YOU: on a Diet ( 03/01/08 - 05/31/08 )

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•Diet Devotion

Worry less about which diet to try and more about whether you can stick with it.

As long as a diet provides healthful and balanced nutrition, the type of diet you choose may not matter much to your long-term goals.

In a study, researchers found that diet adherence was a much more important factor than the kind
of diet people chose when it came to how much weight people lost.

Take stock of your eating preferences and lifestyle when you choose a diet.

Your ability to stay with it long term will depend in part on how easy you find the program to maintain.

Before you revamp your diet, consider the following questions:
Does the program entail cooking or pre-prepared foods? Will you be able to eat out?
Will you eventually feel deprived by the elimination of a food group?

You'll be more likely to stick with a diet that fits easily into your lifestyle and doesn't leave you feeling deprived.

A combination of balanced, nutritious eating habits and regular exercise remains your best defense against weight gain and related chronic diseases.

RealAge Benefit: Maintaining your weight and body mass index at a desirable level can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

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Think Fast: Snack on This

For speedier afternoon thinking, which snack should you choose -- a ripe banana or a chunk of cheddar cheese?

Go for the banana. Why? High-carb/low-fat foods test better than low-carb/high-fat diets when it comes to giving you a mental edge.

Combo Effect

Both low-carb/high-fat and high-carb/low-fat diets appear to perk up people’s moods, but when it comes to things like brain processing speeds, high-carb/low-fat foods beat others to the punch.

Makes sense. Carbs are a critical source of the type of energy that brains need to perform. Fat, on the other hand (especially saturated fat), seems to bog down the mind.

Go Bananas

Need more reasons to eat bananas? Besides making your wits quicker, they’ll also:

* Provide you with a healthy dose of vitamin B6, a nutrient credited with helping fend off Parkinson’s disease (Learn more about B6 and Parkinson’s.)
* Reduce your risk of kidney cancer (Here’s the 411 on this benefit.)
* Help keep your blood pressure steady because they’re full of potassium

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that includes 4 servings of fruit per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

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Whole grains help deflate belly rolls
Study of obese adults also found reduced inflammation in blood vessels

Wed., Feb. 20, 2008

Cutting calories helps people lose weight, but doing so by filling up on whole grains may be particularly heart-healthy, new research suggests.

In a study of obese adults at risk of heart disease, researchers found that those who trimmed calories and increased their whole-grain intake shed more belly fat and lowered their blood levels of C-reactive protein or CRP.

CRP is a marker of chronic, low-level inflammation in the blood vessels, and both abdominal fat and CRP, in excess, are linked to heart attack and stroke.


Story continues here:
Whole grains help deflate belly rolls - Diet and nutrition - MSNBC.com

[jezzie]

Tea time

If you're not a coffee drinker, there's another steamy brew with multiple health benefits and less need for moderation. The health benefits of tea are widely established and are likely due to antioxidant flavonoids, as well as possibly the caffeine.

Tea contains less caffeine than coffee, though, so you can drink more without worrying about excessive caffeine intake. Green tea can contain anywhere from 9 to 50 milligrams per 8-ounce serving while black tea typically contains between 42 to 72 milligrams per cup.

The well-established health benefits of tea include:

• decreased risk of LDL cholesterol oxidation and improved blood lipids after eating a high-fat meal, which may in part translate into reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• decreased risk of heart attack and stroke

Regular tea drinkers might also have:

• a possible decreased risk of Parkinson's disease
• a possible decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease

Although several compounds in tea have been found to have anticancer properties in both cell and animal studies, no definitive evidence exists yet proving tea's anticancer potential in humans. Larger studies are needed to prove or disprove these findings. RA


The downside of caffeine

Caffeine may cause:

• nervous, jittery feelings
• sleeplessness
• rapid heartbeat
• increased blood pressure
• stomach upset

Caffeine may not be recommended for people who have:

• overactive bladder
• heartburn
• high blood pressure
• arrhythmia
• anxiety disorder
• insomnia

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Pumpkins: Not Just for Pie Anymore!

Thanks to their newfound superfood status, pumpkins will be spending less time on the front porch and more time on dinner menus this fall. Plus, they're amazingly versatile: Pureed, mashed, or cubed, pumpkin’s mildly sweet taste can go even sweeter or savory, depending on how you spice it.

