Think Yourself Well

Positive thinking can help ease pain, improve fitness, and prevent illness. Herbalist and hypnotherapist Anastasia Stephens explains nine ways to think yourself better.

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

A new Australian study suggests that the faster speed that athletes achieve when taking performance-enhancing drugs is all in the mind. The study compared athletes on growth hormones with those given a placebo. Those taking the dummy pills sprinted faster, jumped higher and were able to lift heavier weights than those taking the hormones. The results imply that if you think you will perform better, you really will. That's not news to many professional athletes who for years have used creative visualisation to boost performance. "If you visualise being stronger, running faster or winning, you are priming your nervous system to do just that," says Dr Aimee Kimball, the director of mental training in sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. "Studies have found that the method can enhance physical performance significantly, sometimes by 20 per cent or more."

What to do: Visualise your forthcoming race or match. See yourself win with ease, confidence and coordination, in as much detail as possible. Feel the appropriate emotions as you play and win, and get a sense that you really "know" you can do it. Read more

Acne Solutions: 3 Secrets

Dan Wright says there are three key points you should consider in seeking remedies to your acne problem.

We can't deny the fact that in this world of beauty magazines, you would always feel that there is a need to look good. But what would you feel when there are red oily humps on your face? Of course, this would greatly affect your self-confidence and outlook on life. So while it is worthwhile to seek out effective acne treatments, it's important to also remember several important facts.

You should think about these three important things before trying to find a solution to your acne problem: Read more

DNA: Defects You Can Fix with Vitamins and Minerals

Researchers have found that there are many genetic differences that make people's enzymes less efficient than normal, and that simple supplementation with vitamins can often restore some of these deficient enzymes to full working order.

As the cost of sequencing a single human genome drops rapidly, with one company predicting a price of $100 per person in five years, soon the only reason not to look at your "personal genome" will be fear of what bad news lies in your genes.

University of California, Berkeley, scientists, however, have found a welcome reason to delve into your genetic heritage: to find the slight genetic flaws that can be fixed with remedies as simple as vitamin or mineral supplements. Read more

Drink Beet Juice to Lower Blood Pressure

Scientists have discovered that beets have a remarkable effect on lowering blood pressure. Beet juice may never become your favorite drink, but wouldn't it be better than taking blood pressure medication?

Have you ever considered swapping your morning glass of fresh orange for freshly squeezed beetroot? Thought not - but in light of a remarkable discovery, it may be worth downing the inky, purple-red stuff with your cornflakes. And, thanks to the launch this month of a scrumptious new juice, getting your daily dose won't require a pinch of the nose or scrubbing stubborn, deep purple stains off your chopping board.

Earlier this year, scientists at Barts and the London School of Medicine found that beetroot juice can have as great an effect on blood pressure as conventional drugs. Read more

Cancer Fatigue: Can Ginseng Help?

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment. Usually, it comes on suddenly, does not result from activity or exertion, and is not relieved by rest or sleep. Ginseng may be a natural remedy for this condition.

Fatigue can be a debilitating symptom of cancer, and a common side effect of its treatment. Many cancer patients going through treatment experience extreme tiredness, exhaustion, and weakness, often severe enough to adversely affect the quality of their life. Rather than add another prescription to the daily dosages, ginseng may be a natural alternative that is more palatable to patients. Read more

Want to Lose Weight? Eat Chocolate for Breakfast

According to researchers, a big breakfast packed with protein, carbs, and even something sweet can lead to weight loss.

It seems there's truth to the proverb "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper." At least when it comes to losing weight.

According to researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., starting the day with a big breakfast packed with protein - and yes, carbohydrates - can lead to significant weight loss. Read more

Remarkable Johns Hopkins Magic Mushroom Research

A Johns Hopkins University study found long-term health benefits from taking the mushroom psilocybin, which, of course, is illegal.

In 2002, at a Johns Hopkins University laboratory, a business consultant named Dede Osborn took a psychedelic drug as part of a research project.

She felt like she was taking off. She saw colors. Then it felt like her heart was ripping open.

But she called the experience joyful as well as painful, and says that it has helped her to this day.

"I feel more centered in who I am and what I'm doing," said Osborn, now 66, of Providence, R.I. "I don't seem to have those self-doubts like I used to have. I feel much more grounded (and feel that) we are all connected."

Scientists reported Tuesday that when they surveyed volunteers 14 months after they took the drug, most said they were still feeling and behaving better because of the experience. Read more