Lying can cause diarrhea.

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First of all, research shows 95% of women admit they’ve withheld information from loved ones AND lied to someone close to them. But even the lies we consider harmless – like, ‘Yes, I love your meatloaf!’ – can cause anxiety and body achesespecially if you feel guilty about lying. Dr. Deirdre Fitzgerald is a professor of behavior analysis at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. And she says, even lies to save face – or save someone else from embarrassment – can weaken the immune system, causing headaches, back pain, and yes, diarrhea.

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Do you suffer from chronic back pain?

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85% of North Americans will have back pain at some point, and here’s a surprising cause: Not getting enough vitamin D! Dr. Stewart Leavitt is a pain management specialist. And he says patients with chronic back pain often have lower levels of vitamin D. So, ask your doctor about taking 2,000 International Units of “D” per day. Dr. Leavitt found people who do that see their pain either disappear or become significantly reduced.

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Working near a window raises your risk for skin cancer!

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Because window glass doesn’t block the UVA rays that cause skin cancer. So they penetrate the skin more deeply – and the deeper layers of skin are where skin cancer is most likely to start. So if you sit within 6 feet of a sunny window, wear sunscreen every dayeven on cloudy days.

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Indoor plants are a proven mood booster!

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Whether it’s a fern, English ivy or even a succulent, like aloe, being surrounded by greenery prompts an immediate mood lift, and lowers your risk of depression. According to the University of Michigan, our brains are naturally primed to release feel-good chemicals in the presence of nature, and it also triggers a relaxation response. Even when we’re stressed! Being near greenery also increases our ability to concentrate, makes us more productive, and boosts memory by 20%.

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Which of these has the most germs…

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A door you push open, or one you pull? Microbiologist Dr. Adam Roberts says a pull-handle is 5 times more contaminated. Because our fingertips, the dirtiest part of our hand, are more likely to touch a pull-handle. While we typically push with our palm.

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Why you should keep a digital food diary.

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Keeping a digital food diary is better than jotting down what you eat on paper. According to Arizona State University, people who use an app keep better track of what they eat. They make more detailed notes and do it more often. And that’s a big deal if you’re dieting. Because the more focused you are, the more effective it is at controlling weight. A couple apps to try are “Lose It” and “MyNetDiary.”

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Do you get tension headaches regularly?

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You might want to get your vitamin D levels checked. A new study from Finland found adults low on “D” were twice as likely to experience frequent head pain, compared to those with plenty of vitamin D. The reason? Because there are “D” receptors in the area of the brain linked to pain. And if there isn’t enough vitamin D available, the receptors may transmit pain signals from your stiff muscles, instead, triggering a headache. It’s tricky to get sufficient vitamin D from food and sunlight alone. But talk to your doctor before you start taking a supplement, to make sure it’s the right treatment for you.

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Did you know yoga can help you quit smoking?

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A study found women who did yoga for 2 months were more likely to quit for good than those who did simple stretching exercises. That’s because yoga includes deep breathing and being “in the moment,” which helps cut nicotine cravings by lowering anxiety and lifting a person’s mood. So if you’re trying to quit smoking, practice yoga twice a week for a couple months, and you’ll be far more likely to succeed.

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Does your dog look you in the eye?

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That’s love. Dr. Brian Hare founded the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University – and he says, when your dog gives you eye contact, she’s quote, “hugging you with her eyes.” Because it triggers the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin – the same hormone that helps mothers and babies bond. If you want to test this out, try to naturally maintain eye contact when you’re interacting with your dog and see how she responds. But only do this with your own dog. A strange dog may consider eye contact aggressive.

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Want to kill your cravings at work or at home?

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Stick a bottle of mouthwash in your desk drawer, break room cubby, or on the counter!

According to the journal Appetite, when study subjects ate a bite or two of a favorite snack – then rinsed with mouthwash – they were less likely to go back for more. That’s because the mouthwash sweeps away the savory, salty, sweet, or fatty flavors lingering in your mouth, and the minty taste switches off your appetite.

Even just sniffing something minty can do the trick. A study found that people who sniffed the scent of peppermint every 2 hours weren’t as hungry as those who didn’t sniff mint, and consumed 400 fewer calories each day! The scent distracts the brain from thinking about food and even dials down hunger hormones.

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