Everybody acknowledges that working out is beneficial for your body. Nevertheless, do you truly understand the correlation between aerobic exercise and heart health? There are a lot of people who swear that performing aerobic exercises is the most effective way for them to feel healthy and to be better in every facet of their life. When it comes right down to it, aerobic exercise and heart health is something that you ought to pay particular attention to because it’s something that you will be able to really concentrate on to get more healthy.

There are so many benefits to aerobic exercise. More than you would possibly be able to talk about in a single article. All the same, the correlation between aerobics and a healthy heart is something that you simply cannot deny since it is something that is going to remain with you and your health forever.

When you view aerobic exercise and heart health, you are going to discover that the more aerobics you are able to do, the healthier your heart is going to become. This may appear as though this is the general idea, and yes, it is very general in that the more you work, the better your heart will work for you. However, there are more precise reasons why this is the case.

When it concerns the relationship between aerobic exercise and heart health, the basic point is that by performing aerobics you are giving yourself a work out where your heart and lungs are constantly moving at a faster rate than they are when you are resting. This implies that as you work out, your heart and lungs are impelled to work harder. Therefore, the more exercise you do, the more your heart has to do for you. By establishing a daily program which has your cardiovascular system working harder, you are thereby forcing your heart to do more work, and this is going to make it stronger.

Fundamentally, when it concerns aerobic exercise and heart health the point is that they are associated. The better your heart is performing, the more aerobics you are going to be able to manage without stopping for a rest. And the more you are able to do, the healthier your heart is going to be. It is as simple as that.

As with anything, when it comes to aerobic exercise and heart health, you are going to have to work your way up. Slowly at first, becoming more aggressive in your routine later. Always ensuring you warm up first, followed by a cool down when the aerobic session is completed. If you have not practiced much with working out, then your heart isn t going to be capable of taking a great deal right away.

Aerobic exercise and heart health are something that you have to build up to, so take your time and talk to your doctor. Together, you and your doctor will be able to formulate a great aerobics routine that is going to distinctly benefit you. A healthy heart is a happy heart.

http://www.myfitnessforall.com provides information on everything related to Health and Fitness. If you stop by our site you will get some education on different aspects of Health and Fitness. Be sure to check out our page on Heart Health. Keeping A Healthy Heart.

Diet plays a crucial role in healthy aging from ensuring bone health to mental acuity. Vegetables, especially dark green vegetables, as well as legumes (beans and lentils), whole grains, nuts and seeds, are the best sources of magnesium, greater intake of which is significantly related to higher bone mineral density and strength, reducing osteoporosis fractures.

The number of people with dementia around the world is predicted to double every 20 years. Dietary approaches can help prevent or slow the onset of the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer s disease. B vitamins, found in whole grains, lower homocystine levels that are linked to Alzheimer s. Other beneficial foods include vegetables and fruits, and their juices (not supplements). Orange vegetables such as carrots, winter squash and yams (high in beta-carotene) are associated with a 89% reduction in risk by protecting against oxidative stress. Eating two apples a day provides the antioxidants (polyphenols) that increase the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in improved memory. Also beneficial are walnuts or flax seeds, rich sources of Omega-3 fats.

Longest-lived Population on the Planet Consumes Fewer Calories, But Eats More

Okinawa, Japan is home to the longest-lived, disability-free population in the world. The Okinawa Centenarian Study was established in 1976 to uncover the secrets of the elders’ successful aging. The elders share an important dietary factor, the only one shown to consistently increase life span in multiple species: caloric restriction. They consume fewer calories over the span of their lifetime than other populations, a good part of how they have managed to slow the aging process and why so many of them look half their age and are able to function like younger people. The biomarkers of longevity include stiffness of arteries, blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, hormonal levels, blood sugar and insulin levels. The theory is that there is a reduction in the production of cell-damaging free radicals which are generated by metabolizing food for energy. Americans eat too many calories at 2500 per day compared to the Okinawans’ 1800 calories, but the Okinawans’ food weighed 2.5 pounds or 1/2 pound more than Americans’ daily food intake. The foods the Okinawans choose are nutrient-rich, but low in calories: a plant-based diet centered on vegetables, unprocessed grains, soy foods and fish.

