Best Health Boosters for Busy People

We know that you're busier than a starlet at The Ivy. But you can still get the CD for your friend's birthday made, the dishes and laundry done, and the squeak in your car looked at -- AND eat healthy meals and get physical activity. These multitaskers help you do it all throughout your day . . . and destress, too:

Cut your workout short. But make it harder. Guys who did four to six go-for-broke 30-second sprints on a bike got the same gains in muscle fitness as those who went for 90 to 120 minutes at a moderate pace. In a different study, the same type of sprints improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, meaning it decreased their risk for unhealthy blood sugar and, eventually, diabetes. Total calorie burn was a puny 250, so you'll still need longer workouts if you're looking to torch fat. But for your health, short, fast intervals will get you somewhere. Find out why short, powerful workouts can be just as good as long ones for muscling up.

Slim down while you wait for coffee. Okay, you can't lose 5 pounds just standing in line, but you can work on the good posture that will make you look like you've dropped a few. Tomorrow, instead of eavesdropping on other customers, focus on proper posture: back straight, butt in, chest out, shoulders back, head high, jaw aligned, making sure your top and bottom teeth aren't touching each other. Feel good? Practice this every day (sitting and standing), and you'll be amazed at the changes in how you look and feel.

When you get to the counter, consider ordering green tea. Odds are increasingly good that this brew helps cut your risk of cancer, keep blood pressure healthy, protect your memory, and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Discover how it can improve the look of your skin, too.

Smarten your commute. Although Americans spend more than 100 hours per year commuting, and Canadians spend a whopping 275, that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Commuting can provide important transition time between work and home and can be the perfect time to practice destress strategies. Start by unclenching your jaw and loosening your white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. Then, see if you can identify the true source of your stress so you don't lash out at traffic, your kids, or the computer that doesn't boot up fast enough when you get home. A quick stress relief trick: Try taking a whiff of this.