'I'm a GP — stop this water bottle habit before you get diarrhoea and vomiting'

Physical fitnessis important for maintaining a healthy mind and body, with studies revealing that regular movement can slow the advancement of 40 chronic illnesses and conditions. A third of people have serious health issues by their 40s, so it's a good idea to get into the habit of regular exercise.

However, a medical professional suggests we ought to rethink our rather unhygienic workout practices to remain healthy throughout the colder months.

GP and wellness specialist Dr Aarthi Sinha cautioned that failing to clean your water bottle could eventually result in diarrhoea and vomiting, reports Surrey Live.

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"If you don't wash and air your water bottle often enough this can lead to these bugs building up on the side of the bottle and then getting into the water when the bottle is filled up," she cautioned. "If you then drink this water, it can lead to diarrhoea and vomiting."

Her recommendation? Wash your water bottles daily just as you would with mugs and tumblers. You might even go one step further and occasionally sanitise them with sterilising tablets. She said: "You may periodically consider cleaning it using sterilising tablets (like those used for baby's milk bottles), if they're compatible with your water bottle."

Dr Sinha's went on to reveal four other habits to avoid at the gym.

Using shared exercise mats

Utilising gym mats soaked in someone else's perspiration without wiping them down can expose you to the risk of contracting various bacteria. Dr Sinha warns: "Any bodily fluid contains dead skin cells and bugs from our skin and other secretions. You may be carrying viruses you are unaware of and if this spreads to another person it can cause skin infections (including spots), coughs and colds."

Not changing out of your gym kit fast enough

Furthermore, Dr Sinha emphasises the danger linked with re-wearing workout clothing without washing: "Sweat and dead skin cells that shed when we workout can transfer on to our gym clothes. If these are worn again, it can cause skin infections like impetigo and thrush."

Wash your exercise gear inside out at a low temperature and avoid fabric conditioners, as they can harm stretchy workout materials and leave behind residue.

Not wiping your gym equipment down

Research by FitRated revealed that free weights in the gym contain 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, whilst treadmills contain an average of 74 times more bacteria than a public bathroom tap.

Using the gym's swimwear dryer

Additional research on domestic washing machines and dryers, which operate similarly to your gym's swimsuit dryer, found that 20% contained E. coli in the drum, a bacterium that can cause diarrhoea, stomach upsets, and cystitis.

"Bodily fluids like sweat, dead skin cells and even saliva transfer from our bodies to our swimsuits and therefore into the dryer. This can then be transmitted on to our swimwear," warns Dr Sinha.