Are You A Food Slave?

It was 1492 when Christopher Columbus discovered Indians living in the place he called the New World, but it wasn't until 1776 that we the people of the United States became free from British rule. By fighting for our freedom, we created a free nation. But are we really free? I say no. We may no longer be under British rule, but we are still slaves ruled by our addictions—especially our addiction to food!

Freedom means we can do as we choose, but every day millions of Americans choose to eat the junk foods that have allowed our great nation to become weak from poor health and high levels of body fat. Most health problems in America are fueled by our massive consumption of junk food. And because of our poor eating habits, over two-thirds of our nation is now overweight, and almost one-third of those individuals are considered obese. In other words, two out of three people you see on the street are considered overweight and one in three is medically obese. But we can turn this problem around, one person at a time.

To reduce your salt intake you can:
 

• Be aware: Take control of your health. Read labels when you go shopping to find out just how much sodium is contained in your favorite prepared TV dinner or a can of chicken soup (don't be surprised if half a cup of soup is half your daily sodium allowance). If you must buy prepared or canned foods, improve your health by choosing sodium-free or low-sodium options. ⁱⁱ You can also rinse canned vegetables to let some of the salt drain away.
   
• Skip the salt: When cooking at home, leave the salt out of the recipe! Except for baked goods, most foods will turn out fine without it. Flavor your food with other spices and herbs for a quick, tasty way to reduce the sodium in your diet. And don't cheat by using the salt shaker at the table! If you're accustomed to salting your food, you might think it's too bland at first, but after a few weeks, your taste buds will readjust. Soon, you will be able to enjoy the natural flavors of the food you're eating, instead of disguising it with salt. ⁱⁱⁱ
   
• Eat fresh foods: Buy fresh meats and vegetables which have not been processed with preservatives and are naturally nearly sodium-free. As an added bonus, fresh foods taste better than prepared foods! Cook at home for healthy meals and the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what is going into your food. ^iv
   
• Watch for low-fat offenders: Because low-fat foods are generally considered less flavorful than their full-fat counterparts, manufacturers often add extra sodium in an attempt to enhance the flavor. Be aware of this tendency, so you can avoid the worst offenders: Check the label before you buy a new low-fat product and end up with half the fat and twice the sodium.
   
• Splurge occasionally: If it's hard for you to think of life without the salty treats you love, offer yourself a once-a-week free meal reward for sticking with your diet, as suggested in The Fat Burning Diet and The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy. It's good motivation to keep your sodium intake low for the rest of the week and gives you something to look forward to when you do well!

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JayTip #2

GO GREEK: TRY MEDITERRANEAN FOODS FOR A HEALTHY HEART
 

Have you struggled with heart troubles? Are you at risk for heart disease? Does arthritis pain you? Would you like to lose weight? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the best thing you can do to improve your health is to focus on your diet. The health of your entire body is directly related to your diet, and people in many regions of the world have figured out how to harness the power of food to afford them maximum benefit.

The Mediterranean region is well known for its low rate of aging ailments, which scientists say is mostly due to local diet habits. In one study, researchers found that the more closely you adhere to the main components of the traditional Greek/Mediterranean diet, the less quickly you age. ^v Each dietary component lessens your aging by approximately 17 percent.  

• Go fish! It's much more than a simple card game; it's a big way you can benefit your heart. Make fish a regular part of your diet, eating one or two servings per week. Choose low-fat cooking options like baking your salmon or grilling the tuna, rather than frying it or serving it in a fattening sauce. You can also use a little olive oil to sauté your favorite fish, then serve it over rice-but watch out for fish that are high in mercury! Halibut, tuna steaks, swordfish, shark, and mackerel are particularly high in mercury. Children under 12 and women who are pregnant or nursing should not consume fish high in mercury. ^vii
   
• Embrace olive oil and nuts: Instead of vegetable oil and butter, choose to eat a moderate amount of the "healthy" monounsaturated oils and fats eaten in the Mediterranean. Believe it or not, these can help you lose weight and keep it off! In a 2001 study, one group of overweight adults consumed a standard low-fat diet, and a second group was placed on a Mediterranean-style diet that required a regular, moderate intake of healthy fats and oils-such as olive oil, nuts, and nut products. After six months, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight, but a year later many individuals from the first group had been unable to continue the diet and had gained more weight than they had originally lost. On the other hand, the majority of individuals from the Mediterranean group had been able to continue their diet and had maintained their weight loss or lost even more weight! ^viii To lose weight and keep it off without sacrificing flavorful foods, eat healthy fats and oils!
   
