Glassman's plan is based on the ORAC scale—a scientific value that represents the antioxidant levels of foods. (ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity.) Using this scale, she has devised a diet that gets you 30,000 ORAC points a day—10 times the current recommended level of 3,000. It's those mega ORAC points that scoop up free radicals, the damaging rogue elements in our bodies that contribute to everything from wrinkles and brain fog to cancer and heart disease. And you can say good-bye to calorie counting: By focusing on high ORAC scores, you'll chow down on foods that are healthy and have the right proportion of nutrients, so the extra weight will come off more easily. In her book, Glassman explains how certain high-ORAC fruits and vegetables have specific powers. Load up on these antioxidant superstars every time you hit the grocery store—they'll help you bring out your healthy best in these five ways. 1 LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT TRYING On the O2 Diet, estimate that you'll lose about two to three pounds a week.

But instead of worrying about the pounds, focus on ORAC points—and the pounds will melt away. These are just three of the O2 Diet's weight-loss wonders: ARTICHOKES: At only 60 calories each, they're a calorie bargain. Artichokes are also super-high on the ORAC scale—7,900 points—and they contain phytochemicals that may lower cholesterol levels.Digital Photo Frame Snapfish LEMON WATER: Lemon peel contains pectin, a soluble fiber that has been shown to help with weight loss. Remove Epoxy Paint From BathtubAdd an ounce of lemon juice and some zest to each of your eight daily glasses of water (which will help you feel fuller), and you'll add 3,200 ORAC points.Pitbull Puppies For Sale Carlsbad Nm RED GRAPEFRUIT: One study found that people who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds over 12 weeks, while those who drank grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds.

The red variety has more of the cancer-protecting antioxidant lycopene. Half a grape-fruit has 1,900 ORAC points. 2 MAKE YOUR SKIN GLOW While no food can turn back the clock, some can perk up your looks and slow the aging process. FIGS: Eating a handful of dried figs increases the amount of antioxidants in your blood for four hours, much longer than many other foods. Two small figs have about 2,700 ORAC points. RED BELL PEPPERS: The unique combination of large amounts of vitamins A, C, and E make red bell peppers a skin superfood. Half a cup adds 600 ORAC points. WATERMELON: This lycopene-rich fruit provides 33 percent more protection against sunburn than other fruits. (You still have to wear sunscreen though!) One cup of this diced melon has 200 ORAC points. 3 BOLSTER YOUR  BODY Certain antioxidants have been shown to fight cancer, boost immunity, and keep bones strong. BEANS: They're loaded with phytochemicals (including saponins, protease inhibitors, and phytic acid), which may protect cells from damage that potentially causes cancer, reports the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Half a cup has 7,800 ORAC points. PRUNES: These wrinkly little dried fruits are rich in vitamin K and a top source of the mineral boron, and we need both for strong bones. A three-prune serving gives you 1,900 ORAC points. 4 WARD OFF HEART DISEASE Young women tend to be oblivious to heart disease, but that attitude itself is a big risk. How you eat today helps predict how healthy your heart will be 30 years from now. CHERRIES: Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that the anthocyanins in dark cherries reduce belly fat and lower cholesterol and blood sugar; one serving packs 3,500 ORAC points. DARK CHOCOLATE: Rich in flavonoids, chocolate is believed to promote heart health by reducing platelet activation, affecting the relaxation capabilities of blood vessels. One ounce of dark chocolate has 5,900 ORAC points. 5 BOOST YOUR BRAINPOWER The neural pathways in our brains are growing and improving all the time. Eat the right foods and you'll be able to concentrate better, remember more, and feel calmer.

