Stress relief
Learning Center
Stop your next migraine before it starts
Medication is a proven way to treat and prevent migraines, but medication is only part of the story. Healthy habits can sometimes stop migraine pain before it starts: 1. Establish regular sleep hours. Take time to unwind at the end of the day. If you can't fall asleep, read or do another quiet activity until you become drowsy. 2. Eat at about the same time every day. Avoid foods that seem to trigger migraines. 3. Exercise regularly. 4. Keep stress under control.
Take headache relief into your own hands
Nearly everyone experiences occasional tension headaches. But frequent tension headaches can interfere with your daily life. Aside from medication, do you wonder what you can do to stop the pain? The answer may be as simple as taking good care of yourself: 1. Eat healthy foods. 2. Exercise regularly. 3. Get enough sleep. 4. Cut back on caffeine. 5. Reduce stress. 6. Massage tense muscles. 7. Take a break when you feel overwhelmed.
The power of positive thinking
Negative thoughts can feed pessimism and create unnecessary stress. You can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. The process is simple, but it takes time and practice. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Throughout the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you.
Vitamin C: Can it prevent colds?
In most cases, vitamin C supplements won't help prevent colds. However, taking vitamin C before the onset of cold symptoms may shorten the duration of symptoms. Vitamin C may provide benefit for people at high risk of colds due to frequent exposure: for example, children who attend group child care during the winter.
Ward off dry skin
To keep skin moist and healthy: 1. Moisturize. Moisturizer seals skin to keep water from escaping. 2. Keep bath and shower time to 10 minutes or less. Turn the dial to warm, not hot. 3. Use cleansing creams or gentle skin cleansers and bath or show gels with added moisturizers.
Weight loss: Unhook yourself from food
Do thoughts and feelings about food stand in your way of learning healthy-eating habits? Try these five steps: 1. Know your habits. For a few weeks, jot down what, when and why you eat. See if any patterns emerge. 2. Take away temptation. Don't keep comfort foods in your home if they're hard for you to resist. 3. Enjoy an occasional treat to help curb cravings. 4. Don't give up on yourself. An occasional setback is to be expected. Get right back on the bandwagon.
What are added sugars?
Beverages such as soda and fruit drinks are a major source of added sugar in the U.S. diet. Added sugars contribute calories but no essential nutrients to your diet. Dietary guidelines recommend limiting added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories. That's 200 calories for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. Consider that a 12-ounce can of soda has upwards of 100 calories from added sugars.
Whole grains for a healthy heart
Whole grains are naturally high in fiber, helping you feel full, which makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Whole grains are also linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. To add more fiber to your diet, try these simple tips: 1. Start your day with whole-grain cereal, such as whole-wheat bran flakes, shredded wheat or oatmeal. 2. Make sandwiches with bread or rolls made from 100 percent whole grain. 3. Opt for brown rice instead of white rice.