Health facts that are actually true

Drink coffee to have a better nap

This could possibly be the most counterintuitive piece of advice, however, a Japanese study demonstrated that those who had about 200 milligrams of caffeine before a 20-minute nap – felt more alert and performed better on computer tests than those who took a nap without caffeine. Explained simply, the caffeine kicks in just at the end of a 20-minute nap and clears the brain of adenosine, maximizing alertness. Napping clears out adenosine as well, therefore, combined it amplifies the effect of a nap.

To eat less, eat more

It can be super-easy to grab a 100-calorie snack pack of cookies or crisps, but they are likely to make you hungrier than something substantial. This is because eating small amounts of carbohydrates spikes your blood sugar and leaves you craving more carbs. Therefore, choosing a protein or an apple, which have higher calories per serving, will help you get full faster and remain that way for long, thus eating fewer calories overall.

Drink water when you’re bloated

When you feel bloated, drinking water sounds as if it will only make matters worse, but often it can help. Previously we have discussed the importance of drinking water and the many benefits it has on the body, many of which result in dehydration. This dehydration can affect many areas of the body, particularly when your body clings to water your body does have. Another reason comes from diet. A high-fiber diet needs more water to work efficiently, as the water mixes with water-soluble fiber it makes it more mobile throughout the gut and reduces the symptom of bloating.

Exercise when you’re tired

When you’re exhausted, exercising sounds like the last thing you would want to do, but getting your body moving will help to energize you. Fatigue (as well as mood and depression) improves after 30 minutes of moderate exercise.

Stretch after exercise, not before

The general consensus for when it is better, safer and more effective to stretch, is after you have warmed up your muscles. This means you should be stretching after lightly warming up your muscles. If you’re about to go for a fun, do a short walk, stretch and then run. The same can be done if you’re planning a cardio session in the gym, a weights session or to follow one of my easy-to-follow workout guides at home.

You crave certain food for emotion, not nutrients

Human food cravings tend to be more about satisfying emotional needs. These cravings typically occur when we restrict our diet, or if it is boring, and you are aware that you can’t have something. The only nutrient deficiency that is clearly associated with cravings in humans is iron, unfortunately, this causes us to crave things like ice, clay or cement, not an iron-rich liver or steak.

Sleep deprivation can kill you

Sleep is arguably the most important factor when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. Humans spend a ⅓ of their lives sleeping, which is important that we achieve (unlike giraffes who only need 1.9 hours of sleep a day). Sleep deprivation can kill you more quickly than food deprivation because, without sleep, many activities in the brain are unable to be done. Without these, bodily functions also struggle, which will lead to an untimely end.

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