Woman getting a professional massage

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Go for a Massage

No one has to tell you that a massage feels great—but it's more than just a thing you do to relax. "Massages decrease inflammatory stress hormones. People think it's a luxury, but it really shouldn't be," says nutrition and weight loss expert Lori Shemek, PhD, author of How to Fight FATflammation! Because massage provides short-term benefits, you need to get them regularly. She suggests one every two weeks. A full-body massage not an option? Even something as simple as a scalp massage for as little as 15 minutes can make a difference in lowering levels of cortisol and blood pressure, research shows.