I am a HUGE Oprah fan as are millions of other men and women around the globe. And I have grown to really enjoy episodes with Oprah AND Dr Oz.

Dr Oz is one of the first doctors I’ve seen on TV who not only has a thorough knowledge of conventional medical practices but also embraces and acknowledges the benefits of alternate therapy.

Annnywaaaay so I saw an Oprah episode today during my lunch break which was VERY interesting! It was all about the secrets of living longer and living healthier. I took some notes and did some further research and decided to put them up for you all to see and learn from

The episode was all about lifestyle changes you can make to improve your health and take YEARS off your body’s age. That is not your age in years but the age your BODY indicates you are.

There was an amazing looking 60 year old lady with a body age of just 48 due to a great diet, good genes and exercise!

However there was also a woman who was in her 40′s with a body age in the 60′s. She didn’t exercise AND she smoked.

As you can see it can go either way. . .

BUT you don’t need to panic right now. Body age IS reversible. Get onto it now and you can repair the damage.

Firstly take this Body Age Quiz to see where YOU are at. . .

Now onto the things you can do to
Weight Loss1. ANTIOXIDANTS

You should have at least 5 servings of antioxidant rich foods a day.

Antioxidants can be found in great quantities in fruits, veges and grain products.

It is easy to incorporate these foods into breakfast, lunch, dinner and even your snacks.

Look for colour when looking for antioxidants and try to avoid unneccesary stress to your body through smoking and sunburn.

You will find antoxidants in:
* Broccoli
* Blueberries
* Raspberries
* Cranberries
* Strawberries
* Red or Granny Smith Apples
* Acai Berries
* Tomatoes
* Kidney Beans
* Russet Potatoes

2. SLEEP

We are suffering in a world of not enough sleep.

Studies show that a lack of sleep can be attributed to weight gain and other problems in your life such as stress, poor concentration at work, dangerous driving – the list goes on.

You should aim to get at between 7 and 9 hours sleep a night.

To get the best sleep you should decompress for an hour or so before bedtime. Switch off the telly, stop the housework, stop planning tomorrow – relax and sink into the sleep.

Weight Loss3. HAVE MORE SEX

Did you know that upping the amount of sex you have to 2 or 3 times a week can take 3 YEARS off your body age.

Bear in mind that the sex should always be protected and safe. Partaking in dangerous sexual practices will totally counteract the potential benefits.

Ok so back to the benefits of good, safe sex. Yep it is not only good, its good for you

Here are some of the benefits linked to having sex:

* It has been found that women who have more sex are less likely to suffer from depression.

* Orgasm is a very powerful pain killer. The hormones and endorphins produced before and during climax have been found to increase a woman’s pain threshold by almost 75%

* Sex can lower blood pressure both due to it’s cardio capacity and because it is known to decrease stress.

* Sex has been linked to a longer, healthier life.

4. DRINK GREEN TEA

Experts recommend drinking green tea 4 to 5 times a day!

Green tea is jam packed full of antioxidants that can help prevent and/or treat:
* Cancer
* High cholesterol
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Heart Disease
* Immune System deficiency
* Obesity

Green tea has vitamins A, B, C, E, F, P and U (impressive huh!) Green tea also contains natural caffeine, amino acids, chlorophyll, pectin and more.

In lamens terms green tea is FANTASTIC! Try and incorporate green tea into your everyday routine for a healthier you.

Weight Loss5. STOCK UP ON VITAMINS

Vitamins are crucial for anyone’s overall health and unfortunately most of us are MAJORLY deficient in certain vitamins.

Here are some vitamins you should add to your shopping list TODAY (check with your doctor first):
* Vitamin D
* Calcium WITH Magnesium
* Omega 3
* Take half a multi vitamin twice a day

Make sure that you combine calcium with magensium otherwise you will come into some lets just say toileting problems. . .

6. CARDIO EXERCISE

Experts recommend that you get your heart rate up with cardio exercise at least 3 times a week.

Run, walk, dance, skip, play sports. . . Any exercise that gets your heart going, a sweat forming and your blood pumping.

Incorporate at least 30 minutes of cardio work 3 times a week.

Book it in. Don’t let yourself get too busy. Work out the best time of day for you.

Strength Training7. STRENGTH TRAINING

Expert after expert after expert recommends strength training for weight loss and overall health and well being.

