Writing to Inspire You!

Research has demonstrated that humour and laughter have positive biological and psychological effects. A 'prescription of laughter therapy' could give your immune system a boost, lower blood pressure, reduce pain and give you an internal workout. A good 'belly laugh' could be a great way of exercising particularly for those who are unable or unwilling to visit the gym. This kind of 'internal jogging' (worth 10 minutes on a rowing machine) can stop you taking yourself too seriously, see the bright side more often and live longer as a result.

This is all very well but how do you start laughing in the midst of a very real crisis or whilst experiencing severe pain.  Not easily it has to be admitted but laughter is a very human emotion, said to have originated as a way of demonstrating to the rest of your family group that a danger had passed and the 'fight or flight' response was no longer needed. This also shows that humour, together with tears and anger are natural ways of releasing stress. Emotions are the body's thermostat and laughter comes with no side effects - well apart from 'splitting your sides', so if you are in need of a 'giggle' try this 'Laughter First Aid Kit' virtually guaranteed to 'beat the blues'....

'Chocolate is Good for You! Or is it?': Published by Kwickee.com

PMT:

So now there’s an explanation for women who constantly crave chocolate on or around the time of their period (that’s my excuse anyway!). The pre-menstrual drop in progesterone levels is responsible for the extreme mood swings experienced by many women and their long-suffering partners. Including more magnesium in the diet has been shown to be beneficial.

Joint Problems:

Also associated with magnesium deficiency

Coughing:

Yet another ingredient in chocolate – theobromine – could be useful in stopping persistent coughs. It may even lead to the formulation of new cough medicines.

Theobromine has less side-effects such as drowsiness and is significantly more effective than codeine.

Chocolate and Sex:

Chocolate has long been sought after as an aphrodisiac. Casanova was partial to the odd glass or four. Chocolate contains phenylethyalanine, similar to the hormone which is released when we’re in love. Eating chocolate gets the pleasure centres in the brain jumping all over with excitement.

Warning!

Before you start heading for the shops, be aware that mass produced chocolate also contains tons of fats and sugars. Excess sugar tends to be addictive; shortly after eating it you experience a ‘low’, which makes you want to consume more sugar and so on. What you gain on the swings …..etc.  Research subjects were only given

1-2 squares of chocolate a day so hardly a nibble for serious chocoholics...

'Your Comping Good Health!' published by 'Winner's Friend' magazine.Have you ever stopped to think how subscribing to 'Winner's Friend' and entering all those competitions is good for your health? Comping, apart from being a wonderful hobby, can give you a great top-to-toe workout by keeping your weight down, reducing stress levels and stimulating brain cells. Still sceptical? Read on to find out how.

Take the weight off

Although the experts differ, generally you should aim for at least 30 minutes physical activity a day. This is good advice even if you're not trying to lose weight. You can achieve this by walking to the shops for those precious entry forms and qualifiers. Get a pedometer to help you count and aim for 10,000 steps a day. If you live some distance from town try getting off the bus earlier, or parking a little further away. You can also get plenty of exercise racing to post your entry on time but on second thoughts the stress will probably be bad for your heart! If you are unable to walk due to disability or injury don't worry because there are other other ways for you to stay healthy.

Stimulate the grey cells

Keep your brain as active as possible. Imagine all those 'little grey cells' jumping about when you are creating a winning slogan or puzzling over a crossword. Some quizzes involve quite a bit of research searching for answers in books or on the internet. Even better, stimulate your brain and your body with a brisk walk to your local library...

'Are You Programmed for Abundance?': Inspiring Life magazine

The Universe is programmed for abundance, plants given the right conditions of sun, rain etc. will burst forth with luscious blooms and glossy foliage. Human beings are no exception, with the right environment, we are programmed to achieve as much as we can. ‘OK’, I hear you say ‘if we’re programmed for this, why am I struggling with a mortgage, and lucky to get a weekend away every three years?’ Although exaggerated this is probably true for most of us, we would all like more of something – usually money. So what happens along the way?

Sabotage:

The key is growing up in the right conditions. Most of us run ‘past tapes’ in our head that sound uncannily like parents, guardians or other authority figures. If these messages are nurturing and aimed at boosting our self esteem, then it’s very likely we will succeed in life. Voices that are critical and ingrained may cause you to sabotage your efforts to become affluent. Some messages, although well-meaning, have the effect of making us feel uncomfortable about asking for things. Others convince us that everything we want has to be earned or deserved in some way.  It’s important to ‘re-programme’ yourself from running negative tapes or ‘voices from the past’, particularly if they concern ‘money or wealth’.....

The Proper Practice of Feng Shui published by Googobits.com (I am one of the top writers here) 

My specialty is health and fitness but I have researched and written on a wide range of other topics including:

Twm Sion Catti: The Welsh 'Robin Hood'

Car Booting: A Seller's Guide

Celebrity Restaurant Review: Neil Morrissey and Hurst House Farm

Keeping A Comping Record

The Proper Practice of Feng Shui