• At restaurants, look for pumpkin soups, breads, and muffins; pumpkin-flavored pasta dishes (think gnocchi or ravioli); and decadent pumpkin-based desserts, from cheesecake to gelato.
• At home, keep a few cans of pumpkin puree on hand, and stir a big spoonful into almost anything: soups, stews, yogurt, curries, pancakes, even meatball mixtures.

In fact, there may be nothing you can't pump up with pumpkin -- including coffee: The Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks boosted the chain's sales 11% when it debuted! Need an extra prod to try pumpkin in something besides pie? Here are half a dozen reasons to go for the gourd:

1. It gives your immune system a flu-season boost. A 1/2-cup serving of pumpkin delivers a boatload of immune-boosting vitamins and nutrients, including alpha carotene and beta carotene, vitamin C, iron, and enough vitamin A to last you 3 days!

2. It fills you up for very few calories. Half a cup of Libby's canned 100% pumpkin puree packs 5 grams of stomach-satisfying fiber (20% of the recommended daily intake) for only 40 calories. In comparison, a slice of whole-wheat bread has 2 grams of fiber and 70 calories.

3. It's got the goods to protect your vision. Pumpkin delivers a duo of sight-saving carotenoid antioxidants (lutein and beta cryptoxanthin) that reduce the risk of age-related cataracts and sight-stealing macular degeneration.

4. It keeps your body humming. Pumpkin is a great source of potassium, which keeps your cells, nerves, and muscles running smoothly. Healthy potassium levels also help keep blood pressure in check and can lower the odds of stroke and heart disease.

5. It could cut your cancer risk. A diet high in carotenoids can lower the risk of breast cancer. And beta cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that's particularly plentiful in pumpkin, may help protect against lung cancer. Aim to get your beta carotene from foods like pumpkin, since supplements don't offer the same cancer protection.

6. It gives your bones a little extra love. You'll also pick up a little extra bone-building calcium with each serving. Plus, beta cryptoxanthin defends against joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis.

P.S. -- Wondering about canned versus fresh pumpkin? Canned is a little less sweet but, surprisingly, it's a little more nutritious. It has more fiber, beta carotene, potassium, iron, and folate than fresh. It also wins huge points for convenience!

And all that filling fiber pays off in more ways than appetite control: Eating a high-fiber diet can make your RealAge up to 3.5 years younger.

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•A Treat That's Liver-Friendly

Your liver does oh so many things for your body -- from filtering your blood to pumping out bile so you can digest fats.

So do something nice for your liver. Treat it to a fruit-and-yogurt parfait. People who regularly eat fruit and yogurt may have a lower risk of liver cancer than people who don't indulge in these good-for-you treats.

Have Half a Cupful

You don't have to go hog wild for fruit and yogurt to help your liver; even a small amount may be good. In a study, people with various medical conditions (that didn't involve the liver) who ate just half a cup of yogurt and over 5 ounces of fruit a week (about the equivalent of a large apple) had a lower risk of liver cancer.

Good Things Inside

Researchers have yet to pinpoint why yogurt may have an impact on liver health. It could have something to do with retinol, the animal-based form of vitamin A found in yogurt, milk, and eggs.

In previous studies, retinol has been linked to a reduction in the risk of liver cancer. The cell-protecting flavonoids found in abundance in fruit may be what makes them liver savers.

RealAge Benefit: Eating 5 servings of fruit a day can make your RealAge 1.4 years younger.

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Athens, Ga. – Sedentary people who regularly complain of fatigue can increase their energy levels by 20 percent and decrease their fatigue by 65 percent by engaging in regular, low intensity exercise, according to a new University of Georgia study.

“Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out – especially when we are already feeling fatigued,” said researcher Tim Puetz, who recently completed his doctorate at UGA and is the lead author of the study. “However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy – particularly in sedentary individuals.”

O’Connor said previous studies – including one that he and Puetz co-authored in 2006 – have shown that exercise can significantly improve energy levels and decrease fatigue. Those studies, however, primarily looked at patients with medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease and mental health problems. In this latest study, the researchers studied volunteers who had fatigue that was persistent yet didn’t meet the criteria for a medical condition such as chronic fatigue syndrome. O’Connor said about 25 percent of the general population experiences such fatigue.

“A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough,” O’Connor said. “Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There’s a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.”

