Some so-called healthy habits could be considered a waste of time and money

Many people have developed health habits over the years, but can some of those be a waste of time and money? According to an article in Men's Health magazine, the answer can be yes.

Here is their list of a few habits that could be considered a waste of time and money.

1. See your dentist twice a year.

You can consider ignoring that postcard you get from the dentist reminding you of your six-month visit. A review of 29 medical studies found that there really is no need to see the dentist twice a year. If you practice good dental hygiene, one visit per year is enough to stay on top of any potential problems, but be sure not to go any longer than that.

2. Brush and flossing twice a day

You can get away with doing it just once a day according to Men's Health, but make sure you do it right. Brush your teeth thoroughly for at least two minutes.
Also, a soft tooth brush cleans teeth as well as a hard one, and causes less damage.

3. Throwing milk away when you reach it's expiration date

Your milk may last longer than you think. The expiration date on the carton is just the date after which it can no longer be sold. In reality, it can probably last for up to a week after that. You can tell milk is sour by it's smell and its taste.

4. Avoid eating after 8 p.m.

According to Susan Bowerman, M.S., R.D., assistant director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, there is no difference between eating in the morning and eating at night. New research suggests eating late if you exercise in the evening, or are over 60.

5. The annual full-body scan

Men's Health said the scans can miss lesions, giving a false sense of security, or they can find something that's not there, creating unnecessary stress and additional tests. Scans can help detect lung cancer and coronary-artery calcium, but the article said these tests are recommended only for people over 45 years old who have other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

6. Starve a fever, feed a cold

For a cold, drink lots of fluids and eat what you feel you can. Chicken soup does have benefits including relieve mucus build up and sore throats.

Starving a fever is not a good idea. A fever raises your metabolism, causing you to burn calories, so you want to replace these calories to get over the illness quickly.