AND ICE HERE! A study in the International Journal of
Rheumatic Diseases shows icing the muscles that cover
your shoulder blades, upper back and the back of your
neck calms body-wide aches by 62%. Chilling this muscle
group triggers a relaxation response throughout the body.When spring’s go-go-go days leave you
sore all over, pour a refreshing glass of
Montmorenc y tart cherr y juice. This fruit y
sip is packed with painkilling compounds
called anthocyanins that dampen ache-trig-
gering inf lammation in as little as 20 min-
utes. What’s more, if you enjoy a glass
daily, you’ll cut your risk of being sidelined
by future bothersome muscle aches in half.A later setting sun can it make it hard to get
enough shut-eye to keep your mood bright.
To snooze deeply and awake well-rested, slip
on an eye mask. Research in the American
Journal of Epidemiology found that slum-
bering in a dark room improves your sleep
quality and makes you 65% less likely to
feel blue. Why? Exposure to bright lights at
night curbs the production of the sleep- and
mood-regulating hormone melatonin.Wa k e u p h a p p y
with a sleep maskSharpen your focus
with a cooking class
Feeling foggy? Research shows seasonal shifts in
temperature, humidity and sunlight temporarily
hamper think ing power. To heighten your con-
centration the fun way, sign up for a cooking class,
explore a new local art exhibit or try your hand at
photography. University of Texas at Dallas research-
ers say engaging in new experiences encourages your
body to churn out energizing acetylcholine, a brain
chemica l that cuts your risk of menta l blips by 50 %.OR MASSAGE YOUR SCALP! A
60-second scalp rub along your hairline reduces
brain fog by up to 65%, according to a study
in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Applying
pressure to key points in your scalp stimulates
the release of focus-enhancing endorphins.Quiet muscle aches
with a cherry nightcapAND PUT SOME PEP IN YOUR STEP!
Adopt a “happy” walking style, mov-
ing briskly with arms swinging, and
a study in the Journal of Behavior
Therapy and Experimental
Psychology found you’ll naturally
focus on the positives around you.OR ENJOY A BEER! Put your
feet up and relax with 12 oz. of beer
at the end of the day, and Harvard
researchers say you’ll boost your
energy by 35% within a week.
Beer’s unique combination
of antioxidants and alco-
hol work together to help
your body’s cells better
soak up and use energiz-
ing glucose for fuel.Breeze through your day with
energy to spare simply by standing
or sitting tall with your shoulders
back. Researchers reporting in the
Journal of Behavior Therapy and
Experimental Psychology found that
women who kept an upright posture
for 5 minutes felt 122% less fatigued.
Credit goes to the increased
production of thyroid-stimulating
hormones that occurs when you
stand up straight, which erases
tiredness and amps up energy.Increase energy
by standing tallfrom good to GREAT!
Woma n’s World^ 4/13/20 (^21)