Low-intensity exercise reduces fatigue symptoms by 65 percent, study finds

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The Top 3 Veggie Burgers

In the beginning, there was the Gardenburger. Today, there are more kinds of veggie burgers in the frozen-food aisle than you can shake a drumstick at.

But the perennial question remains: Do they taste good? Yes -- at least the good ones do. And while they can be microwaved in a flash (a big plus when time's tight) like any burger, they taste even better if you throw them on the grill -- Weber or Foreman -- indoors or out.

To rate the tastes, we picked up where the experts left off: with two recent flavor tests done by Vegetarian Times and Consumer Reports. We started with each of their top five picks and did follow-up tests to narrow down to the best.

And the Winners Are . . .

RealAge Gold: Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patties
110 cal., 3.5 grams fat, 350 milligrams sodium, 10 grams protein

This burger was seriously underrated in previous surveys; just don't expect it to taste anything like a BK Whopper. This is a real vegetable burger, with visible chunks of carrots, olives, chestnuts, and bell peppers. Once bitten into, the chewy, nongreasy burger unleashes a veggie flavor that’s a real standout. Plus, it's a bit lower in calories than many others.

RealAge Silver: Quorn Chick'n Patties
150 cal., 6 grams fat, 400 milligrams sodium, 9 grams protein

It’s possible that these taste better than chick'n! The soy-free patty cooks up crispy outside and juicy inside. Wrap it in warm pita bread with all the fixings, or chop it up and throw it in a spinach salad with some goat cheese and dried cranberries, or have it for breakfast on a whole-wheat English muffin.

One note: Quorn and most meatless "chicken" is made from mycoprotein, a fermented fungus that sounds icky but tastes surprisingly good. However, it has triggered food allergies in some people (as does soy, occasionally). There were zero problems in the tests, but still, better to be aware.

RealAge Bronze: Boca All American Flame Grilled
90 cal., 3 grams fat, 280 milligrams sodium, 14 grams protein

This one's for the beef lovers. Boca seems to have perfected the traditional, fast-food, charbroiled flavor, complete with the juiciness of fat without the actual grease.
This soy-protein burger is as close to the real thing as you can get without eating red meat. It's also lower in calories and sodium than most of the brands tested, as well as higher in protein.

And if you've still got a soft spot for Gardenburger, try their Savory Portabella. It's low in calories (90) and came in fifth in our taste test, right after Boca Spicy Chik'n Patties.

For a tasty veggie burger with less salt, try:
Morningstar Farms Grillers Original, which came in 7th on our taste test.
130 cal., 6 grams fat, 260 milligrams sodium, 15 grams protein

The Other Reward
Making at least some of your burgers veggie burgers does your body good in a simple, powerful way: Avoiding the saturated fat that red meat's filled with can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

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Blood Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

It's great on french toast. It's lovely in apple pies, oatmeal, and eggnog. And now, it may be good for your blood sugar, too.

Give up? It's cinnamon. People with diabetes who eat three-eighths of a teaspoon a day enjoy better blood sugar levels after a little over a month. Here's what else will get your blood sugar under control.

It's In Your Blood

How does cinnamon work its magic? Researchers aren't sure yet. It's possible that something in cinnamon helps make insulin receptors more sensitive. But more research is needed before doctors recommend it as a mainstay of diabetes treatment. Still, there are lots of other ways to help stabilize your blood sugar levels and keep type 2 diabetes at bay.

True Diabetes Dashers

* Change the way you eat. A balanced, moderate diet is key to preventing and controlling the disease.
* Find your workout soul mate. Regular exercise helps improve your blood sugar profile.
* Trim -- just a little. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your body weight could help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent! And maintaining a healthy weight helps control the disease if you already have it.

Did You Know?

To thwart diabetes, you don't have to give up bread. Just eat the right kind.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that is low in calories and high in nutrients can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

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Eat Bread, Fight Diabetes

Not just any bread. Eat the hearty whole-grain breads -- and cereals, pastas, pilafs, et al. -- that heart experts are so high on.

Not only are whole-grain foods much more nutritious and fiber-rich than processed white-flour products, but a new study shows they may help fight factors that can lead to diabetes, from blood sugar spikes to overeating. If you're even remotely at risk for diabetes, aim for about 6 servings of whole grains daily.

