'44 WAYS TO FEEL GREAT FAST'

(I will not copy all 44 - some, you have read before; others, may be news to you).
 
First for women magazine September 27 2010

FIRST  asked the dynamos who host the Emmy-winning show The Doctors: 5-Minute Health Fixes 

     (Rodale, 2010)

Here are their recommendations:

1.  Snack on a banana.  Eating a banana every day can increase energy, brainpower and alertness by 20 percent, according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine. Credit goes to bananas' unique blend of potassium, tryptophan and fruit sugars.

3.  Drink coffee...  Harvard University research shows that this brew is so effective at revving metabolism, it can help you burn 31 percent more calories during workouts.

4.  ...but use a paper filter.  Ditch the gold filter and put away the French press and you'll lower your cholesterol by 8 percent. The reason: Paper filters trap cafestol, a compound that stimulates the liver to produce artery-clogging fats.

5.  Dr. Stork's top tip:  TAKE 6 DEEP BREATHS.   This can reduce blood pressure by 9.6 points, according to one Japanese study. "I do this whenever I'm stressed. It makes me feel calm almost immediately."
    -- Travis Stork, M.D., emergency medicine physician, Vanderbuilt 
Medical Center, Nashville 

6.  Treat Allergies at night.  Fall allergy symptoms follow a circadian pattern, and misery often peaks between 5 A.M. and 9 A.M., when histamine levels are highest. Take allergy medication at bedtime and you'll double your symptom relief.

7.  Eat dark chocolate.  Savor 1 oz. a day and your blood pressure will drop by 6 points. The treat's magnesium and natural plant compounds relax the arteries, boosting blood flow.  

8.   Floss for 30 seconds daily.  That's all it takes to add six-and-a-half years to your life, say UCLA researchers. Flossing helps prevent periodontal infections, which can spread through the bloodstream and trigger chronic tissue-damaging inflammation.

9.  Order brown rice.  Eating 1 cup of sugar-stabilizing brown rice weekly can lower your diabetes risk by 11 percent, say Harvard University researchers. "Most restaurants serve brown rice if you ask," says Dr. Stork. "If they refuse, I don't go back."

12.  Chew each bite 10 to 20 times.  In a Japanese study, those who ate most slowly were 54 percent less likely to become obese. "I sometimes eat too fast when a meal's delicious," says Dr. Stork. "But when I slow down, I feel full sooner and eat less."

13.  Snack on walnuts.   Enjoying just four walnuts daily can cut your risk of a heart attack in half, according to new research. "they're packed with artery-healing omega-3 fats," says Dr. Sears. "People think they won't like the flavor, but whenever I set out a bowl, the nuts disappear."

15.  Dr. Masterson's top tip:  STAND UP.  People who are on their feet as often as possible are 62 percent more likely to stay slim, even if they don't exercise! "Stand every chance you get--when you're on the phone, in quick meetings or even opening the mail. I got a puppy to help give a boost off the couch, and it's worked wonders."

   -- Lisa Masterson, M.D., ob-gyn, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 

That's all for today... I'll pick up next week.  Try some of these and let me know how the work out for you!

I always appreciate comments from you!