This Just In

According to First magazine, Swear words increase one's pain tolerance. This news came from a team of British researchers. They discovered in the course of the study that subjects who repeated expletives, ANY expletives, were able to keep their hands in icy water 60% longer than they could while repeating a neutral word. Why It Works: Swearing is a mild form of aggression that triggers the body's fight or flight response, giving rise to brain signals that override perceptions of pain. So, now you know why it makes you feel better to swear loudly when you knock your elbow or stub your toe. LOL When I read that I started giggling maniacally, and the hubby was peaking around the door like... wtf????

Also in First was an article on Natural ways to strengthen your defenses against the cold and flu viruses.

1.) Cook with Coconut Oil (how bout that Bonnie! Aren't you just a smarty-arty for knowing that one. *winks*)Most brands of vegetable shortening are loaded with synthetic trans fat which weakens immunity by reducing the efficiency of virus-fighting B cells. On the other hand, solid coconut oil is free of trans fats and rich in medium chain fatty acids which destroy germs by puncturing their protective membranes. These fatty acids are antiviral, antibacterial, and even anti fungal.

2.) Slip into Cozy Socks. In a study at Cardiff University in the UK, volunteers whose feet were chilled for just 20 minutes were 3 times more likely to develop cold symptoms in the following week, than those participants who kept their tootsies toasty. What they found was that when a person's feet are cold, blood vessels constrict in the sinuses. This reduces the circulation of immune cells to the nasal epithelium, where they are needed to fight off invading viruses.

3.)Spritz with Saline. Viruses usually gain entrance to the body by penetrating the membrane that lines the nasal and sinus cavities. To flush out invaders before they break through, spray the nasal passages twice daily with saline. In one study subjects who did so lowered their odds of catching a bug by 41%. TO make your own, dissolve 1 teaspoon of kosher salt in 1 pint of water and transfer to a nasal spray bottles found at most drug stores.

4.) Enjoy some Girl Time. Women who regularly visit with friends are almost 4 times less likely to get sick than those who dodge social contact, even if one pal has the sniffles. According to the Center for the Advancement of Health in Washington, D.C., strong nurturing friendships improve the immunity by squelching the body's output of cortisol, a stress hormone that interferes with the immune system's production of white blood cells and antibodies. No time for a get together? A ten minute web or phone chat can also deliver the same benefits. So THANK YOU to all of you lovelies for helping me improve my health! You're all so great!!