• Eat more fruits and vegetables: Try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily to maximize the antioxidants' effect on your body. A key component of the Mediterranean diet is its emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, which can make for excellent guilt-free snacks between meals. ^ix Try staving off your hunger with baby carrots, celery sticks, or a delicious fresh fruit salad.
   
• Choose whole grains: Whole grains-such as brown rice, bulgur wheat, and couscous-make up a significant portion of the Mediterranean diet. Whole-grain bread is also abundant, but it is never eaten with butter or margarine, which contain harmful saturated and trans-fats. Try giving your bread a Mediterranean flair by lightly spreading it with a small amount of flavored olive oil. Any pasta you eat should be whole-grain pasta. Since most pasta sauces are high in fat and sodium, skip the Alfredo and spaghetti sauce. Instead, add a little olive oil to drained pasta, and mix in your favorite spices or herbs for extra flavor. ^x
   
• Enjoy red wine: Light intake of alcohol, particularly red wine, has been connected to decreased risk of heart disease. Men under 65 can benefit from drinking no more than ten ounces of wine per day, while women and men over 65 can only benefit from five ounces per day. ^xi Many doctors are hesitant to endorse alcohol as a health benefit because some individuals might be tempted to drink excessively. If you are likely to exceed the maximum recommendation or if you do not drink at all, there is no reason for you to add wine to your diet.
   
• NOTE: The Mediterranean dietary suggestions are very similar to the dietary suggestions in most of my books-including The Fruit Flush, The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy, and The Shake Down Diet.
   

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JayTip #3

IMPROVE YOUR MIND:
EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE TO BOOST BRAIN POWER
 

Do you often find yourself wondering where you put your car keys? Do you search the house for your sunglasses, only to find them pushed up on top of your head? As you get older, your mind (like your muscles) begins to get weaker. But don't worry-good eating and living habits can actually improve your brain function. According to scientists, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and "healthy" fats can help improve your memory, but if you're following my Fat Burning Diet and thus are already getting your fill of fruits, veggies and omega-3 fats, you still have plenty of options for increasing the strength of your mind. Just like physical exercise can strengthen your physical muscles, exercising your brain can actually strengthen the muscles of your mind, making them stronger and more reliable. Better memory skills do not only come from eating healthy foods and taking all your vitamins.

• Eat breakfast: Eating a healthy breakfast can enhance learning and mental performance, so make sure you get protein in the morning. Protein foods can also increase your body's production of dopamine-a brain chemical that causes you to feel awake and alert. xii According to a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests in school, have better problem-solving skills, and higher levels of mental energy and concentration. Adults imitate this success in the workplace. ^xiii For quality work performance, eat a protein-rich breakfast!
   
• Eat iron-rich foods: Iron carries oxygen to the brain and is necessary for creating neurotransmitters. Iron deficiency can affect learning ability or result in a poor attention span. Excellent sources of iron include cooked beans and lentils, dried apricots, broccoli, and whole grain bread. Women 19-50 years of age need more iron than men, so you might wish to add an iron supplement to your diet. ^xiv
   
• Enjoy blueberries: These delicious berries are high in antioxidants (which neutralize the free radicals that can injure brain cells), and researchers say eating one cup of blueberries per day can protect your brain and reduce age-related damage. Making blueberries a regular part of your diet can help keep your mind strong and alert! ^xv Other great sources of antioxidants include vitamins C and E.
   
• Add B vitamins: Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are particularly important for the health of your mind. These B vitamins help carry oxygen to the brain and break down homocysteine (an amino acid that is toxic to nerve cells), protecting your neurons. Add these vitamins to your diet by increasing your consumption of foods—such as tomatoes, green tea, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, and spinach. ^xvi
   
• Exercise regularly: Eating the right foods is not the only way you can improve your mind—regular physical exercise is also a big part of keeping your mind strong and healthy. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen to your brain, making you more alert. It also reduces your risk of diabetes and heart disease, which can lead to memory loss. Exercising regularly can also protect your brain cells by enhancing the effects of beneficial brain chemicals. For a more alert and healthy mind, make it a point to exercise at least three times a week! ^xvii
   
• Exercise your mind regularly: Mental exercises can also challenge your brain and keep it on its proverbial toes. To keep your mind sharp, surprise it! Novelty is the key: change up your normal routines by taking a shower or getting dressed in the morning with your eyes closed. Watch for things you've never noticed before on your drive to work or brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand. Learn a new strategy game or take a course in an unfamiliar subject. Practice focusing on the things you want to remember. It takes approximately eight seconds of total concentration for your brain to process information and store it in the appropriate memory center. You won't strengthen your brain without making an effort, so start exercising your mind today!
  
