Genius & Simple Health Tips You Should Know

 - [Narrator] It seems like there's a new study out every day

presenting scary medical news.

Figuring out how to stay healthy can be really stressful,

and we all know that stress isn't healthy.

Fortunately, there are lots of simple ways

to boost your health.

From sleeping on your left side,

to getting a pet,

even playing video games could be good for you in moderation

Prepare to be amazed by this list of 20 genius health tricks

- Amazing!

- [Narrator] Number 20, sleeping on your left side.

You may not think it matters which side you lie on

when you go to bed but studies have shown you're better off

snoozing on your left side.

This position improves blood flow to your organs,

helping the spleen and intestines work more efficiently.

There's also a big bonus for heart burn sufferers,

since several studies have found that sleeping on your

left side apparently reduces heartburn.

No one knows the exact reason for this,

but one hypothesis holds that left side sleeping

keeps the junction between the stomach and esophogas

above the level of gastric acid.

It seems very odd but it's all true

and the good thing is that left side sleeping is a cool

and easy trick everyone can use.

Number 19, don't brush after eating after all!

Since you were a kid,

you were probably told to brush your teeth after

every meal, it turns out that's not such a great idea.

Acidic food or drinks, and even healthy foods

like fruits and vegetables are often very acidic

and can soften your tooth enamel.

This raises the risk of tooth damage with brushing.

A better idea is to wait 30 to 60 minutes after a meal

to brush those pearly whites.

Number 18, avoid bright lights before bed.

You may like to relax before bed by reading

on your tablet, surfing the internet,

or updating your calendar on your phone.

Unfortunately, even if these things are relaxing,

they can prevent you from sleeping soundly.

It's the blue light produced by all our electronic devices,

any kind of bright lights at night interfere with

the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps us sleep.

Several studies have linked exposure to bright light at

night to increase risk of several forms of cancer,

heart disease and obesity.

Some preliminary evidence, suggests lower melatonin levels

may increase the risk of cancer.

If you like to read, a paper book is a better idea

than an e-reader.

But if you have to use something with a screen,

a pair of amber tinted glasses can reduce the blue light

and help you sleep better.

Now that's a bright idea!

Number 17, sitting correctly at a computer.

Sitting at a computer can leave you with all sorts

of aches and pains and pore posture is a big part

of the problem, admit it, you sat up straighter

just hearing that!

Improving posture is a good start.

But there are other changes you can make to reduce strain

when sitting, raise the height of your chair,

put your keyboard and mouse on your desktop surface,

and move your monitor and laptop screen so it's at exactly

the height of your face.

That way, you won't strain your neck looking down.

Number 16, exercising longer

is not a good way to lose weight.

While experts agree exercise has many health benefits,

it is not a magic bullet for weight loss.

In fact, physical activity is usually only a tiny percentage

of your daily calorie burn.

Most of the calories you burn result from your resting

metabolism in other words, the basic functioning of your

body like breathing!

Additionally, many people over eat after exercise

because it makes them hungry.

If you do exercise, longer sessions may seem like a good

idea but you'll actually get more metabolic benefits

from a shorter, more intense workout,

than a longer one.

High intensity interval training, or HIIT,

helps you burn more calories after you finish exercising.

One study found those who do a HIIT workout,

burned 100 calories more in the following 24 hours

than those who did a longer, lower intensity, sweat session.

This can have some weight loss benefits if you don't

follow your workout with a box of donuts.

Instead, pack a healthy snack to eat after you exercise

as HIIT is most effective when paired with a healthy diet.

I'm not saying that exercise is bad and you shouldn't do it,

what I'm saying is that exercise alone is not enough

or as important as most people think.

Instead, put more focus on maintaining a healthy diet

and the way you exercise.

Number 15, smoothies, energy bars,

and even some salads are not healthy.

Now that you know diet and calories are more important

than exercise when it comes to losing weight,

you may think ordering a salad is the way to go.

Salads certainly can be healthy

a vegetables like lettuce, kale, and carrots,

tend to be low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber.

But some restaurants add so much cheese,

salad dressing, and sometimes even fried meats to their

salads that they can top 1,000 calories.

If you're dining out, ask for dressing on the side

so you can us a small amount and limit the extra calories.

You can also ask for the cheese on the side,

or left off entirely.

If your salad comes with meat,

ask for it to be grilled instead of fried.

Smoothies and energy bars often have an unhealthy

amount of calories as well

and it's always a good idea to check

the label before buying.

Or read a restaurants nutrition info online before ordering.

Number 14, loosen your tie to reduce your risk of glaucoma.

Wearing your tie too tight can be uncomfortable

not just for you but also your eye balls.

There's a reason some guys think of a neck tie as a noose.

In one study of 40 men,

adjusting a tie to slightly uncomfortable for only three

minutes raised intra ocular pressure,

a leading cause of glaucoma.

So loosen up that tie, or better yet,

just use a clip on.

Then you'll also save yourself the stress

of having to tie it every morning.

Number 13, easy on the positive thinking,

it can make you feel more depressed.

You know the feeling, you're having a bad day

and someone attempts to help by telling you

to look on the bright side or have a positive attitude.

If you find this annoying instead of helpful,

you're not alone.

Studies have shown positive thinking provides

only a marginal improvement in the mood for those

with high self esteem.

