Why Cardi B Fans Are Talking About Peeing in the Shower and Saving the Planet
Surprising Facts About Shower Habits and Health
Many people have silly habits that they may not talk about. Some people do things in the shower that others would never admit to. One of the most talked-about habits is peeing in the shower. Some experts say this habit could help the planet and might even be good for you. Let's find out more about it!
Peeing in the Shower: Who Does It?
Rapper Cardi B asked her followers about shower habits. She said there are two types of people: those who pee in the shower, and those who pretend they don't. A survey from Showers To You found that 61% of people sometimes pee in the shower. The other 39% said they never would. So, most people have done it at least once.
Why Does Running Water Make Us Need to Pee?
Have you ever noticed that you have to go to the bathroom when you hear running water? There is a reason for this! Dr. Hana Patel, a doctor, explained why. She said, "Men with issues passing urine found that listening to sounds of running water helped them." Hearing water is calming for the body. It helps your body relax after you are stressed.
The body has something called the parasympathetic nervous system. This system helps your body rest. It helps with things like digestion and relaxing your muscles. The sound of water can start this system and help your bladder relax. When your bladder relaxes, it is easier for you to pee.
How Our Brains Learn About Water and Peeing
Scientists say that because we often pee when we hear water, our brains connect these two things. It is like a trick our brains learn over time. Every time you hear water and pee, your brain remembers it. So the sound of water can make you want to pee, even if you don't really have to go. This is called conditioning, like when a dog hears a bell and knows food is coming. Our brains can be trained in funny ways!
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Is Peeing in the Shower Bad for You?
Not everyone thinks peeing in the shower is good. Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas says women should not pee standing up in the shower. She explained on a TikTok video that a woman’s body is not made to pee while standing. She said, "It is not good for pelvic floor relaxation." That means peeing this way could hurt how the body works over time.
Saving Water and Helping the Planet
Peeing in the shower can actually save water. When you flush the toilet, it uses a lot of water. Princeton University says each flush uses about seven gallons. If you pee in the shower instead, you might use less water. Michigan Daily wrote that skipping just one flush a day could save over six gallons of water. This helps the environment and also saves money on your water bill.
The average person in America uses 156 gallons of water each day. Even saving a little can help a lot if everyone does it. So, while some people think peeing in the shower is gross, it might actually be helpful for the Earth.
Do You Pee in the Shower?
Now you know the facts. Do you think peeing in the shower is okay? Or would you rather always use the toilet? People have strong feelings about it on both sides!
Finding Your Best Selfie Angle
People love taking selfies. But sometimes it is hard to know how to look your best in a picture. A new study says there might be a "correct" angle for taking pictures. Most people know the way they like to pose for photos. But did you know that science has something to say about this?
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The Science Behind the Best Side
A group of scientists wanted to see if there was a special side of the face that looks better in pictures. Annukka Lindell, a professor in Australia, studied 2,000 selfies. She found that most people show their left cheek in photos. This is called "left cheek bias."
The study showed that people showed their left cheek 41% of the time. The right cheek appeared in 31.5% of selfies. Some people looked straight ahead, but only 8% had no favorite side.
Why Is the Left Side Special?
There is a reason for this "left side" idea. The left side of your face is controlled by the right side of your brain. The right side of your brain shows emotions better. This means that the left side of your face might show more feelings. So, if you want to look your best in selfies, try turning your left cheek toward the camera. Science says it might make you look more friendly and happy!
Playing Tetris Helps Your Brain
Many kids and adults love playing the game Tetris. Did you know that this fun game could actually help your mind too? Scientists in the UK and Sweden studied Tetris and found that it could be helpful after something scary happens.
Tetris and Traumatic Memories
A study in 2017 looked at people who had been in car accidents. After the accident, some people were asked to play Tetris for 20 minutes. Others had to fill out a log about what they had done in the hospital. The people who played Tetris had 62% fewer bad memories about the accident in the next week. Their memories were also less scary over time.
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Why Does Tetris Work?
Emily Holmes, a psychology professor in Sweden, said, "More research is definitely needed to develop this approach. But we're encouraged. And we need to develop preventative interventions that can be delivered soon after trauma to prevent the buildup of symptoms." Playing Tetris uses your eyes and your brain in a special way. It helps your brain forget the scary pictures faster.
