A Better Health List

To continue with the ideas from last week’s post, I want to share with you a list of great health and longevity methods from Joel Fuhrman’s book Eat To Live, and from Lisa Walford’s book The Longevity Diet, as well as from my own experience.

1. Try to keep your daily calories intake to 30-40% less than average (for me, that’s 1500 to 1750 calories per day)

2 Know that your body, over time, will adjust to fewer calories.

3. Raw vegetables are the biggest anti-cancer foods that exist.

4. Make a written contract with yourself as to your health and eating habits and review it monthly.

5. No more than 10% of your diet should come from animal products. Meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs are all linked to arthritis, depression, and other diseases.

7. Studies show that as fruit and veggie consumption increases, chronic diseases, and pre-mature death decreases.

8. A poor diet can be connected to depression. Many times, a highly nutritious diet can help overcome depression.

9. Make a point to eat foods that help boost dopamine such as fish, turkey, eggs, beans and legumes, soy, coffee, green tea, seeds and nuts as well as those that boost serotonin such as whole wheat, brown rice, fresh vegetables (especially root crops and squash, apples, bananas, and other fresh fruit), chocolate (in moderation), ginseng, and peppermint. Turkey and eggs are linked to some nasty stuff though so keep your consumption of these two limited.

10. Regular cheese is one of the most dangerous foods in the world–only eat low-fat cheese, and very small portions.

11. High fiber foods prevent cancer (but it must come from foods not fiber supplements).

12. There are many huge benefits to eating broccoli.

13. People with cholesterol levels lower than 150 almost never have heart attacks.

14. Leafy greens are the most nutrient rich foods that exists.

15. The best advice for life is to use no oil because of its high calorie content per tablespoon.

16. There are great benefits to fasting (fast for 1 or 2 days twice a month–drink water only).

17. Ground flax seeds are much better than flax seed oil.

18. Try to eat one pound of greens per day.

19. Try to eat 100 grams of natural fiber per day.

20. Eat lots of strawberries, blueberries, and melons–these are great anti-cancer food.

21. There are virtually no heart attacks for vegetarians or people who get 10% or fewer calories from animal products.

22. Drink lots of water–1 1/2 to 2 liters per day.

23. Challenge yourself to try a six-week diet without any animal or dairy products except fish and Egg Beaters.

24. Don’t buy or bring foods into your house that are not healthy. Why tempt yourself?

25. Leave trays or bowls of fresh fruit and vegetable out on your desk or kitchen counter.

26. Last, but not least, your life will be greatly empowered in everything you do if you firmly set goals for great health.

I am so very happy that I came across these words of wisdom from these two great books because I had been out of the great health habit. As soon as I finished with this list I went to the kitchen and placed a cup of fruit and some veggies on a platter and starting eating. We all need big reminders of what is good for us since it’s so easy to change good habit into a bad one. I hope it hits you the same way and you take some good healthy actions for a long healthy life!