Sources: Healthy at 100, How you can at any age dramatically increase your life span and your health span, The scientifically proven secrets of the world s healthiest and longest-lived peoples, by John Robbins, 2006; The Okinawa Diet Plan…the only diet with 100 years of living proof by Bradley Willcox, MD, Craig Willcox, PhD and Makoto Suzuki, MD, 2004; and also Lancet, Dec. 2005, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Nov. 2005, Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006, Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2006; Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences and American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2006, as reported in Nutrition Hints by Dr. Betty Kamen, PhD, www.bettykamen.com

Meredith McCarty, DC, NE, is a holistic nutritionist (Diet Counselor and Nutrition Educator). She has consulted, taught and lectured internationally since 1977 and has authored three cookbooks including Sweet and Natural More than 120 Naturally Sweet and Dairy Free Desserts, which won the Versailles World Cookbook Fair Award. Formerly the associate editor of Natural Health magazine, Meredith co-directed a macrobiotic holistic health center in northern California for 20 years. Contact Meredith via email, meredith@healingcuisine.com or visit http://www.healingcuisine.com for the latest news on diet and health.

Eating foods that are nutritious and delicious as many slogans declare is great for health conscious people, and by giving healthy gifts you can help encourage good eating habits.

It only makes sense that healthy gifts are becoming more and more popular. There seems to be a health kick of sorts going on right now for many Americans.

Believe it or not, if you have ever looked at a food chart indicating the portions of the different kinds of foods to eat daily, you will see fruits and vegetables at the top of the list. Recommended by doctors and nutritionists, fruits and vegetables are the foods we should be eating the most.

Unfortunately, many Americans eat less fruits and vegetables than they do any other type of foods on the food chart pyramid. This is another reason that healthy gifts are a good idea, because you can encourage friends and family to develop better, more nutritious eating habits.

When you get a healthy gift or gift basket for someone you know, fruits and vegetables are great to include, but there are also very healthy kinds of foods to choose from. Many healthy gift baskets contain granola bars or other snacks with essential grains and nuts for energy.

Especially people who are very active will appreciate such gift items as trail mix or, as I mentioned before, granola bars, energy bars and dried fruits and nuts.

The greatest thing about healthy gifts is that if you frequently purchase fruit baskets you are already giving away healthy gifts. But there are many more options for specific kinds of healthy gifts you can choose from as well. You can find the very best selections of healthy gifts online if you just know where to look for them.

And, of course, healthy gifts can also include healthy items that are not for eating.

For example:

You can get a kid healthy gift baskets with some sweet fruits to eat, but maybe some toys that will encourage him or her to exercise more. These items such as jump ropes, hopscotch games, a soccer ball or basketball, even kits for games like capture the flag.

Children have tons of energy to burn, and yet, they are exercising less and less. Playing sports and other games are not only ways to stay healthy and fit, but they are also extremely fun. Kids do not realize, as they are zoning out on the sofa, all the fun they are missing out on.

You can also purchase healthy gift baskets for your adult friends with exercise tapes and accessories, nutrition guides and so on. So just because you are getting someone a healthy gift that does not always mean to get them healthy foods even recipes are included with some healthy gift baskets.

Therefore, healthy gift baskets are suitable for anyone and everyone. When you purchase healthy gift baskets as presents for any occasion, you are contributing to the improvement of health concerns all over the country. If you give away healthy gift baskets you will not be sorry you did.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on nutrition and health please visit Healthy Gifts or visit Gifts for Health.

It always happens. You get to about 4 in the afternoon and suddenly you are thinking “What should I fix for dinner tonight?” At that point, the thought of actually preparing a meal all seems a bit overwhelming. It’s no wonder that the fast food restaurants and delis do such a brisk business as people are getting off work!

If you really want to ensure that you are serving healthy meals for your family, you really need to organize a schedule. By setting up a healthy eating schedule you are less likely to splurge on unhealthy fast food.

One of the best things you can do when organizing a healthy eating schedule is arrange to eat your meals at a set time each day. Try to include two or three balanced meals per day in your schedule. Eating at regular intervals and as part of a schedule not only helps the body’s hormonal system but you will find that you are digesting your food much better as well.

