Have a happy & healthy 4th!

These tips can help you bounce back from little holiday health slipups fast.

- BRENDA KEARNS

Relieve body aches with quiet time

Whether you're hosting a family gathering, attending local festivals or playing backyard games, a Fourth of July uptick in motion can leave you stiff and achy for days. To bounce back quicker, carve out time over the weekend for a quiet break like napping in a hammock or cozying up in bed with a great book. Norwegian researchers say that deep relaxation dials down the immune system's production of tissue-irritating inflammation and makes pain threshold soar.

OR SNIFF BASIL

Basil is at its peak of freshness and flavor right now, and breathing in this herb's peppery aroma can quash a pain flare in minutes, report scientists in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Basil's aromatic oils stimulate the same brain receptors that pain-killing opioids do.

The brush that boosts stamina!

If you wake up feeling too tired or foggy to truly enjoy the Independence Day fun that’s coming up, reach for your hairbrush. A Chinese study reveals that gently brushing your hair and scalp can help you feel more focused and energetic, often in as little as 5 minutes. Experts explain that hair brushing (like acupressure) stimulates scalp nerves that relax and open arteries, increasing the flow of energizing, oxygen-rich blood to your brain and central nervous system.