables, and other whole foods has been found to protect smokers from lung cancer, but taking it as a supplement actually raised the risk.
Another study found that women taking high doses of vitamin A had a 48 percent higher risk of hip fractures than women on lower doses. Excess vitamin A also can cause vomiting, hair loss and joint pain.
Too much vitamin C, can create problems as well, especially in people with high levels of iron, or who are taking high doses of iron.
Too much cleanliness
Products claiming to rid the home of germs could be doing more harm than good, says Dr John Turnidge.
"Cleanliness is important, but the solution is not to spray chemicals around. Water and detergent are a good disinfectant. They don’t kill every bug, but we don’t want to kill every bug – our immune system depends on being exposed to them on a regular basis to keep being primed up."
Too much sleep
Too much shut-eye can affect the body in a similar way to getting too little sleep. People who sleep more than 10 hours per day have been found to be more susceptible to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, depression and sleep disorders.
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