Building lean muscle mass through light weight training will help you burn calories even when you’re sleeping.

Girls do not panic you will NOT get bulky. Basically all the stunning celebrity gals out there use strength training to get slim and toned.

Even as little as 30 minutes of strength training A WEEK can make a huge difference to you and your body. Up it to 3 sessions a week and you’ll be astounded with the results.

8. LIVE WITH PASSION

Did you know that having passion in your life can cut as much as 8 YEARS off your body age.

Yep just a little thing called passion. . . Passion is not something you can create but it is something everybody has.

The things you once felt passionate about might be hidden at the moment. They might have been pushed to the back of your mind behind work, kids, money problems, stress, family drama the list goes on and on.

But now its time. Time for you to regain all those things you felt passionate about.

Make a list of things you would do if you had absolutely nothing else you HAD to do. Money isn’t an object. Time isn’t an object.

Make a list of things that bring you joy, things that make time fly, things that make all the worries in the world fade away. . .

Those are your passions.

Rediscover them, incorporate them into your life and live a happier and healthier life.

Weight Loss9. FLOSS YOUR TEETH

Flossing your teeth everyday can take as many as 5 YEARS off your body age. I’m a bit lazy when it comes to flossing but I’ve been shocked into action!

Flossing reaches the plaque your tooth brush doesn’t. Plaque is the main cause behind gum disease. . .

If you don’t floss you will miss the plaque on more than 1/3 of the your tooth’s surface!

Make it a routine to get flossing everytime you brush your teeth in the morning.

Get flossing and take off 5 years!

10. SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

Heaps of people have cupboard shelves full of herbs and spices that could be doing HEAPS for your body without you even realising it. Here are just some herbs and spices that have great health benefits:

* Cinnamon can regulate blood sugar and decrease cholesterol
* Ginger can reduce your risk of cancer
* Paprika and Cayenne Pepper can improve circulation and high blood pressure
* Curry Powder can reduce your risk of Alzheimers Disease
* Rosemary can improve memory, assist circulation and relieve muscle pain
* Psyllium Husk is high in fibre which helps digestion and decreases cholesterol

Ok so there is 10 things you can do to take YEARS off your body’s age.

Always remember that you only have one body. Treat it well and it will give you a long, healthy life.

Ok so overall the 5 main factors of a healthy life are:

1. A healthy, balanced Diet
2. Regular Exercise
3. Sleep and Sex
4. Meditation
5. Vitamins

This stuff is life changing guys! Don’t skim read and shrug it off. These small steps make your body healthy, your life happier and help you live long.

To read more about living a healthy life and taking years of your body age read Dr Oz’s book ‘You Staying Young.’ Click the link below for more info.

]]> http://theultimateweightlosssecret.com/blog/how-to-live-longer-10-simple-steps/feed/ 0 http://theultimateweightlosssecret.com/weight-loss-diets/benefits-of-a-high-fibre-diet/ http://theultimateweightlosssecret.com/weight-loss-diets/benefits-of-a-high-fibre-diet/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:00:00 +0000 admin http://theultimateweightlosssecret.com/uncategorized/benefits-of-a-high-fibre-diet/

Fibre is a crucial element to any healthy diet and unfortunately it is too often overlooked! Fibre is useful in a weight loss diet for many reasons including:

** It keeps your digestive system functioning effectively which gives you a healthier body

** A diet rich in fibre can help prevent digestion related conditions such as haemorrhoids (definitely don’t want those) and constipation (again no thanks).

** Eating a fibre-rich/low fat diet has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer

** High fibre foods fill you up quickly which is great when you are wanting to cut down your food intake and lose weight

** Many foods that are high in fibre are also low in fat and calories

** Fibre can help stabilize blood sugar levels

** High fibre is linked to low cholesterol levels

Read on for your HIGH FIBRE SHOPPING LIST

High Fibre Foods

Wholemeal/Whole grain breads
Wholemeal pasta
Wholemeal flour
Oats
Bran Flakes
Flaxseed
Brown Rice

Kidney Beans
Lentils
Almonds
Sunflower Seeds
Chickpeas

Bananas
Apples
Orange
Berries
Pear

Corn
Spinach
Peas
Potato (with skin)
Sweet Potato
Cauliflower
Broccoli

So there you go. . . Regardless of whether you are on a weight loss diet or simply trying to lead a healthy lifestyle incorporating these foods is a great idea!

