3 bad habits that can be good for you

From biting our nails to tapping on the desk, we're constantly being told to rein in our bad habits.

But as recent research on fidgeting has shown, some annoying traits can actually bring unexpected health benefits. 

Sitting for long periods has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. 

Now scientists at Leeds University and University College London believe fidgeting helps counter the risk of serious illnesses.

The latest study, based on health questionnaires completed by 12,000 UK women, revealed people who sat for more than seven hours a day and did not fidget had a 43 per cent higher risk of death than those who wouldn't sit still.

But fidgeting is not the only antisocial habit that has a silver lining. Here are five other 'bad habits' that have been shown to benefit your health.

DON'T MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

t may be a natural impulse to swear when you hurt yourself, but it's also a natural painkiller according researchers at Keele University.

Lead researcher Dr Richard Stephens dreamt up the study while he was doing DIY and swore when he accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer. 

Scientists found that foul-mouthed volunteers were able to withstand pain for 50 per cent longer than those who kept it clean. 

One theory is that swearing activates our fight or flight response, which releases painkilling endorphins.

Rather than just proving we swear more when we're angry, the psychologists insisted the study showed how profanity can be an emotional coping mechanism which makes us feel more resilient. 

However Dr Stephens warns that for maximum effect you should cut back on swearing in everyday situations.   

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE YOUR BED

Leaving your bed unmade in the morning could help head off allergies, according to researchers at Kingston University.

They estimate that the average bed contains up to 1.5 million house dust mites — tiny bugs which feed off dead skin and are known trigger for asthma and other allergies. 

Mattresses, duvets, and pillows become reservoirs of human skin cells, encouraging dust mites.  

Dust mites like warm moist environments making the bed the perfect breeding ground, with about 10 million per average bed.

Whilst dust mites themselves are harmless, their faeces and body fragments can trigger allergic reactions, prompting the body to release histamines to attack the allergen.

This can cause eczema and hay fever, and estimates suggest dust mites may be a factor in up to 80 per cent of people with asthma. 

Researcher Dr Stephen Pretlove said: 'Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die.'  

WHY BAD SMELLS CAN BE GOOD

Flatulence which smells of rotten eggs could mean you have a lower risk of cancer, according to scientists at Exeter University.

The pungent odour is hydrogen sulfide, which is released when gut bacteria break down food in the intestine. 

But it also protects mitochondria, the powerhouse which drives every cell in the human body.

Dr Mark Wood says: 'Hydrogen sulfide could in fact be a healthcare hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases.'

The brassica family of superfood vegetables - such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage - which are known to protect against cancer also have high levels of the sulphur-containing chemicals that produce pungent-smelling wind.

Notoriously wind-inducing foods such as beans, lentils and Brussel sprouts are also high in fibre which is important for digestive health and is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. 

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