Dr. Berg’s Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting Podcast

Bizarre Mind-Blowing Health Tricks

10 snips

Jul 7, 2025

Explore surprising health hacks that are scientifically proven! Eating dark chocolate can lower blood pressure while humming boosts your sinuses. Standing on one leg for just 30 seconds enhances memory and cognition. Sniffing essential oils like rosemary and lavender can improve mood and reduce anxiety. Plus, wearing dry, warm socks at night may grant you better sleep quality. These quirky methods might just be the key to enhancing your well-being!

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ADVICE

Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

Eat dark chocolate with at least 80% cacao to lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormone cortisol by 14%.
Avoid eating it late in the day to prevent sleep disturbances due to caffeine-like effects.

ADVICE

Humming Boosts Sinus Health

Hum on your exhale to boost nitric oxide levels, help relax, and improve sinus health.
Practice inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling with humming for several minutes multiple times a day.

ADVICE

Single-Leg Standing Boosts Brain

Stand on one leg for 30 seconds each side daily to exercise balance and stimulate brain health.
This practice can increase gray matter volume including the hippocampus, improving memory and cognition.

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Try out these weird health hacks that are actually backed by science!

1. Eating dark chocolate

A 2017 study found that dark chocolate can significantly lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol by 14%, and increase nitric oxide.

2. Humming while exhaling

Research has shown that humming while exhaling can significantly improve your sinuses. Humming while exhaling increases nitric oxide by 15 times, which can help you relax and lower your blood pressure.

3. Standing on one leg for 30 seconds

A 2014 study in the journal Stroke found that standing on one leg for 30 seconds increases gray matter volume, which includes the hippocampus. This can improve memory and increase cognitive scores by 13%.

4. Sniffing something

A 2013 study found that sniffing rosemary oil can increase cognitive function and memory by 18%. Three other studies found that sniffing lavender oil can significantly lower anxiety, improve mood, increase sleep quality, and decrease daytime sleepiness. Smelling peppermint oil can increase sustained attention, improve reaction time, and improve respiratory efficiency. It can also decrease tension headaches. Eucalyptus oil has the most potent effect on your respiratory centers. Smelling frankincense oil decreases neuroinflammation, directly improving memory and lowering anxiety.

5. Dry, warm socks

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that wearing dry, warm socks to bed can increase sleep by 32 minutes and improve sleep quality.

6. Forest bathing

Walking in the forest for 20 to 30 minutes can boost immunity and provide tremendous stress relief. It increases natural killer cells, which fight cancer and viruses. Forest bathing can elevate mood, reduce blood pressure, and decrease cortisol by 27%.

7. Singing in the shower

Singing loudly in the shower for 5 to 10 minutes can boost immunity by 37%, decrease cortisol by 19%, and increase lung function by 14%.

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:

Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.