Whole grains are crammed with fiber, B vitamins, and minerals (selenium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, and zinc).

This potent combination of nutrients helps regulate blood sugar and insulin, curb appetite, control cholesterol, and lower homocysteine, a substance strongly linked with heart disease, according to a major new study of almost 1,000 men and women.

No wonder nutritionists have been chanting the whole-grain mantra for years. But now diabetes experts are chanting along with them.

RealAge Benefit: A diet that includes 6 servings of whole grains per day can make your RealAge up to 4 years younger.

[jezzie]

The Crazy-Quick Way to Healthier Arteries

Here's a gift you have to get for yourself this holiday season: 8 weeks.

Why? Because if you challenge yourself to eat better and exercise more, after just 8 short weeks of good habits, your arteries will start to become more elastic.

Cardio Tune-Up

When arteries are flexible and stretchy, they hold up better to wear and tear, and your heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood.

Think of them like you would a rubber garden hose: One that's soft and flexible -- not stiff and brittle -- is far less likely to bust and cause water pressure problems.

After just 8 weeks of eating a Mediterranean-style diet and doing something active, like walking every day, you can make all your internal hoses more elastic. Sounds like time well spent!

Another Benefit

Just as great -- after 8 weeks, exercise starts to feel easier because you've boosted your exercise capacity. You'll feel so good, you won't want to quit your new healthy habits. Make a commitment today to start diving into your RealAge Plan as part of your New Year's resolutions.

RealAge Benefit: Developing a RealAge Plan can make your RealAge as much as 29 years younger.

[jezzie]

Why You Should Eat What You Crave

You've been told way too often to resist cravings. You know: "When cookies call, munch on carrots. When ice cream screams, scoop up some cottage cheese." Yeah, right.

Better advice: When you've just gotta have it, give in -- but eat the healthiest version of whatever it is you're lusting after. And try to buy a single portion so there are no leftovers to tempt you the next day when the crisis has passed.

Some yummy options:

If Only Chocolate Will Do
Go For: Hershey's Antioxidant Milk Chocolate or Dove Dark Chocolate Singles (1.3 oz. bars)
Why: You'll be feasting on flavonols -- the compounds that make dark chocolate so heart-healthy. Dove and other dark chocolates have flavonols naturally, but Hershey's recently added them to its milk chocolate bar for those who prefer moo juice in their candy. Bonus: Both come in at under 200 calories, while other popular candy bars push the 300-calorie mark.

If Only Real Ice Cream Will Do
Go For: Blue Bunny Personals Double Strawberry Light or a small cone at Dairy Queen
Why: The portions are perfect. A container of Blue Bunny Personals holds just a single cup -- technically two servings, but at 200 calories and 4 grams of fat, you can polish it off in one sitting without guilt. If you want the ice cream–stand experience, a small soft-serve Dairy Queen chocolate or vanilla cone will lick your craving for 230 to 240 calories and 7 to 8 grams of fat.

If Only Cookies Will Do
Go For: Nabisco 100% Whole Grain Fig Newtons Minis
Why: They contain whole grains, fiber, vitamin A -- you even get calcium without having to dunk them in milk. Each 130-calorie packet of eight cookies delivers 150 milligrams of the mighty mineral -- about as much as 4 ounces of skim milk. The only drawback: They're sold in six-packs, so share the extras with fellow cookie-cravers.

If Only a Doughnut Will Do
Go For: Entenmann's Softee Plain Donut Singles or Krispy Kreme's Whole Wheat Glazed
Why: At 180 calories, the whole-wheat doughnut appears to be one of the skinniest, healthiest options sold individually. Plus, Krispy Kreme recently stopped stuffing its doughnuts with scary trans fat. Entenmann's doughnuts, too, are free of trans fat, though, for mysterious reasons, the "singles" come two to a pack -- so share one with a friend and you'll eat only 170 calories each.

If Only Pie Will Do
Go For: A slice of pumpkin or blueberry
Why: Choose pumpkin and you'll get a serving of veggies (thanks to the pumpkin, which is packed with vitamin A) and quite a bit of calcium (courtesy of evaporated milk) for about 230 calories, no matter which brand you buy. Remember: Just fork over the cash for a slice, not the whole deep dish. If you can handle 270 or so calories, blueberry pie is a healthy alternative -- the berries are chock-full of cancer-fighting antioxidants.

