Thomas Jefferson allegedly soaked his feet in cold water every morning. According to two of his letters, he asserted that these foot baths prevented him from catching a cold. Jefferson also disliked warm water baths in general, as he believed that hot water caused him to become sick.
Jefferson’s hygiene habits were similar to today’s standards. However, fellow Virginians thought that his consistent bathing habits were strange. He refused to use tobacco and ate a wide variety of vegetables–both uncommon during that era. It’s no wonder that he lived until age 83.
Andrew Jackson Often Took Hygienic Vacations
Andrew Jackson struggled with his health throughout his presidency, contracting diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and typhoid. He often took vacations to stabilize his health. At the beginning of his term, he stayed on a secluded island for “fine air and [a] pleasant bath.”
Jackson believed that nature’s air and water improved his health. Although he took care of his hygiene, his health continued to suffer. Eventually, he took medications that contained mercury and lead for his ailments. Mercury poisoning may have contributed to his death in 1845.
Ronald Reagan’s Diet Accidentally Promoted Jelly Belly
Ronald Reagan was an avid smoker. In the 1940s and ’50s, he even appeared on tobacco advertisements. But during his presidency in the 1980s, Reagan tried to stop the habit. He took to eating jelly beans to curb his cravings.
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