A well-balanced meal as part of a healthy eating schedule should include the following components:

1. Protein
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fiber

It is important that you plan the meals you will have each week as part of your healthy eating schedule. Sit down at the start of each week to plan your meals, make your shopping list, then only buy the foods on your list. You have your meals planned for the week and it is important that you keep in mind the family’s schedule and arrange healthy meals around that. For example, if one night the whole family has outside activities, then arrange for everybody to sit down in the evening to something easy to prepare, such as soup and a sandwich.

The whole idea of having a healthy eating schedule is to ensure that you have a small healthy meal every 2 to 3 hours. It can be either a healthy sandwich, protein shake, fruit, healthy fats, or whole grains. Unfortunately our bodies have not been designed to digest large portions of food all at once. It is much healthier to eat 5 or 6 smaller meals a day. This will help to keep your metabolism at a higher speed. A great benefit of that is that it makes it much easier to lose weight.

If you want to lead a much healthier life then ensure that you include a healthy eating schedule into the equation. You will soon find that it becomes second nature to follow it.

Preparing healthy meals does not have to mean time-consuming menu preparation or boring meals. To discover delicious alternatives you never knew could be healthy, be sure to check out my Eating Healthy for Life blog at: http://www.eating-healthy.org

Chinese food. It’s certainly tasty enough, but is it healthy? In these modern days of looking good and feeling good this is a question that might often be on the lips of anyone who has just devoured an egg fu yung. Well the answer to the question is that, yes, authentic Chinese cooking is very healthy. In fact the Chinese diet might be one of the healthiest in the world.

Sadly the same can not be said about the meals prepared at some Chinese restaurants or take-aways, where the food is often prepared with highly saturated fats and the meat used in the preparation of the recipes is not exactly of the leanest cut. The meals prepared in establishments like this are neither authentic, or healthy. Although they might very well be extremely tasty. But at what cost to the diners health?

Good, authentic - and healthy - Chinese food is prepared and cooked with poly-unsaturated oils and has no use for dairy ingredients such as cream, butter, or cheese. Meat is included in the recipes but is not of an abundant quantity. So lovers of authentic Chinese cooking are easily able to avoid the dangers associated with the intake of too much animal fat in their diet.

So in answer to the question: ‘Is Chinese food healthy?’ the answer is a very definite yes, but you must be sure that the Chinese meal that you are eating is an authentic Chinese meal prepared in the traditional manner and using only traditional and healthy ingredients. You can have your cake and eat it; just as long as you know that it is the right kind of cake you are eating.

Daily Recipe

If you are like millions of other people in the world, you probably want to live a healthy lifestyle. While many people are able to achieve this lifestyle, there are even more that are looking for ways to improve their health. Here are 5 ingredients to help you put together a healthy lifestyle.

1. Healthy diet

The food that you eat on a daily basis plays a huge role in what type of lifestyle you live. If you are eating fast food every day, you re obviously not creating the best diet. There are a plethora of different diets you can put together to maintain a healthy lifestyle depending on your body. However, the safest route to take is to eat a little from each of the food groups during every meal. This consists of eating your vegetables, fruits, breads, meat and even some snack foods once in awhile.

2. Water

Staying completely hydrated with drinks is crucial, but water is by far the most vital drink. Water can help clean your system out and keep you energized throughout the day. It may seem like a lot, but on average you should be drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day.

3. Exercise

Whether its lifting weights or jogging or riding a bike exercise is a vital piece to a healthy lifestyle. The type of exercise you do and the duration will depend on your motives. But just getting out and exercising a few times a week will lift your spirits, maintain a healthy body, and raise your energy level.

4. Have fun

Having fun is certainly something that many people don t consider when they are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Getting out and having fun is crucial because it helps relieve the many stresses that are bottled up on a daily basis. Go out to a movie with your friends once in awhile. Go to the park and enjoy a nice sunny day. Or if you are more about relaxing, take time away from your hectic schedule to lie down and read a book.

5. Sleep

Without enough sleep, our immune system will be shot and it will be difficult to get through the day. Getting a good night s sleep can make the world of a difference in how you feel and how much you can do the next day.

When putting together a healthy lifestyle, there isn t exactly one thing that can help you achieve this. By accommodating the five aspects listed above into your life, you will be able to better fulfill your goal of living a healthy lifestyle.

Browse through hundreds of Health and Fitness Articles including Yoga Articles at http://www.articlesarea.com You can find FREE information on just about everything that has to do with Health and Fitness so you can start leading a healthy lifestyle today.

