Basic healthy lifestyle habits

Eat less and live longer. Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as opposed to the same ones all the time.

Drink a glass or two of cold water first thing in the morning to eliminate the bowels. Add more fiber to your diet - one option is psyllium. Dietary fiber is thought to decrease the transit time of food in the colon and to dilute carcinogens, thus minimizing the body’s exposure to toxins.

Drink 4 to 8 glasses of water per day, more in hot weather. Studies indicate that 5 to 8 glasses of water a day helps maintain good health. Water makes up more than 70 percent of solid body tissue and helps regulate body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, removes waste, cushions joints and protects organs and tissues. Lack of adequate water intake leads to headaches, grogginess and dry, itchy skin. Severe dehydration affects blood pressure, circulation, digestion, kidney function and nearly all body processes.

Eat more protein and fat at breakfast and lunch, and switch to more complex carbs at night if you have trouble falling asleep. Carbs, such as vegetable soup, pasta, or grains help induce sleep at night.

It's better to eat small frequent meals than two or three large meals, although each person has his or her own routine and schedule and some people may prefer infrequent large meals.

Sleep has a major influence on health — Good sleep enhances libido. See also how to improve sex drive with herbs.

Alcohol such as beer and wine are acceptable in moderation, such as a glass a day.

Dental cleaning and flossing — floss and brush at night before bed. Ideally do so after every meal.

Limit exposure to excessive sun, more than an hour or two a day, in order to avoid wrinkled and damaged skin.

Limit caffeine intake. People who consume caffeine may experience an increase in blood pressure, feel more stressed and produce more stress hormones than on days when they opt for decaf. The effects of caffeine appear to persist until people go to bed, even if they don't consume any caffeine after lunch.