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Running is great way to boost your health — and it doesn’t even require any special equipment! The exercise is especially beneficial to the heart and lungs, as it promotes healthy oxygen and blood flow.

Studies have linked running to reducing the risk of contracting a cold and even developing cancer. It also provides excellent stress relief and can soothe mild forms of depression as well.

(And it’s good for dogs, too!)

Photo via richard.heeks on Flickr.

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Representing over 5,000 years old of posing in seemingly impossible positions, yoga isn’t just fun to look at — it’s good for you, too.

Yoga can improve your flexibility, strength, and posture, and the breathing methods can actually increase lung capacity. The activity is also associated with better heart health (it reduces blood pressure and slows your heart rate), in addition to combating a number of different conditions, including asthma, back pain, and multiple sclerosis. Plus, yoga has been shown to boost concentration and instill a sense of calm.

And isn’t that worth standing on your head?

Photo via 75mondays on Flickr.

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When’s the last time you ate a pomegranate? Although less common than apples and oranges, these seedy fruits are loaded with health benefits. Check it out:

Antioxidants. Pomegranate juice offers almost three times the antioxidants in red wine or green tea. These can protect against cell damage, which is associated with a number of diseases including cancer. Antioxidants from pomegranates can also lower bad cholesterol.

Heart health. Pomegranate juice has been shown to fight the hardening of the arteries (linked to heart attacks and strokes, among other problems) and increase blood flow to the heart.

Combat osteoarthritis. Research suggests that pomegranate extract can prevent the degradation of cartilage, in addition to supporting healthy joints.

Fight prostate cancer. A study found that men with prostate cancer who drank a glass of pomegranate juice a day had fewer complications from the disease. In fact, none of the juice-drinkers’ cancer spread to other areas of the body.

Nutrition. A single pomegranate contains 40 percent of the vitamin C an adult needs every day, as well as significant amounts of fiber, folic acid, niacin, potassium, and vitamins A and E.

Inhibit breast cancer. Research in Israel discovered that pomegranate seed oil kills breast cancer cells while leaving normal cells intact.

Picture via globetrotter1937’s Flickr.

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There are plenty of reasons to have sex, but improving your health usually isn’t one of them. But scientists have found that getting it on can benefit your body in a number of ways.

So, what can sex do for you?

• Sex reduces stress. Sex actually decreases your blood pressure, particularly in stressful situations like public speaking.
• Sex improves immunity. People who have sex at least once a week have higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which helps prevents colds and other types of infection.
• Sex works you out. Every 30 minutes you spend having sex adds up to at least 85 calories burned. And it’s more fun than the elliptical machine.
• Sex boosts heart health. Men who have sex at least twice a week are half as likely to suffer a fatal heart attack than those other unfortunate souls.
• Sex raises self esteem. Sex doesn’t just make you feel better; it makes you feel better about yourself.

That’s all for today — check out part two of this list tomorrow!

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