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You may want to consider giving the gift of a magazine subscription this year to the person on your list that has everything. It gives me a boost each time I find my current magazines have arrived in the mail. It is also my excuse to slow down for a minute and relax as I flip through the pages and take some time for myself.
As I read through this month’s copy of Shape, I found interesting holiday tidbits scattered throughout the pages. The following is a list of five random things that are interesting bits of information for this time of the year.
1. Pay it forward
According to researchers from the University of Michigan, “people with altruistic motives for aiding others lived at least 23 percent longer than those that didn’t volunteer or did it for self-centered reasons.” Bottom line, do nice things for other people.
2. Chew to relieve stress
Always carry gum. Researchers are not sure why but according to an Australian study, “chewing gum caused stress levels to dip by as much as 16 percent.” Relieve stress and freshen breath? It’s a win-win.
3. Keep the blues away with laughter
Shape Magazine reported that in a recent study, “even the anticipation of watching a comedy raised mood-boosting endorphins by 27 percent.” Everyone knows that watching a good comedy can put you in a jolly mood and this is a perfect excuse to make plans with friends even when the time of the year is so busy. Take some time to spend with the people that you care about and laugh stress and blues away.
4. Put on the pressure when you are tired
Acupressure, that is. According to Chris Chinn, a spokesperson for the Acupressure Institute, “acupressure is a form of touch therapy that works by releasing blocked energy that can cause fatigue. If you feel yourself becoming tired but need a boost, “apply pressure to the depression between the shinbone and muscle, about four fingers below your kneecap and one inch to the outside of your shinbone. (This is also referred to as the '3-mile point' which was named because it was said to give distance runners an extra three miles of energy.) Press for one minute, then repeat on other leg.”
I am definitely going to try that. I would also mention that if you are pregnant or have health issues, consult with your physician before attempting any acupressure practices.
5. Swap your ale for stout to gain some iron
If you are a woman who has an iron deficiency and enjoys an occasional beer at happy hour, according to the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, you should order a stout instead of your usual light ale. “Dark beers contain significantly more iron than lighter beers. That iron is a key building block for the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.”
So will Guinness create a new ad campaign promoting its health benefits? Probably not. But it is probably similar to the benefits that people get from red wine and dark chocolate. Good news for dark beer drinkers that don’t want to think about their waistline. Indulge responsibly.
Again, these were just fun random pieces of information that I found interesting, not health recommendations. Wishing you a happy holiday season!
Source: Shape Magazine, December 2011
Edited by Jody Smith
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