44 WAYS TO FEEL GREAT FAST (continued)

First for women  (magazine)
September 27, 2010

17.  Hug a loved one.  Daily 40-second hugs reduce insomnia within three months for up to 81 percent of women, according to University of Miami research. Hugging makes people feel loved--and that dramatically lowers the production of sleep-sabotaging stress hormones, explains Dr. Masterson. She notes, "Even cuddling a pet has this powerful effect."

18.  Mooch a massage.  Regular massages (even daily five-minute ones from your partner) can reduce headache flare-ups and back pain by 30 percent, plus cut your need for painkillers in half. According to University of Miami researchers, massage works by increasing the production of painkilling endorphins.

22.  Google a getaway.  Spend just five minutes online researching your next vacation and you'll boost your happiness for four hours straight.

23.  Pray for a loved one.  Saying a daily prayer for someone you care about can reduce your risk of serious illness by one-third, according to research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Prayer helps control the release of more than 200 molecules that transmit messages from the brain to bodily cells, which can heal tissue and prevent disease.

25.  Spice up your meals.  Sprinkle cayenne peppers, chili peppers or other spices on your dishes and you'll destroy ulcer-causing H. pylori bacterium.

26.  Have a cheese omelet for breakfast.  A higher-fat breakfast can increase your calorie burn for 24 hours, according to a University of Alabama study. Start your day with an egg, 1 oz. of cheese or 1 Tbs. of peanut butter on toast.

27.  Enjoy cola on ice. When you crave soda, double the volume of it with ice, suggests Dr Ordon. By the time you finish it, you'll have sipped an extra 12 oz. of water. And water leads to a variety of benefits, such as more radiant skin, improved immunity, fewer headaches and speedier metabolism.

28.  Get your daily giggles.  A few good laughs can reduce stress-hormone production by 25 percent for three hours, say researchers at Loma Linda University in California. And daily laughter is as effective as exercise at preventing chronic stress, adds Kr Masterson. Check our hilarious photos at:  AwkwardFamilypetphotos.com and TotsandGiggles.com.

29.  Chew gum.  In a study at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, when 133 groggy people chewed gum, they felt happier, more alert and focused, and their reaction times improved significantly. Dr Sears adds, "The effect kicked in almost immediately."

30.  Dr. Ordon's top tip:  SIP GREEN TEA.
Drinking three mugs of this inflammation-taming brew daily lowers your risk of achy joints by 53 percent, according to a Taiwanese study.
To improve the flavor, I add lemon juice or agave nectar."
             --Dr. Ordon, M.D., plastic surgeon, UCLA School of Medicine,  
              Los Angeles 

32.  Make your own vinaigrette.  It's a great way to add extra-virgin olive oil to your diet, which cuts Alzheimer's risk by up to 40 percent. "This oil contains brain-nourishing unsaturated fat and antioxidants," says Dr. Stork. Mix 3 Tbs. of balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbs. of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. of minced garlic and 1/8 tsp. of basil, plus salt and pepper to taste.

36.  Use diaper cream.  Dab a little diaper-rash cream on dry, flaky, cracked or rashy skin at night. It's loaded with zinc oxide, which can heal damaged skin in as little as 48 hours.

38.  Spread on the butter.  Italian research suggests that buttering vegetables doubles the absorption of immunity-boosting carotenoids. If you eat 2 cups of buttered veggies daily, you'll increase your infection-fighting white blood cell count by 33 percent.

39.  Be romantic.  Intimacy revs the production of oxytoxin, a calming hormone that prevents surges in blood pressure and stress hormones. Make love once a week and you'll cut your risk of heart attacks and strokes in half, say Cleveland Clinic researchers.

40.  Dr. Sears's top tip:  EAT AN APPLE A DAY.
Your skin will look up to six years younger, thanks to apples' quercetin, an antioxidant that prevents the breakdown of skin's supportive collagen.
"And eating an apple almost always shuts down my cravings for junk food."
      --Jim Sears, M.D., pediatrician, Capistrano Beach California


(That's all for this week.  Does it give you enough to think about and try??   If so, let me know the results ... please.)