Those with lower self esteem,

actually felt worse.

Probably because there's nothing more depressing

than a fake cheer when you're having a lousy day.

Many people actually felt better when making a list of

negative things about themselves.

This may be because once you've identified your faults,

you can work to improve them.

Number 12, masturbating promotes a healthy sex drive.

Good news for the porn industry.

Masturbation is very healthy,

as it turns out, showing a little self love is not only

temporarily present, it can also help you have a better sex

life in general, the more frequently you have orgasms,

the more your body produces libido increasing hormones.

Doctor Darius Paduch, director of sexual health

at Weill Cornell Medical College,

found out that among his patients,

this leads to a higher sex drive.

Number 11, beware of the new car smell

and open those windows.

Many people love that new car smell,

so much that it's even sold as a variety of air freshner.

But getting a good whiff of the real thing

could actually be bad for your health.

The inside of a new car contains plastics,

adhesives and fabrics and when these are concentrated

in a small space, like the inside of a new vehicle,

they can release harmful gasses,

especially in high temperatures.

As much as you might love that new car smell,

it's much healthier to roll down the windows

and let it escape, especially in warm weather.

Number 10, yogic breathing improves lung function

and blood flow to the brain.

Pranayama sounds like something you might order

at that new Indian restaurant downtown.

But it's actually a yoga breathing principle,

yoga is healthy in general, but if you don't have time

to bend yourself into a pretzel,

you can still benefit from pranayama.

This technique brings more oxygen to the blood and brain.

And it can improve lung function,

just don't take any deep, calming breaths in your new car.

Number nine, get a pet.

If you already have a pet you probably know your furry

friend can help reduce stress.

Many studies have shown having a pet lowers blood pressure,

and can even reduce the risk of depression.

Seniors with Alzheimers have fewer anxious outbursts

when an animal shares their home.

Walking a dog is also a good exercise

but your pet doesn't have to be furry and four legged.

Watching fish swim in an aquarium has been shown to be

just as relaxing!

Number eight, gardening reduces stress

and symptoms of depression.

Another good way to relieve stress involves getting

down and dirty in the garden that is.

One study in the Netherlands, showed that gardening reduces

stress even better than other relaxing activities

like reading a book, spending time outside

and away from digital devices, combats stress

and attention fatigue and can even

reduce symptoms of depression.

Growing healthy, fresh produce that you can eat

and soaking up some vitamin D from the sun are other

benefits of the outdoor activity.

Number seven, drink that wine.

Wine lovers have good reason to celebrate.

Maybe with a glass of well, wine.

Because the beverage is actually good for you.

Wine contains polyphenols which reduce the risk

of heart disease and cancer.

They might also have anti bacterial properties

that are effective against the strepto caucus bug.

Cabernet Sauvignon, may even reduce your risk of Alzheimers.

Just make sure you don't drink so much you lose your memory

for an entirely different reason.

Wine is best enjoyed in moderation.

Number six, bird watching is heart healthy.

Bird watching may sound like a sedentary pursuit

but it can actually be good exercise.

Many bird watchers spend time walking through the woods

while looking for unusual varieties of the feathered

creatures, walking two miles an hour for two hours

can burn almost 400 calories

and the fresh air and immersion in nature

can also help reduce stress.

Number five, playing a musical instrument.

Even if you're not a musical genius,

playing an instrument has many health benefits.

It improves hand eye coordination

and fine motor skills.

Better still, it can increase your IQ by seven points.

And it's never too late to start.

Both kids and adults reap these brain benefits.

Adults who play instruments also have lower blood pressure.

As for the people who listen to you play,

well we'll get back to you on that.

Number four, playing video games.

You may have heard that sitting on a couch and playing

video games is unhealthy, and doing so all day has it's

down sides but playing video games also has health benefits.

It reduces stress and depression,

and can even help relieve physical pain.

However, this is another situation where moderation

is key and you should still try to keep your screen time

to two hours a day or less.

Number three, stop trying to shape up your butt.

Sir Mix-a-lot may have been onto something when he rapped

about how much he likes big butts.

While many of us think of this as a problem area

we want to reduce with diet an exercise,

the fat stored there is not your enemy.

In fact junk in the trunk contains an anti-inflammatory

that prevents arteries from becoming clogged

and reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Back that thing up.

Number two, surfing the internet.

We've all heard how unhealthy it is to spend the whole day

in front of the computer, but some time spent surfing

the internet is actually healthy.

Researchers at UCLA discovered searching the web

boosts brain health in those middle aged and older.

It may even slow some of the effects of aging on the brain

by stimulating areas that control language, memory,

and complex reasoning.

Just make sure you take breaks and stretch while exploring

the world wide web.

Number one, pucker up.

Assuming no one involved has mono,

kissing can be a very healthy activity.

The extra saliva from swapping spit

can help break down oral plaque on teeth,

reducing the risk of cavities and other dental problems.

Just don't give up your toothbrush,

brushing is still a better way of cleaning teeth.

Kissing may even help you lose a little weight

by increasing your metabolic rate and burning extra calories

Who knew it could be such a good way

to kiss calories goodbye!

What's the most surprising health tip you've learned?

Hopefully this article has been helpful.

Did you learn anything new?

Also, which one did you think was the best?

And do you know of any others?

Please let me know in the comments down below.

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