- October 26, 2010 • 6:10 pm PDT
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Your home is where you spend the most of your time, and it should be a healthy place. Check out these tips to get more sleep, keep you home toxin free, and take a break from your stressful life for a few minutes:
Sleep Better
You don’t need a slew of studies to tell you that a good night’s rest makes your waking life better. Scientist actually know very little about how or why sleep works; we don’t even know why we dream. But here’s what we do know: studies have repeatedly linked sleep deprivation and weight gain.
Beauty sleep is no myth, either. In the most basic way, sleep gives our faces a chance to relax—and the less we frown, smile, and squint, the fewer wrinkles we develop.
Decreased sleep is also linked to increased stress, and stress is associated with more health concerns than you can count. Here’s how to get a healthier night’s sleep:
Adjust your hours: Force yourself to wake early and retire by 10 p.m. for a few days. We start winding down at nightfall, but the mind generally gets a second wind—go to bed before it kicks in.
Set the mood: Sleep in a cool, pitch-dark room, and go outside or let in daylight when you wake; this will reset your internal clock.
Reduce stimulants: Power down TVs, computers, and cell phones at least an hour before bed. Instead, read something. Avoid all forms of caffeine in the afternoon (and the morning, too, if you’re really struggling).
Picture nature: Apparently this works better than counting sheep.
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A MORSEL FROM HEALTHYMAGINATION
Add some whey protein to a meal today to fight germs and protect your immune.
The cysteine in whey converts to glutathione, an infection-fighting antioxidant. Add whey protein powder to a smoothie, or eat yogurt—the liquid at the top is rich in whey.
