This simple and totally amazing exercise is based on the principles of kinesiology, which say that the body truly knows what it needs. In fact, your body will actually get weaker or stronger depending on what you are holding in your hand.

Curious about whether something–like a specific food, vitamin, or herbal remedy–is good for you or not? Try this simple exercise and see what messages your body has for you:

Try this with a partner. You can use a variety of things to get the feel for the process, as long as it will fit in your hand. Examples include–a vitamin pill, an aspirin, a packet of white sugar, a packet of salt, a black tea-bag, and an herbal tea-bag.

1. First, get a baseline: Make a fist with your right hand and raise it with the palm side facing you. Have your partner try to straighten your arm by pulling down gently on your fist, to get a sense of your natural strength.

2. Now close your eyes and have your partner place one of the suggested objects in your right hand.

3. Make a fist with your right hand around the object and raise your fist with the palm side facing you (as if you were making a muscle).

4. Have your partner try to straighten your arm by pulling down gently on your fist. Offer a little resistance (but keep in mind that this isn’t arm-wrestling!)

5. Try doing this with each of the items. Have your partner notice which item you were holding when you had a lot of resistant strength and which you were holding when your arm was weaker.

6. Switch and let your partner try the exercise.

Once you’ve experienced how this feels, you can try it alone, just sensing whether something you hold in your right hand makes your arm feel weak or strong. (Annie says this is invaluable at the health food store when she is trying out herbs or vitamins that might be helpful. Her body knows for sure!)