✚Helpful Hints - #5

HEALTH and WELLNESS

THE SURE CURE FOR HICCUPS

Inhale three times without exhaling. You start by taking the deepest breath you can, and holding it for 10 seconds. Then inhale extra air and hold for another five seconds. Without exhaling, inhale a little more, and hold for five more seconds. Then, exhale and breathe normally. The inhalation exercise will prevent spasms by immobilizing your diaphragm – the muscle at the base of your lungs. Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine tested it on patients who had frequent hiccups,and it worked immediately on everyone who could do it.

SLEEP-BUT NOT TOO MUCH!
Too little sleep (consistently under six hours a night) raises your risk of car accidents, diabetes, obesity, depression and heart disease, according to the U.S.-based National Sleep Foundation.  But interestingly, some research suggests that too much sleep-over nine hours- is also associated with more illness, accidents and death.  Huge epidemiological studies as well as other researches shows that people sleeping seven hours a night live longer than people sleeping eight.  But many of those seven-hour sleepers also take a brief afternoon nap - a habit which lowers heart attack risk by 30 percent!
Try this today.  Set a consistent bedtime.  Program your alarm to go off seven hours later, weekends included.  And when you can, take a 2-minute afternoon nap.

BEAUTY and FASHION

TAME THOSE FLYAWAYS!

"If you have a 'halo' of fine hairs rising off your head, brushing won't help!" says hairstylist Michael Johnson.  "In fact, that brushing actually increases the static!"  Instead, smooth a dryer sheet over your hair.  The conditioners will break the static charge in your strands and leave your hair smelling fresh!

THE HAIR GLOSSER IN YOUR PANTRY!
The secret to shiny hair?  Rinse your hair with a little diluted vinegar before you shampoo.  The vinegar will correct your hair's pH level and remove any dulling residue from styling products - leaving you with super-glossy hair!

HOME and AUTO
NO MORE WILTED PLANTS WHILE AWAY.
Forget coming home to wilted plants next time you're away!  Just take an empty plastic individual-size water bottle and poke a tiny hole in the cap using scissors or a nail, then fill the bottle with water.  When you're ready to leave, simply turn the bottle upside down and nestle it in the soil of your potted plant.  The water slowly trickles through the cap, keeping your plants healthy!

THE NEW OIL CHANGE SCHEDULE

Getting close to the 3,000-mile mark on your odometer?  If you're like most drivers, you probably think this means it's almot time for an oil change, according to a survey by AAA - but that's not necessarily so!  Save up to $90 a year by... Waiting two to three times longer for an oil change!  Most car models manufactured in 2000 and beyond can be driven a whopping 7,500 to 10,000 miles, and most older cars can make it 5,000 miles, says Lauren Fix, author of Lauren Fix's Guide to Loving Your Car: Everything You Need to Know to Take Charge of Your Car and Get On with Your Life.  Just consult your owner's manual to find out how many miles your car can go and what type of oil will make it last!

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
ENJOYING WATERMELON CAN HEIGHTEN LIBIDO
Regularly snacking on watermelon can stimulate genital blood flow in men and women, markedly enhancing sexual arousal.  The explanation:  Watermelon is rich in citrulline, a nutrient that is converted into arginine in the body.  This amino acid is a precursor of nitric oxide, a vasodilator that optimizes blood circulation.

STEAL THIS MOVE
You like sex with the lights on.  She prefers the dark.  It's a common story.  Compromise with strategic lighting.  Here are some ideas from Candida Royalle, and award-winning director of erotica for women.

• Use lamplight.  It's not as harsh as overhead lighting and makes naked skin look better.
• Light a candle or put that lamp behind an irregular object, like a plant.  You'll create oddly shaped shadows, making the lighting unthreatening and part of the fun.
• Use a low-watt amber-hued bulb.  "Amber neutralizes the blues of blemishes and tired eyes, and gives skin a warm, soft creamy look," says Royalle.

PETS AND ANIMALS
FRESHEN DOG BREATH WITHOUT THE STRUGGLE.
You look forward to Fido's kisses when you walk through the door... 'till his stinky breath hits you!  To get the odor under control, try this:
In an air-tight container, mix 6 tsp. of baking soda, 1/3 tsp. of salt, 4 tsp. of low-sodium beef broth (for flavor); shake well.  Put 1 Tbs. of the mixture on a chew toy and let your pup nibble.  Discard leftovers.  The mildly abrasive baking soda and salt remove plaque while antiseptic glycerin kills odor-causing bacteria.  Before you know it, his breath will be as sweet as his disposition!

KEEP CATS AWAY FROM THE GARDEN.
Whether it's your tabby or the neighbour's calico, a cat's been using your garden as a litter box.  No more!  Just sprinkle orange rinds around the perimeter of your garden.  (Replace with fresh peels twice a week.)   The citrus aroma is too intense for a cat's highly developed sense of smell, so he'll move on, leaving your plants free to bloom beautifully all season long.  Bonus:  The peels' scent will keep away dirt-digging dogs as well!

MONEY and FINANCE
EARN MORE WITH PRODUCT REVIEWS!

Once your blog builds up a following, companies will pay you $10, 450, even $100 to post a review about a product or service!  Sign up at LoudLaunch.com, SponsoredReviews.com or SocialSpark.com, then pick from the offers!

CHEERING FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TEAM IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

Who knew cheering for your favorite World Cup team could be good for you? In fact, who knew that actually going to a game, getting rowdy and rooting for any team could be healthy? USA Today reports it is. In fact, scientists say that fans that feel personally invested in a team reap the mental health benefits that come from a feeling of social connectedness. People who love the same team have a special bond because our team represents us, our family, our friends and our neighbors. When our team wins a big game, our self-esteem scores points as well. Psychologists call this phenomenon “reflected glory” — where the success of the team positively reflects on its fans.

For example, a study at Indiana University showed that fans felt more confident about scoring a date with an attractive member of the opposite sex after their basketball team won.

So why do fans stick with a certain team even when they lose year after year? Psychologists say it could be something as simple as the kinship offered by being a true, time-tested fan. Fans are proud of their loyalty and see it as a badge of honor to suffer through the tough times of their team’s mediocrity or failure, and sticking by one team makes someone feel like a “true fan” who deserves to revel in the team’s successes later on.

Resource(s):
Reader's Digest magazine, tesh.com, Consumer Reports magazine, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, Men's Health magazine, Best Health magazine, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine