Dr. Oz, the renowned heart specialist and TV host, is always looking for new health secrets and superfoods. Over the past year he’s shared advice with us ranging from managing stress to eating for your heart. Here, we take a look back at the year and pull out seven of his most important, and groundbreaking, tips.
Dr. Oz's healthiest tips of 2012
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1. Use your imagination in bed
If you're trying to rekindle the flame in the bedroom, fire up your sexual imagination. Arousing thoughts can activate nerves in the body, increasing blood flow and sparking desire.
2. Spice up your food
Replace salt and sugar with spices like cinnamon, ginger or turmeric to broaden the flavour profile in your cooking. Not only can different seasonings make your food tastier, many have medicinal properties that provide extra health benefits.
3. Protect your skin naturally
Red, yellow and orange fruits and veggies contain lycopene, an antioxidant that can act as au natural protection against sunburn. Help protect your cells from sun damage with beta carotene, the culprit that gives orange foods their colour.
4. Build muscle
Find creative ways to buff up, like using an exercise ball instead of a chair or squeezing in some sit-ups and push-ups during commercials. Added muscle means burning more calories - up to three times more than fat!
5. Get great shut-eye
Make the most of your slumber by keeping your body temperature cool and limiting your exposure to blue light before bed. An hour before you hit the hay, turn the thermostat down to about 20 degrees Celsius or try using orange bulbs in your bedroom to help induce sleep.
6. Take control of stress
Kick your anger to the curb to help decrease stress in your life. Identify what is grinding your gears and decide what you can change to get rid of any negative emotions. Try out aromatherapy - essential oils like lavender and sandalwood have been shown to put the mind at ease.
7. Go nuts!
Eat nuts like almonds, pistachios, walnuts or Brazil nuts to get a higher intake of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, nutrients and protein. Limit your portions to two ounces a day and try eating a handful before a meal to help prevent eating too much.
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