Health, Fashion, Parenting and Women Related Issues

Grabbing a short snooze can give you the lift you need to tackle the rest of your day — physically and mentally — but the perks don’t stop there. Research suggests that napping benefits almost every aspect of human wellness, from lowering your risk for heart disease and repairing cells to lifting your mood and stamina to knocking down stress and making you more productive. All this can translate to living longer, staying more active, and looking younger.

What are the keys to being a power napper? Follow these three simple rules:

* Set aside 30 minutes total — 10 minutes to fall asleep and 20 minutes for the actual nap. Use an alarm.
* Take off your shoes and get comfortable; try to nap in a reclined position on a couch or in your car (but be safe); avoid direct sunlight.
* Avoid napping past 3 p.m. If you nap too late in the day, you can disrupt your nighttime sleep.

Not a napper? Napping isn’t for everyone, so see how it works for you.

Is your evening routine keeping you up at night? Making a few shifts in what you eat, drink, and do in the hours — and minutes — leading up to your bedtime can make falling asleep much easier. Use the following ritual from The Mind-Beauty Connection as a guideline:

* 4 to 6 hours before bed: Stop any caffeine (knock off even earlier if you’re caffeine sensitive).
* 2 to 3 hours before: Don’t eat a full meal. Digesting food (especially a heavy meal) can keep you awake.
* 60 minutes before: Turn off all electronics — yes, the television, too — and dim the lights. Even if you’re in your jammies and not feeling wound up, light signals your brain to stay alert, and mental stimulation (especially from video games, nightly news, Sopranos reruns) makes it harder to fall asleep.
* 30 minutes before: Drink something you find soothing. It could be a cup of chamomile tea; a glass of warm milk; or a splash (not a glass) of brandy, red wine, or some other nightcap that relaxes you. Just limit alcohol intake, because it can awaken you later. If you find it’s a slippery slope, cut it out entirely and switch to herbal tea. Try a warm bath or light reading (no work!).
* 5 minutes before: Make sure your bedroom is dark (or wear an eye mask), quiet (or get a white noise machine or earplugs), slightly cool (crack the window, if needed), and free of distractions (clutter, pets, work piles). G’night . . .

Feeling frazzled? Reach for foods that really fight stress, like these seven wonders of the high-wired world.

1.Berries, Any Berries

Blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries. They’re not just delicious; they’re jammed with antioxidants, which is why they’re great at countering the skin-damaging free radicals generated by stress. Eat them one by one (like healthy M&M’s) when the pressure is on. If you’re a jaw clencher, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Or whirl up a Berry Dessert Slush.

2.Guacamole

Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up the creamy goodness — which comes from healthy monounsaturated fats — with whole-grain baked chips or raw veggies. If you’re watching calories, dip instead of scoop: 2 tablespoons have about 55 calories. Try this simple recipe for Avocado Fiesta Salsa.

3.Nuts

Almost all nuts are good sources of vitamins B and E, plus selenium and zinc, but some nuts have more than others, so cover your bases by mixing them up. Just an ounce — a small handful — will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts); give you a good dose of selenium and zinc (Brazil nuts), which are also drained by high anxiety; boost your vitamin E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress; and may even lower your blood pressure by helping your arteries relax (pistachios). They’re high in calories, so don’t overindulge.

4.Oranges

People who take 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and better-behaved blood pressure than those who don’t take it. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a big, juicy orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will steady your brain cells, and you’ll get a bunch of C as well.

5.Salmon and Other Fatty Fish

The omega-3 fatty acid in salmon, called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), isn’t just good for your skin. Studies show people who eat ample amounts of DHA have a much lower incidence of depression, aggressiveness, and hostility. So this healthy fish may even help road rage! Some people report improvements in mood within days or even hours of eating omega-3-rich meals. Serve Double Sesame Salmon with Mango-Avocado Salsa for dinner this weekend.

6.Spinach

Spinach and other happy greens (the dark, leafy ones) contain folate, a B vitamin that appears to be essential for mood and proper nerve function in the brain. Two cups of cooked spinach gives you the 400 micrograms of folate recommended to pick up your mood. And you’ll love this recipe for Sauteed Spinach with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins.

7.Dark Chocolate

The antioxidant flavonols in dark chocolate (check labels; you want 70% or more cacao) help keep your blood pressure steady and your mind sharp. They may also help counter cellular damage caused by stress. Try this when you need a mental lift: Microwave 8 ounces of vanilla almond milk on medium for 1 minute, and then stir in an ounce of dark chocolate till it melts (heat triggers antioxidant release). Delish. Just show a little restraint; chocolate packs a lot of calories.

Trip up your wakefulness, and doze off with these handy bedtime snacks (try to stay within 200 calories, and eat about an hour before bedtime). They’re light, but high in carbohydrates, which boost the brain’s sleep chemical (serotonin) without overloading your digestive system.

* The classic PB&J (go easy on the PB, and try it on a rice cake); top off with a glass of low-fat or skim milk or a cup of herbal tea with a combo of chamomile and valerian
* A banana with 1 teaspoon nut butter of your choice
* A small bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat or skim milk
* Fruit and cottage cheese
* Whole-wheat crackers and goat cheese
* A homemade oatmeal-raisin cookie with low-fat or skim milk

Juggling work and home life robs many of us of restful sleep and leaves us feeling like the walking dead, alternating cups of coffee with cans of Diet Coke — a routine that can definitely unravel a healthy sleep pattern. Here are a few simple tricks from The Mind-Beauty Connection that will get your sleep back on track, so you can get the rest you need to refresh your cells and prepare you for the next day.

Don’t take your to-do list to bed. Jot down tomorrow’s tasks early in the evening, and stick the list in your bag or on the fridge. This can keep you from anxiously making mental notes the minute your head hits the pillow.

Take something. Sometimes, to kick insomnia and get back on a better sleep cycle, all you need is to break the pattern. One cheap, simple method: Take an antihistamine 30 minutes before bed for 1 to 3 nights (regular Benadryl — not a nondrowsy formula — works fine, says Dr. Amy). It makes many people sleepy, and no prescription is needed.

Other people swear that melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone you can now find in an over-the-counter supplement, helps. But Dr. Wechsler’s not a fan. Why? The amount in different products can vary wildly, despite what’s on the labels. And its long-term safety has yet to be determined. (It’s also highly unlikely that you have a melatonin deficiency; you simply need to establish better sleep habits.) Read more