  
   

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I have three exciting new books out right now! Keep reading and discover the secrets you've always wanted to know about how to be fit, happy, and fulfilled.

This Month's Featured New Release:

	Lose Up To 20 lbs in 30 Days! The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy—Do you feel like you're starving whenever you're on a diet? Do you get confused by dieting plans that are too difficult to follow? Do you want to find a simple way to lose weight and keep it off forever? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may want to try my new Fat Burning Diet Made Easy. This brand new book is an easy-to-read condensed revision of my original bestseller, The Fat Burning Diet! I've improved the program and made it super easy to follow!  The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy is a carb-cycling program based on nutrition and physiology. It is specifically designed to keep your body at maximum efficiency, burning fat for 12 hours a day. When you read this book, you will discover how easy it is to lose weight if you eat at the right times. Don't worry about starving on this diet—only a few foods are on the no-no list, snacks are optional, and once a week you get to eat whatever you want! If you want a simple, fool-proof program that can help you lose weight for life, try my new Fat Burning Diet Made Easy. It's easy to use and full of practical tips. Best of all, you can stick with it for life! Read The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy and find out how it is now simpler than ever to lose weight, feel great, and stay in shape for life—without feeling deprived! $5.00 48 page eBook ready to download to your computer today.
	Discover Jay Robb's Secret to Success! High on Life- Are you dissatisfied with your life? Are you unhappy in your job, unfulfilled in your desires, or unappreciated in your marriage? Do you wish you knew your purpose in life? Are you getting older without getting any closer to fulfilling your dreams? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably not feeling high on life itself. If you don't wake up every morning and find yourself thrilled to be alive another day, my new book might hold the answers you have been searching for. High on Life outlines the ten keys to success.  This book can help you realize your full potential NOW! By reading this book, you can learn how doing your best in everything can help you overcome your problems and turn them into opportunities for happiness and fulfillment in life. High on Life gives you practical tips on topics that include working a job, love and marriage, clothing, and eating. These ten keys helped me build a multi-million dollar nutrition empire.  And these same ten keys can help you make your dreams come true.  Learn how to be fulfilled in your work and discover how being happy at your job right now can help you land a better job in the future! Find out what you can do to fall in love with your spouse again, or learn how you can find the love of your life. This book is effective, inspiring, and endlessly practical. Success secrets are now at your fingertips.  These secrets can change your life now! $5.00 48 page eBook ready to download to your computer today.
	Beat Stress Now! Be Still- Do you feel restless? Is your life stressful and out of control? Do you want to break an addiction in your life? Do you wish you had peace of mind? Do you wish you had a better, more fulfilling life? Stop wishing and start realizing your full potential NOW! If you answered yes to any of these questions, you, my friend, need to learn to be still. In my brand new book, Be Still, you will learn how you can let go of all your troubles and anxieties by being still. In five enlightening chapters, you will discover how the power of being still can help you break harmful addictions in your life, whether those addictions are to television, junk food, or drugs. Be Still reveals proven methods for realizing peace of mind. It reveals simple, powerful truths about realizing God, and will teach you how to lose all self-consciousness by realizing your true Self, which may be different from who you think you are. Reading this book will give you practical and spiritual reasons for quieting the mind. It offers proven techniques that can help you let go of yourself, and inspiration to keep seeking stillness of mind so that you can discover lasting peace. The secrets in this book can help you finally realize eternal freedom. Get a copy of Be Still now to beat stress and discover the true meaning of life. $5.00 48 page eBook ready to download to your computer today.

The Secret to a Flat Stomach Q: I have extra fat around my midsection. What exercise should I do to trim away this fat? A:  My favorite waist-trimming exercise is the "Push Away." It's easy to perform. When you eat a meal, just before you are full, push away the plate. I believe most Americans are under the false impression that exercising is the way to melt away unwanted body fat. But, as I write in my book, The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy, exercise is a POOR means of burning fat. Your diet (what you eat) is the best way to lower your body fat level, and this includes your midsection. Exercise is important for good health because it keeps you strong, toned, and fit. Your diet primarily determines how lean you are, and to burn fat with food, you must limit your intake of carbohydrate-rich foods. If you want a smaller waistline, I suggest you get your hands on a copy of my books, The Fat Burning Diet Made Easy, and Get Your Colon Rollin'.

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