The key element for healthy human development and good health is a healthy eating plan from prenatal to early childhood. Healthy eating is not only essential for healthy development, but also to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases which is critical to your child’s well being. It is generally agreed right across the board, that it is better to undertake the basic dietary principles of eating less, doing more exercise, eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis along with whole grains and also to avoid a large consumption of junk food.

Listed below are some of the benefits of healthy eating.

Cancer Prevention

For years past, it has been believed that eating a healthy diet with the correct foods is more likely to prevent cancer. The foods included in this speculation are fruits and vegetables, which are full of antioxidants, which are thought to contain certain properties to fight cancer, along with low fat and high fiber foods. Although media reports are rife about bad diets causing cancer and good diets preventing cancer, the link between diet and cancer is a little tenuous. However, new studies are showing that women that eat a diet which is low in meat and high in fruit actually decrease their risk for breast and colon cancer.

Fruit and Vegetables

Almost always low in calories and fat are fruits and vegetables, and they are generally highly nutritious also. It is advised to east fruit and vegetables as a healthy snack, rather than a sugar-based product. It is generally recommended to eat seven servings of fruit and vegetables daily as part of a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains also contain fiber, which help to keep the bowels healthy.

Energy

For those people who have a fast lifestyle and leave early for work, or have a heavy schedule or a demanding family, then they can very often find that their energy levels can drop, therefore having no capability to undertake additional exercise. Vitamins and Minerals such as iron and B12 supply the body with the energy it needs throughout the day. It is important to ensure that you select the foods that provide the body with energy and nutrients.

Sugary drinks should be avoided at all times, as they are certainly an empty source of energy. Ensuring a healthy eating plan will not only increase your energy levels, but also improve the way in which your body functions, as well as strengthen your immune system and delay weight gain.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is something which is present in every part of the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines and heart. Cholesterol travels in your blood in packages called lipoproteins. However, it is essential to remember that not all cholesterol is actually bad for you. It is in truth, a natural substance which serves as a building block in the body for cells and hormones, and helps fat to travel through the blood vessels for use or storage in other parts of the body. However, a high blood cholesterol level can lead to a build-up of plaque in your arteries, which can in effect increase the risk of heart disease. There are, however, certain types of fiber, including oats, which can help to lower cholesterol and maintain normal blood sugar levels, as part of a healthy diet.

Meals

It is advised, that in order to maintain the required energy levels and healthy weight, that three meals and two snacks are consumed every day. If you skip meals or are over-hungry, then you may be more likely to overeat or choose a non-nutritional food. Since it has been proven that your body takes 20 minutes to feel full, then attempt to relax and eat slowly so that your meal times last 20 minutes. This is also much better for the digestion system.

It is generally believed that it actually costs more to purchase healthy foods. However, purchasing your items, such as fruit and vegetables, in the right place such as a fruit and vegetable market, rather than a store, will result in them being much cheaper. With some careful planning, it is possible to produce some cheap and exciting meals for both you and your family.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of My-Personal-Growth.com, a site that provides information and articles for self improvement and personal growth and development.

You would not start or expand a business without a plan - a clear-cut idea of where you want to take your company and how you propose to get there. Instead, you would assess your cash flow and expenses, choose a location for your office, decide on your hours of operation, and develop strategies to overcome obstacles.

Your health and fitness program deserves the same level of attention, whether you are just beginning to map out your fitness plan or looking to expand and improve your current fitness routine.

Setting Goals for Your Health and Fitness Exercise
You ought to know why you want to get fit before you embark on a new health and fitness program. Maybe your pants split as you got up to greet your blind date, and you thought, “I really ought to do something about this.” Maybe you cannot keep up with your grand children. Maybe heart disease runs in your family, and you want to avoid carrying on that tradition.

Whatever the reason, make sure you are doing this for yourself. You are not doing it simply to please your mother-in-law or your doctor. Then, after you have evaluated your current fitness level start setting specific goals. Research shows that goal-setting works.

Here we want to look at the different types of goals you should set.

Tip 1 - Long-term goals

Give yourself a time frame for the next six months. Some people get really creative with their long-term goals in their health and fitness plan.

