Have you ever wondered if exercising your brain with mental exercises such as memorization and Sudoku puzzles really work? Read on…

In university, one of my favourite courses was Psychology 100. A popular yet challenging course, I learned many things of interest throughout the year but there was one lesson in particular that stuck with me: Memory and London Taxi Drivers.

The city of London, England is extraordinarily complex (and to many, very confusing) so those who wish to become drivers of the traditional black cabs in London must acquire “the knowledge” before they are eligible to get behind the wheel. The memorization and training for this can take up to three years! Talk about exercising your brain!

In my psychology class we learned about a study that measured the spatial memory of London cab drivers, all of whom had memorized how to navigate this complex city. The study discovered that these cab drivers, when compared to a control group, had enlarged hippocampi, the area of the brain responsible for storing and retrieving memories. In other words, due to their rigorous study of the city of London, the brains of these taxi drivers had grown!

So do those Sudoku puzzles, memorize those directions and exercise your brain! For a little extra help, try webber naturals’ Gingko Biloba to enhance memory function, mental sharpness and other cognitive functions.

Image sources: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/london-cabs-voted-worlds-best/
http://brainfunctionss.com/brain-excercise/

Feeling stressed or unhappy in your living area or work space? Try owning a pet plant!

I never used to be much of a plant person - mainly, I never really saw the point in buying a plant to "brighten" up my place (I thought my lights did a good enough job of that) nor did I think that they were worth the time.

That is, until I spent three years living wth my best friend, a self-proclaimed Plant Enthusiast. Throughout the three years that we lived together, she was constantly making trips to the local farmer's market, always returning with some new plant cradled in her arms. And every time I would say, "Another one?!" and roll my eyes. I mean, I didn't even see the point in owning one, never mind a couple dozen!

However...gradually...I found myself smiling with each new edition to our ever-growing "garden" (formerly known as our living room) and I began to realize that the plants (even the not so pretty ones without flowers) were making me happy. It felt nice to have some natural green scenery around and I felt proud that the care we were providing them was what nutured these plants and helped them grow. Which is why I wasn't terribly surprised to find out that, aside from keeping our air clean, research has shown that plants also help you feel happy and stress-free. :)

So go on, "brighten" up your living area or work space! Pet plants are easier to take care of than dogs!

Need a little extra help coping with some stress? Try webber naturals' B-Calm .

Image source: http://www.natsci.org/events/eventsnsc.html

Healthy eating habits lead to better sleeping habits, which lead to a healthier, happier, more attractive you.

Not too long ago we investigated if you could potentially Sleep Your Way To Beauty. We discovered via The Huffington Post that people who get more sleep are more attractive compared to when they get less sleep, which resulted in my new number one goal: to get more sleep! But, hey, in today’s hectic society, we’re busy and I’ll be the first to admit that getting more sleep is easier said than done.

Which is why I was happy to come across Fitness magazine's article on how choosing healthier eating habits may help you get a more restful night’s sleep . Eat better, sleep better, look and feel better! Sounds good to me.

Eating well and still having trouble getting to sleep? Fitness magazine recommends Vitamins and Minerals for Great Sleep , including B Vitamins , Calcium, and Zinc.

Image source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2007-11-01/How-to-Get-Better-Sleep.aspx