A new study in 2024 found the same thing. Health care workers who played Tetris after stressful days had fewer bad flashbacks. Some workers listened to the radio instead, but they did not get the same benefit. So, a simple game like Tetris can help your mind feel better after something scary happens.
Shower Thoughts: Why We Get Good Ideas
Have you ever had a great idea while you were in the shower? Or maybe while you were out walking? Scientists say this is very common. There is a reason we think of fun and creative things when we are not working hard.
Why the Shower Makes Us Creative
A team from the University of Virginia and the University of Minnesota studied why we get ideas in the shower. Zac Irving, a professor, said, "Say you're stuck on a problem. What do you do? Probably not something mind-numbingly boring like watching paint dry. Instead, you do something to occupy yourself, like going for a walk, gardening, or taking a shower. All these activities are moderately engaging."
When your mind is a little busy but not too busy, your brain can wander. When your brain wanders, you can come up with creative ideas. Doing something like showering or walking is just the right amount of activity. It lets your mind relax and dream up new things.
The Study on Creative Moments
People in the study had to think of different ways to use a brick or a paperclip. Some watched a boring video of folding laundry. Others watched a more interesting movie clip. The people who watched the fun video had more creative ideas. This is because their brains were relaxed but not bored.
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The scientists wrote, "People often seem to generate creative ideas during moderately engaging activities, such as showering or walking." So, next time you need a good idea, try taking a shower or going for a walk!
What Our Toilet Habits Say About Us
Talking about going to the bathroom can be embarrassing. But our toilet habits can tell us a lot about our health. Sometimes, changes in our poop can be a sign that something is different in our bodies.
Why Does Poop Change Color?
One thing that can happen is green poop. This might sound gross or scary, but it is usually not a big deal. Most of the time, green poop comes from what you eat. If you eat a lot of green vegetables like spinach or kale, your poop might turn green. Foods with food coloring, like blue ice pops or colored cakes, can also turn your poop green.
Medicine and Illness Can Change Poop Color
Some medicines can change the color of your poop too. UK charity Guts UK says antibiotics can sometimes make your poop green. If you have a stomach bug or a sickness like Crohn's disease, your poop might also change color. Crohn's disease causes pain in your stomach and can make you go to the bathroom a lot.
People with celiac disease, who cannot eat gluten, sometimes have green poop. Bacteria like salmonella or norovirus can also make your poop green. These germs make your stomach work too fast, and this changes the color of your poop.
More Serious Causes
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Sometimes, green poop can be a sign of a problem with your liver or gall bladder. Guts UK says, "Green poo can also be caused by a condition called bile acid diarrhoea, where bile stays in the stools without being reabsorbed, and hence discolours the poo. This can occur if you have liver or gall bladder disease, or if you have had bowel surgery or disorders of the small intestine."
Howard E. LeWine, a doctor at Harvard, explained, "Intermittent green stool in someone who otherwise feels fine is usually related to eating dark green vegetables, such as spinach and kale. Another reason for green poop is the rapid passage of green bile from the small intestine when a person has diarrhoea." Medicines like Pepto-Bismol, iron pills, and some antibiotics can also give you green poop.
When Should You Worry?
Most of the time, green poop is not dangerous. If you feel fine and remember eating green food, you do not need to worry. But if you feel sick or see blood, you should tell a grown-up and visit a doctor.
What We Learned Today
We found out a lot of interesting things! Peeing in the shower is common, and it might even save water. The sound of running water can make us need to pee, and this is because of how our brains work. Some doctors say it is not a good idea for women to pee while standing, but others think it is okay if it helps the planet.
We also learned that taking selfies from the left side might help you look better, because that side shows more feelings. Playing games like Tetris can help your brain after something scary happens. And if you get your best ideas in the shower, you are not alone! Science says this is a real thing.
Finally, we talked about poop color. Eating green foods or taking medicine can turn your poop green, but it is usually nothing to worry about. If you feel sick, always talk to a doctor.
Quick Tips for Healthy Habits
- Save water by turning off the faucet when not using it.
- Eat lots of fruits and veggies for good health.
- If you feel sick or notice changes in your body, talk to an adult.
- Try taking a walk or a shower if you need a creative idea.
- Remember, everyone has different habits, and that is okay!
Stay curious, and keep learning about how your body and brain work. Science can help us understand even the weirdest things we do!
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