Start to see healthy living differently

Turns out, petting animals lowers blood pressure.

Research suggests that decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure occur when petting an animal with an established companion bond, comparable to the relaxation experienced during quiet reading.

That’s right. Kissing can burn calories.

Kissing involves different facial muscles to help move your cheeks, lips and mouth, with the orbicularis oris being the main skeletal muscle used. Simple kisses use as few as 2 muscles, where passionate kissing can involve as up to 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles. Kissing consumes between 5 and 26 calories per minute.

It can. Sunlight provides your bones with calcium.

Our bodies require calcium to make our bones strong, but we only absorb a small amount of it without vitamin D, found in sunlight. Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb more calcium through short wavelengths – called ultraviolet B (UVB) rays – found in sunlight.

It can. Green is calming in multiple ways.

Research on the elderly found that the average blood pressure in a control group decreased after being given green colour therapy. Further studies on the psychology of the colour green indicate that green can trigger a sense of calmness and relaxation with therapeutic effects.

You heard it here first. ASMR can improve cognitive abilities.

ASMR has been suggested to improve cognitive abilities, like attentional performance or decision making. One study showed how ASMR videos activated brain areas related to sensation, emotion, motor skills and attention, suggesting that ASMR is not confined to sensory or emotional experiences.

Surprisingly, yes. They’re great for your eye health.

Bananas are a great source of carotenoids, which the body converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for immune function and maintaining vision. Bananas also contain retinol, a crucial biochemical compound needed by the retina in our eyes. When you eat a banana, the retina converts retinol into retinal, which is necessary for seeing in low-light conditions.

Actually, yes. Doodling boosts brain power.

Doodling has been shown to boost brain activity, improve focus, memory and recall. One study found that those who doodled during a 2-1/2 minute rambling voicemail recalled 29% more information than the non-doodlers.

Yes! — Walking backwards (safely) improves brain health.

Walking backward is less familiar and more complex than forward walking, requiring greater attention, coordination, and balance. This heightened demand engages cognitive processes related to executive function and working memory. Even just imagining moving backwards is known to improve the ability to recall information.

Yes, it’s true. Rain can benefit your respiratory health.

Rain plays a key role in improving air quality, which can lead to respiratory health benefits. It helps to wash away pollutants and allergens from the air, reducing the risk of respiratory problems. It can also decrease the concentration of airborne particulate matter, leading to cleaner air. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Thankfully yes. Music helps reduce pain.

Findings from a study that measured pain while listening to music showed that music activates sensory pathways that compete with pain pathways. Once activated, the sensory pathways stimulate emotional responses, engaging cognitive attention and ultimately reducing pain.

Actually, yes. It can improve lung function.

Singing can improve overall respiratory health, increasing your lung capacity and oxygenating our body. In the ‘Singing for lung health’ (SLH) technique - a therapy used to help COPD and asthma patients, singing was found to have benefits on lung function, voice strength and control.

Yes. Cloud gazing can be meditative.

Cloud gazing serves as a form of mindfulness meditation, allowing you to disconnect from daily stressors and become immersed in the natural environment. This can lead to increased relaxation, improved mood, and a greater sense of connection to the world around us.

Yes. Power naps can improve cognitive performance.

Research on naps showed that daytime napping, particularly in the afternoon, improved cognitive performance with beneficial effects of early napping.

They do. Watching nature videos helps lower stress.

Research suggests that engaging with nature, even virtually, whether through photos, 3D images, virtual reality and videos of natural landscapes can trigger a relaxed body response, reducing physiological markers of stress.

It’s unexpected, but dancing reduces risk of dementia.

Dancing combines physical activity with mental challenges, like learning and remembering steps, coordinating movements, and adapting to rhythm and music. Research on adults 65 years and older showed that combining these skills stimulated various brain regions, enhancing neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new neural connections.

It can. Watching paint dry can boost brain activity.

This seemingly mundane experience allows you to be totally present in the moment, which amounts to a form of ‘mindfulness meditation’. These mindful acts, in their purest form, allows you to be present and focus on the task at hand.