As we get older, we all start to lose hearing. But most people don't realize just how much decreased hearing can impact their lives. Hearing loss makes you more likely to withdraw socially, which speeds aging. We now know that hearing loss can also lead to dementia. Protect your ears by turning down the sound on your mp3 player or wearing earplugs in especially noisy environment. Get a hearing test every year and buy a hearing aid at the first sign of hearing loss.

Buy the book: Is This Normal? by John Whyte, MD, MPH

Hidden in the average loaf of bread or bowl of pasta is a super starch called amylopectin A—a dangerous science project that looks like bread but isn’t. It’s in breakfast muffins and bagels, too, regardless of whether they’re made with whole wheat or white flour and is a known blood sugar booster. In fact two slices of whole wheat bread raises your blood sugar more than 2 tablespoons of table sugar. This FrankenWheat has just been on the market for the last 40 years or so, paralleling the rise of obesity and diabetes across the globe and the dramatic increase in celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. If we gave up this super starch, we would reduce not only obesity and diabetes, but cancers, heart attacks, depression, autoimmune disease as well irritable bowel and reflux.

Buy the book: The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, MD

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The secret to a rock-hard body isn’t eating according to the USDA's Food Guide Plate—it’s eating large amounts of high-quality proteins throughout the day and limited amounts of complex carbohydrates and fats. Women need far more protein than you might think. A good range to shoot for is roughly 1 g of protein per pound of body weight. So a 140 pound woman would need to consume 16 to 22 oz (455 to 625 g) of protein per day, or roughly 5 oz/140 g per meal plus another 2 oz/ 55 g at each snack. It’s also critical to get at least 5 oz/140 g of that protein at breakfast (this would equal two whole eggs plus two whites or 1 to 2 scoops of whey protein powder mixed into a smoothie) to replenish your protein stores after fasting all night and keep your appetite in check throughout the day.

Buy the book: The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project by Esther Blum.

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Getting busy stimulates hormones, like testosterone, to improve mood, memory, energy, libido, bone and muscle strength and decrease levels of fat. If you need a libido boost to get in the mood, start by shaking things up in the bedroom. Try taking a bath together, trading massages using warm oil, or get a little edgy with erotic literature, sex toys or a new location like atop the vibrating clothes dryer.
 
Buy the book: The Sex Drive Solution For Women by Jennifer Landa, MD

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We summarize our advice for healthy aging like this: Get organized (make a commitment). Eat less (if weight is a problem). Eat better (eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains). Move more (in any way you can). Get political (work to change the food environment to make it easier to do all the rest).
 
Buy the book: Why Calories Count by Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim

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People who exercise every day think faster, remember more, learn quicker, are more creative and are better problem solvers. They are least likely to develop memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s. They also have more energy, motivation and desire to learn. They are happier, more content with their lives and more optimistic. In short, they feel confident, energized and sexy. That’s because exercise improves blood flow to the brain, which means your noggin gets more of the oxygen and nutrients it needs.

Buy the book: Eat Your Way to Sexy by Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD

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Burst-style cardio training involves performing an exercise as hard and fast as you can for 30 to 60 seconds (think sprinting or running up stairs), then doing one to two minutes of active recovery like walking. By doing this in repetitive cycles for four to eight total minutes of “bursting”, you raise lactic acid, which in turn triggers the release of human growth hormone. This type of exercise is far more time efficient and produces far less oxidative stress (which accelerates the aging process) then endurance style training like jogging or cycling.
 

Buy the book: Six Weeks to Sleeveless & Sexy by JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS

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By indulging in a simple, delicious smoothie (even just once a day) that’s loaded with vibrant produce, you can get tons of valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in just one sitting. Try this recipe:

Baby Be Happy

Ingredients:

1 cup spinach

1 cup sweet peas

3 carrots, peeled

2 cups red raspberry tea

Directions:

1. Combine spinach, peas, carrots, and 1 cup of tea in a blender, and blend until thoroughly combined.

2. Add remaining tea as needed while blending until desired consistency is achieved.

Buy the book:What Color is Your Smoothie? (F+W Media, March 2012) by Britt Allen Brandon, CFNS, CPT, with Nicole Cormier, RD, LDN

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Sugar and caffeine rev energy almost immediately, but that vigor tends to retreat almost as quickly as it came. Stimulation is a bad substitute for nourishment because it taxes the adrenal glands, prompting the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol is linked to inflammation, weakened cellular tissue, lower immune response, increased risk of disease, body tissue degeneration, reduced sleep quality, and the accumulation of body fat. Instead, sustain vitality with nutrient-dense, whole foods—not just by supplementing your diet with them, but by basing your diet on them.
 

Buy the book: Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier

This simple exercise works major calorie-burning muscles: your quads and core.

Thigh Dancing
What you’ll need: a mat or carpet under your knees
 
1. Sit on your heels in a kneeling position. Your knees should be a few inches apart. Lift your but a few inches off your heels. Keep your torso upright with your hands on your hips. This is your starting position.

2. Keeping your butt off your heels, shake your hips first right, then left. This is a small, controlled movement rather than a loose shake—you want to use your obliques to lift your hips up toward your shoulders rather than swinging them wildly from side to side.

3. Bring your arms above your head and start to alternate pulling each elbow down—first one, then the other—as you shake your hips. By actively engaging your obliques, you’re helping to whittle your waistline!

Buy the book: The Physique 57 Solution by Tanya Becker and Jennifer Maanavi

Music is a universal motivator. It boosts your spirit, puts a pep in your step and can dramatically increase your energy level. Music motivates us to do more and push harder. If you have a smartphone or mp3 player, download a killer playlist. There are certain songs that no matter what you’re doing or how you’re feeling, you can’t help but get up and move. Make sure those are on your list!

Buy the book: PUSH by Chalene Johnson

Next: Forever Young: Expert Tips for Aging Gracefully

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