The #1 brain food
Sharpen concentration with chocolate
When pesky memory blips or scattered thinking make hectic days even more frantic, take a pause for a sweet indulgence to wipe away brain fog in a hurry! Harvard researchers found that nibbling on 1 oz. of dark chocolate improves focus, concentration and recall, providing a mental pick-me-up for up to 21⁄ hours.
2 Credit goes to a compound in chocolate called theobromine, which increases the production of the focusenhancing brain chemical dopamine.
OR PEEK IN YOUR PRODUCE
DRAWER! To clear your mind in as little as 60 seconds, gaze at a juicy orange or an orange pepper. Color therapist Leatrice Eiseman, author of More Alive with Color, explains that bright, warm hues rapidly activate the concentration center of the brain.
Tame an upset stomach with ginger tea
Whether you prefer it hot or iced, ginger tea can settle a queasy tummy naturally. Simply brew a cup of the comforting drink and pause to breathe in the vibrant scent before each sip. A study in the journal Complimentary Therapies in Medicine reveals that the aroma can ease an upset stomach in as little as two minutes by working as an antiinflammatory to soothe the digestive system.
OR NIBBLE ON ANISE! Pop 1⁄ tsp. of anise seeds into your 2 mouth and chew slowly. The licorice-tasting gems contain anethole, a phytonutrient that Stanford scientists say improves digestion and alleviates cramps to calm stomach upset.
Calm a cough with a spoonful of honey
Springtime means open windows, fresh air, plenty of time outdoors…and more exposure to pollen, which can leave you with a dry cough. Happily, there’s a sweet solution: honey! New Zealand researchers say that savoring 1 tsp. of honey with a pinch of antiinflammatory cinnamon twice daily is more effective than prescription cough suppressants at quickly soothing an irritated throat.
OR GARGLE WITH LEMON
WATER! Australian scientists recommend gargling with a mix of 1 tsp. of lemon juice and 3 oz. of water twice a day to ease the inflammation that leads to a scratchy throat within 24 hours.
Sleep through the night with milk of magnesia
If midnight bathroom breaks keep you from snoozing, you’re not alone—it happens to nearly half of us! Luckily, 2 tsp. of milk of magnesia at bedtime significantly cuts the urge to go, according to Canadian scientists. That’s because magnesium relaxes the muscles in the bladder and urethra, reducing their
tendency to spasm overnight.
AND ADD THIS TO YOUR WATER! For all- day bladder control, stir 1⁄ tsp. of baking soda into a glass of water and sip twice 2 daily. Turkish scientists say this makes urine more alkaline so it doesn’t irritate the urinary tract, reducing the feeling of urgency.