4 Unexpectedly Helpful Health Tips
What I've come to realize is that most health "tips" are pretty darn obvious to most people if you want to lose weight, exercise and eat well. If you want to live longer, quit smoking and start walking. If you want to avoid wrinkles and skin cancer, wear sunscreen. If you are tired, get more sleep at night. There you go. However, every once in a while, a tip pops up and it makes us scratch our heads because it just seems so counter-intuitive. Here are four of those tips, and why they are actually (surprisingly) pretty effective:
Drink a cup of coffee before you take a nap
This one is rather interesting, as I've never really thought that coffee and sleep were very compatible. However, in a recent study out of Japan, it was indicated that people who consumed about 200 mg of caffeine (about one to two cups of coffee) and then immediately took a 20 minute nap afterwards reported feeling more alert and productive afterwards than those who only took a nap.
Drink a hot beverage to cool down
What normally sounds appealing to drink on a hot day? Chances are that you would choose something frosty, such as lemonade or iced tea. However, research has indicated that when consume something that is warmer than your standing body temperature, your body senses the increase in heat and proceeds to increase your sweat production. As the sweat evaporates from your skin, your body will naturally cool itself down. So the next time you’re feeling overheated, consider opting for the hot tea instead of the iced tea!
When you are feeling tired, consider exercising
If you are anything like me, then after a long day at work, the couch sounds much more appealing than the gym does. However, a recent study published in Medicine and Science of Sports and Exercise indicated that both fatigue and mood could be dramatically improved after thirty minutes of exercise, due to heightened oxygen flow to the brain.
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder
Spending time alone can help you to become familiar with your own needs and wants which, in turn, can benefit your relationship(s). Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of Better Than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love, says, "Alone time enables you to be more in touch with yourself and can better give and receive. In addition, it reduces stress and anxiety, which could also contribute to relationship strains”.
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