BLUEBERRIES: They may improve memory, cognition, and balance. Researchers believe that blueberries (9,700 ORAC points per one-cup serving) reduce inflammation and can help us overcome the normal effects of brain aging. CINNAMON: Researchers believe that cinnamon may inhibit certain Alzheimer's disease cells. One teaspoon of cinnamon adds 7,000 ORAC points. PLUMS: These juicy treats decrease anxiety-related behaviors, and researchers think they may protect against depression. One plum adds 4,100 ORAC points to a meal. Adapted from The O2 Diet: The Cutting Edge Antioxidant- Based Program That Will Make You Healthy, Thin, and Beautiful, by Keri Glassman, R.D., Rodale 2009. Don’t eat after 8 pm, stop eating rice, avoid bananas and potatoes, no tea and coffee! How many times you have been advised to make these changes in your diet by your friends and relatives when you said you wish to lose weight? Almost all the time! And you end up following the advice without realising that it may not do any good to you.

In reality, we are surrounded by many misconceptions when it comes to dieting and that’s the reason many dieters fail to achieve their goal even if they are highly motivated. Let’s look at 10 such myths associated with dieting and the impact they have on you.1) Myth #1 Low fat = Low calorieLow-fat diet simply doesn’t mean low-calorie diet and therefore it doesn’t give you the license to eat as much as you want. If you pile up your plate with low-fat farsan, you may end up eating more calories than if you had a one serving of chips. In order to make products low in fat, manufacturers add substituting ingredients like flour, sugar, starch, etc. to improve taste and this adds calories. Therefore the best way to know about how healthy your food product is check the nutritional label, and know how many calories, fat, sugar you are getting. 2) Myth #2 Say no to rice, potatoes and bananasLearn to make smart choices and include these foods in your diet without letting them hamper your calorie count.

For example, banana in the morning will not only provide you with a dose of potassium, fibre, vitamin C, etc. but will also provide you with energy which will help you keep going throughout the day.Rice contains methionine which helps mobilise fat from the liver. Where you need to be careful is stop mindless eating and control portion size when it comes to eating rice based preparations.Potatoes are loaded with nutrients too but we make it unhealthy by using faulty cooking treatments like deep frying (chips, cutlet, French fries, etc). If included sensibly in diet it can protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer due to high potassium and Vitamin B6. 3) Myth #3 Late night meals are fatteningYour weight is a result of what you eat throughout the day and not just at night. This might be true for people who keep skipping meals at day time and binge at night. The idea is keep a gap of at least an hour before hitting bed and eat something light as you don’t need too many calories in the night.4) Myth #4 Avoid eating outside food while dietingMost fast foods are unhealthy but not all, and if you choose your options carefully you can include them in your healthy diet.

Tips you can follow:Avoid high-calorie toppings like cheese, butter, mayonnaise; instead you can go for salsa, garlic dip, etc.Pick fresh fruit juice or milkshake rather than aerated drinks.Choose salad based wraps and burgers.Ask for steamed, baked or grilled items rather than deep fried. 5) Myth #5 Eat less, weigh lessIf you eat less or skip meals you will end up binging later on when you feel extremely hungry. And therefore you gain more weight and your efforts get wasted. Moreover, if you keep yourself on extremely low-calorie diet for longer period of time, your metabolism gets altered and restricting yourself from essential nutrients also poses great health threats.6) Myth #6 Say no to snackingWhile mindless snacking can gift you with several extra kilos, thoughtful snacking can help you reduce several kilos. People who have small, frequent meals with snacks are more likely to get better weight loss results. Choose snacks which are low in calorie and high in protein so that they can curb your hunger pangs in a healthy way.

7) Myth #7 Vegetarians are devoid of good protein sourcesFalse, there are plenty options for vegans too. Include at least three servings of milk and milk products (one glass milk, one cup curd, 40g paneer), two servings of pulses especially soybean, one serving of nuts to meet your protein requirement.8) Myth #8 Fast to nullify the feastIt’s an absurd idea to compensate your feast with fast. When you eat larger portions than required, your body stores the extra calories in the form of fat and when you skip meals there is an urgent need of energy by the body and that is served by breaking muscle tissue because breaking down fat for energy is a long process and it doesn’t come into circulation that easily. Therefore all your effort goes waste. 9) Myth #9 Eggs are unhealthyWhen had for breakfast, eggs help limit your calorie intake all day. Eggs are a well-known rich source of protein along with several vitamins and minerals essential to your health like B2, B12, Vitamin A, E, iron, zinc and phosphorus.