A Simple Plan for a Healthy, Beautiful You

If you have been making changes to be your best you ever, then I want to make sure you continue! Stay on the path to a more nutritious life with tips inspired by my book, The O2 Diet.

The goal of The O2 Diet, is to translate cutting-edge science into a simple-to-follow lifestyle program that will leave you feeling more energetic, healthy and beautiful by choosing foods that are high in antioxidants.

The O2 Diet is not based on calorie counting. Instead it's based on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale, a calculus developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that measures how well a food protects against free radicals, which are the culprits behind many forms of cancer, heart disease, and symptoms of aging (yes, wrinkles!).

Research demonstrates that eating a high-ORAC diet increases the antioxidant power of human blood 10 to 25 percent, strengthening memory and cognition, preventing cancer and heart disease, improving skin and aiding weight loss.

When you choose foods like strawberries and blackberries, the antioxidants you ingest help fight disease as well as the skin's signs of aging. It's not that you can't have chocolate cake - you can make it one of your conscious indulgences under The 02 Diet. But you'll find that it's more empowering to choose foods that immediately make you feel and look good. Foods that top the list of most potent amounts of ORAC include blueberries, cranberries, red delicious apples, black beans, artichoke hearts and cinnamon.

5 great tips to start improving your life with The O2 Diet!

1. Drink water with True Lemon. One of the most common reasons people are sluggish in the afternoon is dehydration. If we don't drink enough water our bodies do not function properly, we become tired and don't metabolize food properly. Increase energy and boost metabolism by adding True Lemon packets to your water! True Lemon packets make it simple and convenient for you to get a quick antioxidant boost from the Vitamin C and make water all the more delicious.

2. Manage Your Stress. Stress increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our bodies, which in turn makes our bodies crave carbohydrates, specifically high sugar carbohydrates, and makes us store fat around the mid-section. Try to reduce stress by spending more time with your loved ones. Studies show that spending a few extra minutes relaxing with your spouse, family member (even your pet) can help your body generate more oxytocin, which acts as an antioxidant that calms and soothes your nerves.

3. Try to get more sleep. When you're well rested, you make better food choices and have more energy to take part in your favorite activities. When you're not well rested your defenses are down, you're more likely to overeat and make poor food choices.

Did you know that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help you get a better night's sleep? Yes, it's true! Studies show that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids kept cortisol and adrenaline from escalating. So next time you're planning dinner, try serving the high antioxidant Raspberry-Balsamic Salmon recipe with True Orange featured in The O2 Diet.

Include link to recipe

4. Really, exercise makes a difference! Aside from burning calories, exercise help release endorphins which make you feel good, motivate you to eat well and keep you feeling happy!

And when you're headed to the gym and hunger is beginning to strike, it's the perfect time to eat an apple! Studies show that apples contain a good amount of quercetin, an antioxidant based nutrient that boosts oxygen uptake and exercise endurance. Not only will the snack help curb your appetite, it will give you an added boost of energy and you'll be able to exercise longer without becoming fatigued.

5. Pamper yourself. Remember to treat yourself to something special! With all of the hard work you're doing, it's very important to reward yourself along the way.

A simple small indulgence, like my Face Scrub will make you look and feel great. The parsley contains vitamin C for antioxidant protection, and the rice powder removes the dull outer layer of skin to reveal the younger-looking layers underneath. But the real magic comes from the deep-penetrating avocado oil, which boosts the amount of collagen in your skin!

Go Green Face Scrub from The O2 Diet

1/4 cup avocado oil
1 teaspoon parsley
2 tablespoons rice powder

Blend for 20 seconds and apply to face. Rinse with warm water.

Today is a great day to start making YOURSELF a top priority!

By Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN. Author of the 02 Diet. Learn more at nutritiouslife.com.

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