End-of-summer health helpers

Feel great as the seasons change.

- BY BRENDA KEARNS

Restore stamina with an ice pack

It's easy to stay energized when the skies are bright and your garden's in bloom. But as the days start to shorten and the flowers begin to fade? Not so much. Luckily, the energy boost you need is in your freezer. University of Mississippi scientists say holding an ice pack in one hand can restore your getup-and-go in 2 minutes, since cooling your palm prompts the release of hormones that relax arteries, encouraging the flow of energizing blood to brain and muscle cells.

OR DIVIDE YOUR HOSTAS

Late summer is the perfect time of year to divide perennials like hostas and daylilies so you can fill up your garden for free. And doing so could as much as double your stamina, a Bulgarian study suggests. That's because touching plants spurs the release of fatigue-fighting hormones.

The easy way to boost your immunity

Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes familiar bothers like colds, sinusitis and the flu. Fortunately, taking a stroll through your favorite park, forest or wooded trail once a month could help you stay sniffle-free. Canadian scientists found that when subjects inhaled the aromatic compounds released by trees, their production of virus-killing immune cells soared for up to 30 days at a stretch.

Banish aches with bergamot