5. Imagery - If you find that your mind is racing when you are trying to sleep, picture a viewpoint where you're traveling down a road. See your thoughts as signposts that you're passing. Concentrate on letting them pass right by.

6. Progressive muscle relxation - Imagine that a ball of light is traveling along your body, beginning at top of your head, going down to tips of your toes, and then coming up again. As it passes your muscles, they fill with light and relax.

7. Take a nap - If your sleep has been interrupted or there've been unavoidable late nights, an afternoon nap can help you catch up. Experts advise that naps should be taken earlier in afternoon, rather than later, and that we should keep them to 30 minutes or less. This will avoid disrupting your sleep at night.

8. Lavender Bath - Take a hot bath and add a couple of drops of lavender oil. Lavender has naturally occurring relaxing properties.

9. Chamomile Tea - Calms nervous system and helps to promote restful sleep.

10. Take 500 mg Calcium with 250 mg Magnesium at bedtime - The calcium has a calming effect, and magnesium works along with it.

The advice and information in this article is not meant to replace medical advice. If you suspect you have a serious sleeping problem such as sleep apnea, or if you experience insomnia or extreme fatigue, please consult a healthcare professional.

Copyright Linda Dessau 2004. All rights reserved.

You’re welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including contact information at end), and please send me a copy or link to your reprint at linda@genuinecoaching.com. Thanks!

Secret #3: Wheat and buckwheat flour helps in digestive process. The consumption of starches is at a minimum and usually contains no white flour. Japanese noodles are made from wheat flour or buckwheat flour. Both are significantly healthier than enriched white flour. Rice is a staple in diet but consists of a small bowl at meals. The significance is to cleanse mouth when changing dishes. Rice will remove flavor in one’s mouth much like cheese and crackers when sampling wines.

Secret #4: Smaller portions reduce opportunity for excessive eating. Traditional Japanese meals are about half regular portion of western dishes. Even though most dishes are viewed as healthy, portions are still relatively small.

Secret #5: Oolong tea counter balances some of effects unhealthy food has on body. Finally, consumption of Japanese green tea or Chinese oolong tea, served hot or cold, has numerous health benefits. Tea has half caffeine of coffee. Oolong tea, in particular, helps to break up oil in digestive system and is usually consumed at mealtime, particularly when fried or breaded foods are being served.

These five secrets help to explain why Japanese are so healthy and have longest life expectancy. Part 2: Live Lifestyle will appear in next month’s edition of eNews at http://www.magneticrevolution.com, and will describe daily life habits in Japan. If you have any comments or questions please send them to: info@magneticrevolution.com.

Here’s to your health!