You have to ensure that your long-term goals are realistic. If you have decided to run your first full marathon, you do not need to run the full marathon on the first training session. On the other hand, do not be afraid to dream. Visualize that you will are running in the local marathon competition. Choose a goal that really sparks you on. This is something that may be out of reach at the moment but is not out of the realm of possibility. People are often surprised by what they can accomplish.

My uncle Dave was 60 years old when he started training for a half marathon race. He trained 6 days a week together with his buddy. After six months of training, Uncle Dave successfully completed the half marathon. He was the oldest one on the competition, but he was not the slowest. His success inspired him to train to run the full marathon.

You need to judge for yourself what is realistic. Some people rise to the occasion when they set goals that seem virtually impossible. Other people get discouraged by setting extremely high expectations. If you are a beginner, try to set moderately challenging goals. If you reach your goals earlier than you expect that is the time to choose more ambitious ones. Here are some concrete examples of long-term goals that may spark your imagination:

Complete a 20-kilometer run in 3 hours six months away. Drop 5 percent body fat in 20 weeks.

Tip 2 - Short-term goals

Six months is a long time to wait for feelings of success. In order to stay motivated, you need to feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. Set short-term goals for one week to one month. Here are some examples:

Use the stair-climber four times this week for 30 minutes each time.
Improve your one-kilometer walk by 30 seconds in one week.
Bicycle 50 kilometers a week for the next three weeks.

Tip 3 - Immediate goals

Immediate goals refer to goals for each week, day, or workout. This way, when you walk into the health fitness club, you don not waste any time figuring out which exercises to do. Here are examples of immediate goals:

Go to the health fitness club 3 times a week
Run 5 kilometers 2 times a week.
Bicycle 15 kilometers twice a week.

You see, goals are like a points on the compass that will help to get to the destination you want to arrive at.

Is there anything else you want to find out on how to build up your fitness level? When you regularly exercise and eat a healthy diet, you will live healthier, happier and longer.

For more informations visit http://www.HealthFitnessSecret.com

There are four key factors that will either create health or illness in us. They are so simple, yet often ignored and forgotten. Let s look at the first key factor.

1) Diet - Our diet nowadays rely heavily on processed foods which do not contribute to good health. If you eat like most people, you’ll most probably have too much animal products, fats and refined foods in your daily diet. Three things can happen to the foods that we take into our stomach:

a. They can be digested and assimilated as nutrients for our body use and growth;
b. They can ferment in our stomach as in the case of improper food-combining e.g. undigested sugars from eating fruits on a full stomach after meal; or
c. They can putrefy, or rot and decay also in the case of improper food-combining e.g. undigested proteins from eating chicken (protein) with potatoes (carbohydrates) in the same meal.

Fermentation and putrefaction are one of the exogenous toxins in our body that cause aging and illness. Exogenous toxins are toxins taken from outside the body, not self-generated. Examples include all junk food, tobacco and alcohol, polluted air and water, putrefaction and fermentation in the stomach from improper food combining which usually happen in meat-eater, and drugs and medicines.

A plant-based natural whole food diet of fresh vegetables and fruits plus some nuts and seeds will give us the essential nutrients that our body need.

2) Exercise, sleep and rest - Find time to exercise on a regular basis and getting proper sleep and rest. Proper sleep and rest are as important as eating a healthy diet and exercising. A good night s sleep helps to revive, rejuvenate and revitalize our body and brain, contributing to youthful appearance besides being energetic and in a good mood all day long.

Chronic sleep loss has been proven to contribute to all health problems. Therefore, get the right quantity and quality of sleep and don t overlook its benefits. Sleep is not a luxury, it is one of the main pillars to health, a necessity!

3) Psychology - Engage in productive activity and constructive work; learn to control our own emotion and anger; and develop the interpersonal communication skills and social skills that are crucial for a successful life. Having positive thoughts are important as just like we are what we eat or digest, what we think is what we are as our thought process is a powerful form of energy. Most people do not believe in positive thoughts because they do not see value in them.

However, studies and other evidence have shown that by having positive thoughts all the time, our life will be positive and our day filled with optimism. If our thoughts are negative, it will not only weaken our body, mind and spirit but also affect our health. Another great thing about having positive thoughts is that it slows down aging, making us feeling and looking younger than most people of our age; and improves our health and well-being!

One of the ways to keep our thoughts constantly positive is to surround ourselves with constructive, positive and happy people as these people radiate energised and healthy aura from which we can benefit.

