Even I am amazed at how I never get sick… no colds, no flu, nothing. And I get compliments all the time on my glowing skin. My commitment to good nutrition has definitely made a difference in my health and appearance. These are my own guidelines that I follow but they are nothing new. Most of us know these rules, but the key is to live by them every day, well… almost every day. If you follow these rules most of the time, you won’t beat yourself up when you go out for pizza and ice cream.

1. Read food labels. I never buy a grocery item without reading the label. Calories? Fiber? Fat grams? Saturated fat? Ingredients? And if the ingredient list reads like a novel, I pass. Even if it’s short, if I can't pronounce it, I don't buy it.

2. Avoid "partially hydrogenated" anything. Check the ingredient list. “Partially hydrogenated” means it contains trans fats, which are known to raise cholesterol and contribute to heart disease.

3. Stay away from "fat free" foods. I used to think that eating fat free was the answer but the truth is we need fat in our diets, but it has to be the right fat, like olive and canola oils, avocadoes and nuts. They all benefit the heart as well as your skin and hair. I routinely use “reduced fat” because fat free products never taste very good and they contain too many mystery ingredients.

4. No fast food. I haven’t been to a fast food restaurant in years. This will make the biggest difference in your health.

5. No soft drinks. Read the labels. A typical cola has around 40 mg. of sugar - that’s equivalent to almost 1/4 cup of sugar! And it’s usually high fructose corn syrup, which converts to fat more than any other sugar. I usually drink green tea or water, but when I do crave a soft drink, I buy one from Whole Foods sweetened with plain sugar and then I dilute it with sparkling water.

6. Pass on artificial sweeteners. I would take moderate sugar any day over these chemicals. It’s reported that artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, can cause headaches, dizziness, vision problems, sleep disorders, memory loss, fetal brain damage, liver problems, seizures, and the list goes on. They’re especially harmful to children. If I want to sweeten my tea, I use stevia or real sugar.

7. Keep snacking. Eating smaller (healthy) meals and snacks throughout the day and avoiding big meals with huge portions is the way to go. Your appetite stays under control so you’ll stay thinner and live longer. I don’t go more than 3 or 4 hours without eating.

8. Five-a-Day. You really should try to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Try for a variety of colors because each color provides different protection from disease. Fruits and veggies are an excellent source of antioxidants which are key to anti-aging and disease prevention. Here’s a typical day for me: Papaya with breakfast, an apple for mid-morning snack, a tomato and lettuce on my lunch sandwich, baby carrots for a snack, salad before dinner, broccoli with dinner, a banana with my late night cereal.

9. Drink green tea. I sip green (& white) tea all day long and I think it’s one of the reasons I never get sick. Tea may be the ultimate health food. It’s loaded with antioxidants and protects against cancer and heart disease, lowers cholesterol, increases metabolism, and more.

10. Get Off Your Butt. I hate it too but we have got to move. You don’t have to jog 10 miles or bench press anything. Just move. Walk through the mall; play with your kids; run with your dog; bike to the post office; put on some music and dance. No excuses. Just do it.