Little Health Tips for Big Results

Snooze on your left side

In 15 seconds: Outsmart indigestion

As many as 80% of heartburn sufferers experience symptoms at night. Steal back a good night's sleep by fluffing up two pillows instead of one. In an Archives of Internal Medicine study, people who propped up their heads about 11 inches reduced their symptoms dramatically. Also, sleep on your left side and you'll cut your heartburn risk in half -- that's because snoozing on your right side relaxes the muscle that keeps gastric acids in your stomach.

Add healthy fats to every snack or meal

In 20 seconds: Reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes

When your meal contains protein, fiber, and even fat, your body's insulin response slows, stabilizing your blood sugar. Munch bread with some butter or olive oil, or make a PB&J sandwich with more PB and less J. In one study of more than 32,000 women, those whose diets had the highest glycemic load (a measure of how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar) had more than twice the risk of heart disease compared with those whose diets had the lowest load.

Take 6 little calming breaths

In 30 seconds: Lower your blood pressure

Six calming breaths in 30 seconds can reduce your systolic blood pressure by nearly 10 mmHg, Japanese research has found. Even occasional blood pressure spikes -- like those during an insanely nonstop day -- might put you at increased risk of stroke, according to a study in the Lancet.

Swap in cereal for bread crumbs

In 3 minutes: Reduce bad cholesterol

Instead of bread crumbs to coat chicken breasts, chop up General Mills' original Fiber One cereal for a nutrition-packed crunch. For every extra gram of soluble fiber in your diet -- a 1/2-cup serving of Fiber One has 1 g -- you can trim your LDL cholesterol by almost 2 mg/dL.

Strength-train during commercials

In 4 minutes: Boost your brainpower

A known metabolism jump-starter, resistance training just once a week can improve your ability to resolve conflicts and focus your attention, a Canadian study has found. Luckily, you don't need the gym; just use your own body weight. Do as many push-ups or crunches as you can during commercials while watching your favorite TV show, or lunge across your living room as you water your plants. Other sources include beans, peas, and citrus.