THE NEW YORK TIMES – Our reporters went to leading specialists they’ve interviewed over the years and asked them:
What is the one health tip you learned in your work that you swear by?
These tricks, life hacks, rules and reminders span nutrition, sleep, mental health, fitness, sex, productivity and more.
“When I find myself stuck in a pattern of negative thinking, I try not to complain for seven days. It retrains your brain to stop going down a negative path. I write “Don’t complain!” on a sticky note right by my bed so I see it when I wake up.”
– Dr. Kali D. Cyrus, Psychiatrist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine
“Dark-chocolate-covered nuts (at least 70 percent cocoa) are almost a perfect food. They combine two remarkable nutrient-rich foods — nuts and cocoa — and are high in phenolics, minerals, healthy fats and fiber.”
– Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University
“Keep magazines, phones and any other reading paraphernalia out of the bathroom that will distract you from the task at hand — defecation! Studies show that extra time on the loo may increase your risk of hemorrhoids.”
– Dr. Sophie Balzora, Gastroenterologist and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health
“My second-grade teacher, Ms. Edson, told us: If something feels too hard to do, it just means that the first step isn’t small enough. So often when we’re struggling, we tell ourselves that it’s a sign that we’re broken or that something is our fault, and then we freeze. But when something is too hard in the moment, tell yourself Ms. Edson’s advice.”
– Becky Kennedy, Clinical psychologist, parenting expert and founder of Good Inside