If Only Chips Will Do
Go For: A 1.1 oz. bag of Baked Lays
Why: Even though they're totally free of saturated and trans fat -- few other brands can claim that -- they taste good. So good that you need to buy the 130-calorie single-serve bag. With the family size, it's practically impossible to stop crunching till you get to the bottom of the bag.

The payoff for indulging like a smart cookie? Avoiding saturated and trans fats -- which most of the above snacks do completely, and even the few exceptions aren't outrageous -- can make your RealAge more than 4 years younger.

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Antioxidant benefits of POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice top red wine, grape and acai juices

New testing methodology reveals POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice has superior antioxidant power compared to other beverages and is the only pomegranate juice guaranteed to contain 100% pomegranate juice

LOS ANGELES (February 28, 2008) – A recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that pomegranate juice from the California-grown Wonderful variety of pomegranate is the leader in the healthy beverage category by demonstrating the most complete free radical scavenging activity, greater protection of LDL-cholesterol from oxidation, and the highest polyphenol content compared to red wine and several juices.

The study, led by Dr. David Heber at the Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, found that POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice tested higher in overall phenolic content and antioxidant activity than red wine and Concord grape, blueberry and orange juices. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice even ranked higher than other beverages that have recently been touted as containing superior levels of antioxidants such as acai juice and white and green teas.

Unlike all previous studies that only included one test against these other types of beverages, this Heber study conducted a series of seven tests on all the beverages, resulting in a novel and more accurate methodology.

“Often times, a beverage will make a claim about its superior antioxidant content based on the results of one test alone that provides the highest antioxidant capacity,” said Dr. Heber. “What is important about this study is that all the beverages included were run against several tests resulting in a more complete assessment of a beverage’s antioxidant activity and capability.”

Antioxidant benefits of POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice top red wine, grape and acai juices

[jezzie]

All About YOU: Yo-ga! Yo-ga! Yo-ga!

These days, yoga gets more love than whoever’s starring in The Bachelor. And for good reason.

Yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers heart rate, decreases stress hormones, and increases three relax-it’s-okay compounds.

The Feel-Good Three

Talk about a natural high. Yoga has been shown to boost blood levels of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins -- three natural feel-good substances.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel cheerful and content. Dopamine is a brain chemical closely tied to the pleasure centers of the brain. And endorphins? Those are the opiate-like compounds that produce a sense of well-being. Go big three!

Quick Start
And the best news: You can get the benefits of yoga from a single exercise or a full-fledged class.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

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Sit up straight with your head and shoulders facing forward.

Place your right hand on top of your computer monitor.

Next, slowly raise your left arm straight above your head.

Gently stretch your left arm backward as far as is comfortable.

Hold for three seconds and then switch

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Restaurants and YOU

Eating out can be a great experience -- except for your waistline.

With Rushmore-sized portions and dietary disasters larding every menu, restaurants are dangerous places. Learn how to get your priorities straight when choosing where to dine out.

And since most mistakes are made within the first and last 10 minutes of any restaurant experience, use these YOU tips for bookending meals the right way:

* Skip the free bread and ask for cut-up raw vegetables instead.
* Order oil and vinegar on the side and dress the salad lightly yourself -- relying on the server or chef to do so gets you about 400 extra calories per salad.
* Ask to replace the potato or rice with sautèed vegetables.
* If you really want dessert, order one for the table and have just a few bites.

More: When life steers you out of the kitchen, here are your best bets for a few of the more common restaurant choices. Also, don't forget to steer clear of anything that has fried in the description.

Mexican: Fajitas, black beans, refried beans (no lard), avocados, guacamole, brown rice, jicama, grilled chicken or fish, ceviche, camarones, and arroz con pollo.

Italian: Sauteed vegetables, salad, seafood salad, fish with olive oil, whole-wheat pasta with marinara sauce.

Mediterranean: Hummus (chickpeas), tahini (sesame paste), tabbouleh (cracked-wheat salad) bean soup, lentils.

Asian: Seaweed salad, sea vegetables, miso soup, edamame, sashimi, any vegetables that are not fried, such as bok choy, bamboo shoots, green beans, snow peas and water chestnuts, fresh spring rolls, moo shu chicken or vegetables, and drunken chicken.

