• Increase your mental focus and clarity. With greater focus and clarity you can: 1) perform better at work, thus getting the promotion or raise you deserve; 2) remain peaceful and calm even on those hectic days at work or with the kids; 3) beat your grandma at Scrabble, beat the stock market, or beat a pressing deadline.
• Help control your weight, even if your diet isn't perfect. Regular exercise can let you eat more and still lose weight.
• Reduce your risk of heart attack, colon cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis-related conditions, and even Alzheimer's disease. Exercise allows you to lead a longer, healthier, happier life, free from worry about disease, pain, and ill health.
• Increase your energy levels and improve your mood. People will love being around you and perhaps envy your happiness.
• Naturally relieve stress so you can live a worry-free, happy life and finally experience peace of mind.
• Enjoy a deeper sleep and wake up feeling refreshed, ready for what the new day has to offer!

JayTip #2

TAKE TIME OUT
 

• Creating a calming environment for yourself. Whether you prefer ambient music, candlelight, or inspirational art, make your home or office a place you can relax so that you feel calmer and more peaceful throughout your day.
• Practicing regular relaxation techniques. Whether you prefer yoga, aromatherapy, deep breathing, prayer, massage, or meditation, your daily routine should include a regular de-stressor to keep your stress levels low and your energy and concentration levels at their peak condition.
• Making healthy food choices. If you avoid sugar and caffeine, you'll also avoid the severe ups and downs they cause in your energy levels. Sidestep moodiness and depression by drinking herbal tea instead, for a stability that comes from inside you.
• Learning to prioritize. Make yourself a list of tasks for the day, prioritize them, and get them done, so you feel happier and more productive at the end of the day.

JayTip #3

DON'T FORGET THE FIBER
 

The old saying, "you are what you eat" can be alarming if you don't make a point of eating right. A lot of people are comfortable eating jelly-filled doughnuts, but who would want to look like a 150-pound doughnut? Living a healthy, happy life is about more than observing regular times of physical activity and relaxation. It means eating the types of food that will help your body operate at top efficiency. That means you must focus on fiber. The Institute of Medicine and Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends approximately 30 grams of fiber per day (depending on gender and age), ^iv but the average American eats less than half of that amount. You may already know that fiber has digestive benefits and helps promote regularity. But beyond preventing constipation, fiber also keeps cholesterol and glucose levels normalized, helps prevent ulcers and diabetes, and reduces risks of chronic health problems such as colon cancer and heart disease.

• Eating whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juices, so you can get all the slimming benefits of fiber and leave behind the extra calories.

• Snacking on raw vegetables, instead of your usual chips, candy, or crackers.

• Choosing whole grains rather than eating white rice, pasta, and bread. You'll feel full quicker and stay full longer, so you can lose weight more easily.

• Increasing your intake of high-fiber foods like celery, sweet potatoes, asparagus, snow peas, green beans, bananas, mangoes, pumpkins, and mushrooms.

• Take a fiber supplement such as flax seeds or psyllium seed husks.

• Reading food labels. Become more aware of your fiber intake, so you can be proactive in making good health decisions for a happier, slimmer life.

Q:  I am experiencing a lot of gas and bloating. My neighbor says this could be caused by a gluten intolerance. How would I know if this is true, and if it is, what should I do?

A:  Gluten is a protein contained in the grains wheat, barley, rye, and oats. It's unique because its structure gives the flours from these grains a doughy elasticity. It's true that some individuals suffer from gluten intolerance, also known as Celiac disease, which is a genetic disorder afflicting approximately 1 in 133 people in the United States. One symptom of Celiac disease is bloating; however, there are many more symptoms. These symptoms, resulting from the improper digestion of gluten, include diarrhea, weight loss, malnutrition, bone pain, constipation, gaseousness, nausea (with or without vomiting), heartburn, fatigue, and general ill health. ^vi

If you are suffering from a combination of these symptoms, you may want to have your doctor do a blood test for gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease. If you do have gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, you should avoid all products that contain gluten. It may seem shocking, but if a gluten-intolerant person continues consuming gluten, his or her chances of developing gastrointestinal cancer increase dramatically. ^vii