Smoothies are delicious and great for people who are trying to lose weight. People are often asking us how to make diet shakes – well here you have it. Diet shakes are great as a healthy snack, a kick start breakfast or simply a light meal – not to mention they are YUUUUMMMMY!

The most important part about diet shakes is keeping the ingredients low in fat, low in sugar and obviously low in calories. Is your head spinning?

WAIT before you go running for the stores to grab the closest artificial, pre packaged shake read the rest of this article. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make a delicious diet shake fresh from your kitchen.

First you’ll need a blender or food processer. These can be found in basically any department store with a homeware area. I know we bought ours for like $35 AUD a few months ago so they’re hardly a huge expense.

Now the ingredients . . .

You want to steer clear of fatty, sugary ingredients – this will completely defeat the purpose of the diet shake. Below are a list of ingredients you might like to include in your weight loss smoothie.

How To Make Diet Shakes – Your Cheat Sheet Shopping List

Banana
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Mango
Kiwifruit
Pineapple
Figs
Pear
Pomegranates
Melons
Persimmons

Flaxseed Oil
Protein Powder (low carb/lite)
Skim or No Fat Milk
Low Fat Soy Milk
Low Fat or No Fat Yoghurt
Cinammon
Natural Honey
Oats or Muesli

Try these combinations for a yummy weight loss smoothie …

Berry Delight (diet shake recipe)

1/2 Banana
3/4 Cup Frozen Berries
1/4 Cup No Fat Yoghurt (strawberry flavour)
1/2 Cup Skim Milk
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

Tropical Sun (diet shake recipe)

1/2 Banana
1/4 Mango
1 Pineapple ring
1/2 Cup Organic Orange Juice (no added preservatives, sweeteners etc)
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

Kiwi Time (diet shake recipe)

1/2 Banana
1 Kiwifruit
1/2 Cup Chopped Strawberry
1/2 Cup Skim Milk
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

Breakfast Dream (diet shake recipe)

1/2 Banana
1/2 Cup Strawberry
1 Tablespoon Oats
1/2 Cup Skim Milk
1 Tablespoon Vanilla No Fat Yoghurt
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

Creamy Winter Treat (diet shake recipe)

1 Banana
1/2 Teaspoon Cinammon
1 Teaspoon Natural Honey
1 Tablespoon Oats
2 Tablespoons Vanilla No Fat Yoghurt
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

Tangy Surprise (diet shake recipe)

1/2 Banana
1 Pineapple Ring
1/4 Mango
1/4 Cup Strawberries
1 Cup Organic Orange Juice (no added preservatives, sweeteners etc)
1 Teaspoon Flaxseed Oil
Ice

How To Make Diet Shakes – Tips

* If you like your Diet Shakes thick add ice cubes to the mixture when you pop it in the blender

* Flaxseed Oil is a great source of Omega 6 and 9 and can help cure and/or avoid a range of health ailments

* Try adding a scoop of protein powder to your shake (particularly if you are taking it as a meal) to help you feel fuller

* For the sweet toothers out there add a drop of vanilla essence to your smoothie

* Another great tip to make your diet shake extra creamy is to freeze your low fat/no fat yoghurt then scoop it out like ice cream

* If you are short of time chop up your fruits on Monday and keep in airtight containers in the fridge so you can just blend when you need

If you want to get a whole BOOK of smoothie recipes we’ve found what you need. The Ultimate Smoothie Book has over 120 recipes – talk about endless diet shakes! Click the link below for more info:

Lunches are an easy time to succumb to naughty treats so make sure you prepare a lunch before you go to work to avoid temptation. This easy salad sandwich weight loss recipe is great for you waistline but will also fill you up. Check it out

Salad Sandwich

Ingredients

2 Slices Wholemeal Bread
Lettuce
1/2 Tomato
4 Slices Cucumber
1/4 Avocado
1 Teaspoon Low Fat/No Fat Mayo

Method

Spread 1 teaspoon of low fat or no fat mayo on 1 or both of the slices of bread. Layer on the vegetables and slice in half. Wrap in gladwrap or put in an airtight container to keep it fresh for lunchtime.

Have this and a serving of fruit for your lunch