4. Environment - Get fresh air and pure water! Our own home might be a source of environmental pollution. Toxic chemical gases released from new furniture and new paints are some examples. Even cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoo and deodorants contain harmful chemicals in them. Avoid exposure to excess chemicals.

It’s only when we provide our body with all the necessary requirements of health, that they can perform the self-healing mechanisms at their best to restore and optimise health!

Siew Yin Gark’s philosophy has always been that there are no quick fixes to vibrant health and good looks. She believes that health can only be realized by following a natural way of life through proper diet and healthy lifestyles. She strongly believes that beauty and youth are the natural expression of the highest health. If you want to start staying healthier and looking younger the natural way from today, go to http://www.secret-of-being-young.com

1. Lose just 10 pounds of weight. Often people believe that, to obtain significant health benefits, you have to lose a ton of weight. But nothing could be further from the truth. Losing just 10 pounds can reduce the stress on your joints and your heart. Walking exerts 5 pounds of pressure on your joints for every extra pound you carry over your ideal weight. So, ease those aching knees and lighten up your load, even a little. Your knees and your heart will thank you.

2. Reduce just one source of stress from your life. Stress is as important a factor in elevating blood pressure as weight gain and smoking. Common sources of stress which could be reduced or eliminated entirely include running late for appointments, procrastination, reading negative news just before bedtime, returning e-mails just before bedtime. Of course some sources of stress -bad relationships -cannot be eliminated quite this easily but, if a relationship is causing you excessive aggravation, it can have a devastating impact on your health. Get out.

3. Keep up contacts with friends. Studies consistently show that emotional well-being is tied directly to the number and quality of our social contacts. Returning those phone calls and reciprocating those lunch dates can indeed lengthen or greatly enhance the quality of your life. How many contacts do you need daily to make a difference. It depends. Some studies show that as few as 5 distinct contacts can boost the levels of serotonin (the feel good hormone) in your body and decrease the risk of depression as we age.

4. Monitor your blood pressure. Many doctors say that, if they could have the ability to read only one statistic about a person in order to know the most about their overall health, that number would be their Blood Pressure. Why? Blood travels thousands of miles of pipes –vessels and capillaries—within the body, going through narrower and narrower pipes until, at the end, just before red blood cells pass from the blood into the organs, the pipe openings through which the individual red blood cells have to squeeze, are about as tiny as the cells themselves. If your blood vessels are too tight, the red blood cells can get stuck in the hole before they make it through to the organs. As a result, the heart needs a huge gush of pressure to PUSH the red blood cells through the tiny vessels. The tinier the last vessels, the harder the heart has to push. If your pipes are really tight, your heart has to really HEAVE HO! Hence, your blood pressure —the amount of HEAVE HO-is high. Think of it. All through your body, the pressure is sky high, just to get the red blood cells to the organs like your liver and kidneys, so they can do their jobs. Now, which would you rather have — a system of normal, smooth functioning pipes with gentle pushes from the heart from time to time. Or a full blown, 5 alarm HEAVE HO system always set to the highest pressure gauge? Get the picture. Turn down the pressure. Lose weight. Exercise. Watch the processed, salty foods.

5. Eat your veggies. Eat colorful veggies. They’re the ones highest in nutrients. Go for the deep greens, the reddest reds, the brilliant yellows and oranges.

6. Go easy on the white foods. Almost all white foods (exception, okay, for cauliflower) are high in starch, which the body can’t tell from sugar, and low in nutrients and fiber. Fries, white bread, potato chips should be treated like desserts. It will help you stave off diabetes.

7. Journal. Keeping a journal of what you eat has been shown to increase your chances of weight loss by 50%.

8. Do a crossword Puzzle. Research has shown that doing crossword puzzles help to stave off Alzheimer’s disease. Go figure.

9. Walk. You don’t need to become a marathoner to improve health. Walking just half an hour three times a week can lower your blood sugar or help to keep it stabilized.

10. Have more sex. Sex is not just a pleasure. It’s a necessity for great health. Sex releases the feel good hormone of serotonin, improves blood circulation and even can condition the heart. So save your heart by sharing it.

Susan M Callahan is a Contributing Columnist to http://www.CollectiveWizdom.com a reader created on-line newspaper featuring articles on health, relationships and life.