1. Smelling rosemary may increase alertness and improve memory so catch a whiff before a test or important meeting.
2. Always look on the bright side: being an optimist can help you live longer.
- Studies have found that optimism is beneficial for your overall health, even lowering your risk of dying from heart disease![1]
- Optimists often have lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of coronary artery disease as found in a study by scientists at Harvard.[2]
- It’s a well-known mental health fact, that people who are more optimistic also tend to have healthier behaviors — such as diet and exercise — that contribute to longevity.[3]
3. Consuming water helps the body maintain its natural pH balance.
4. Massage isn’t just good for the muscles. It can help scars fade, and can even be more beneficial than lotion or oil.
It might seem like an indulgence, but when you consider the many benefits of a massage and the way it can improve your health, you’ll realise it’s a necessity!
5. Want to slow the aging process? Meditation is proven to help!
Could practicing meditation be your ticket to better health?
Increasing numbers of people are meditating, according to the latest meditation statistics.
It’s unsurprising when you consider meditation’s many health advantages, including better sleep, improved memory and a reduction in symptoms of anxiety.
6. Indoor air pollution can be even worse than outside.
We often hear how damaging outdoor air pollution can be. Considering how much time is spent indoors, the quality of indoor air is just as important.
Elements such as dust, mold or cleaning supplies can contaminate the air.
As a result of this poor air quality or lack of ventilation, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat is common, with long-term exposure leading to some respiratory diseases.[4]
Working to remove sources of pollution, simply opening a window or door, or even getting plants that can filter air can counteract this problem.[5]
7. SPF 50 allows only two percent of UVB rays to pass to your skin compared to seven percent when wearing only SPF 15.
8. The blue light from your phone can mess with your circadian rhythm.
Exposure to any form of light suppresses the secretion of melatonin (a hormone that encourages the circadian rhythm), but blue light is especially powerful.[6]
9. A smoker’s life expectancy is reduced by 11 minutes per cigarette.
10. Practicing good posture can boost your energy levels.
Relief from chronic pain, improvements in your breathing and the easing of depressive symptoms, are just a few of the other benefits of good posture.
11. Hydration is key for a beautiful complexion. Drinking enough water also makes you less prone to wrinkles.
12. Laughing is great for the heart and can increase blood flow by 20 percent.
Exercising regularly, managing stress and taking a cold shower are other effective ways to improve blood circulation.
Time to get physical!
One aspect of wellness is of course working out, whatever that looks like to you.
Remind yourself about the power of movement by reading our fun facts about exercise.
References
- Harvard Health (2017). Look on the bright side and maybe even live longer [Online]. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/look-on-the-bright-side-and-maybe-even-live-longer [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
- Harvard Health (see footnote 1) ↩
- Hobson, K. (2016). A Brighter Outlook Could Translate To A Longer Life [Online]. NPR. Available from: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/07/504709736/a-brighter-outlook-could-translate-to-a-longer-life [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2023). Introduction to Indoor Air Quality [Online]. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (2016). The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality [Online]. Available from: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
- Smith, L. (2023). 88 Must-Know Sleep Facts: Uncovering the Truth About Sleep [Online]. The Good Body. Available from: https://www.thegoodbody.com/sleep-facts/ [Accessed 27 July 2023]. ↩
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