[jezzie]

•The Best Way to Prepare Garlic

Garlic lovers rejoice. Here's some good news for your heart and your breath.

Lightly cooking garlic to help soften the smell won't rob it of those heart-protective compounds known as thiosulfinates.

So you can cut back on the mints and start feeling better about baking, boiling, or sauteing it. Just don't microwave it. Wondering why?

Get a Crush on Garlic

When researchers set out to see how various preparation methods affected garlic's ability to break up clusters of artery-clogging platelets in the bloodstream, they tried boiling, baking, and microwaving both crushed and uncrushed garlic cloves.

Lightly cooked crushed garlic aced the test -- as long as it wasn't cooked in the microwave. This cooking method sapped the garlic of all its good-for-you attributes.

No matter how you serve it up, always crush garlic first. Crushing the cloves is what releases the beneficial thiosulfinates in the first place.

RealAge Benefit: Training your taste buds to love foods that thwart aging can make your RealAge at least 3 years younger.

[jezzie]

Mondays Menu

Pre-Breakfast:
2 cups two thirds decaf with almnd and evap. milk
almnds

Breakfast:
1 fried egg
old fashioned oatmeal w/cinnamon, buckwheat honey
Mineola orange

Pre-Lunch:
wasabi edamame, walnut, pmpkin seed mixed

Lunch:
Healthy Harvest rotini in Classico hot sauce w/parmesan
sliced red pepper in ex vir olv oil & apple cider vinegar

Pre-Dinner:
organic plain yogurt w/pineapple added
banana

Dinner:
turkey breast, 1/2 sweet potato, green beens
5.5 oz. V-8 juice

[jezzie]

Tuesdays Menu

Pre-Breakfast:
2 cups two thirds decaf with almnd and evap. milk
almnds

Breakfast:
1 fried egg
old fashioned oatmeal w/cinnamon, buckwheat honey
Mineola orange

Pre-Lunch:
wasabi edamame, walnut, pmpkin seed mixed

Lunch:
Healthy Harvest rotini in Classico hot sauce w/parmesan
sliced red pepper in ex vir olv oil & red wine vinegar

* organic ice cream sandwich after shopping

Pre-Dinner:
organic plain yogurt w/pineapple added

Dinner:
brown rice, black beans, topped w/2% cheddar
5.5 oz. V-8 juice


* ice cream was off plan (13 grams sugar) - however I would rather
have real ice cream every other month than a substitute every week.

[jezzie]

The "10-20" Rule for Better Calorie Control

If you’re trimming your waist by keeping an eye on the calories you eat, that’s a good step. But do you know how many calories you drink?

When a label isn’t at the ready, use the "10-20" rule of thumb: Figure 10 calories per ounce for most "thin" drinks (sodas, juice, milk, etc.) and 20 per ounce for thicker ones (smoothies, shakes, etc.).

Your Calorie Calculator

Sugar-free sodas and teas aside, that means a regular 32-ounce Coke from the drive-thru window would have roughly 320 calories according to Brian Wansink, PhD, inventor of the "10-20" rule and author of Mindless Eating.

Wansink also advocates adding ice to all your beverages to help you burn off a few of those calories.
"Since your body has to use energy to heat up an iced beverage, you actually burn about one calorie for every ice-cold ounce you drink," Wansink writes.

Beverage of Choice

Of course, nothing beats a tall glass of ice water when you’re trying to whittle your waist.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that is low in calories and high in nutrients can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

[jezzie]

Can You Get Your Hair Back?

Bald can be beautiful. But for men and women, the prospect of losing one's hair usually is not a welcome thought. Although it is common to lose up to one hundred hairs per day, you may be looking at the hairs in your shower drain and wondering if there is something more you could be doing to control it.

If you are losing more hair than you think is normal, your first step is to uncover the reasons for your hair loss. The sooner you find this out, the sooner you can control it.

Get to the root of the problem

A certain amount of hair thinning is a natural part of the aging process for some people. However, if you have sudden or patchy hair loss, a doctor appointment is in order. Sudden hair loss or patchy hair loss can result from an underlying disease, toxicity, or condition.

For example, skin conditions such as vitiligo, autoimmune disorders such as Addison's disease or alopecia areata, and certain thyroid conditions all can cause sudden or uneven hair loss.

Food for thought

Could