The Final Ingredient

To get the most health benefits out of your fresh garlic, toss it into your recipes at the last minute. Garlic is an excellent source of allicin, a plant compound that has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. However, overcooking garlic may destroy some of its beneficial compounds.

Toss chopped, fresh garlic into your cooking just a few minutes before it's done to retain more of its nutrition. In addition to potentially inhibiting cancer, garlic also may improve your cardiovascular health. Nutrients in garlic appear to thin the blood, which could mean lower blood pressure over time.

A Cup of Tea

Chase away the chills with hot tea and you might lower your cholesterol. In a
study of black tea, people who combined a moderately low-fat diet with frequent tea consumption lowered their LDL (bad) cholesterol as much as 8 percent more than people who followed only the diet portion of the cholesterol-lowering plan.

Tea also is a rich source of heart-healthy flavonoids. Researchers speculate that tea may inhibit absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. In a study, people who consumed five servings of black tea per day along with a moderately low-fat diet experienced a significant reduction in their LDL cholesterol. Reductions in LDL cholesterol levels could decrease the risk of heart disease.

Take the Easy Way

You don't have to run marathons to lose weight. Studies show that less vigorous workouts can be just as effective. How you choose to burn extra calories doesn't appear to matter when it comes to weight loss.

In a study of overweight, sedentary women following a reduced-calorie diet, exercise was shown to boost weight loss efforts regardless of whether the women worked out vigorously or completed workouts of moderate intensity. Losing even a little weight can mean significant improvements to your health profile.

A loss of only 6 or 7 percent of your body weight, if you are overweight, can lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Start with modest goals that you are likely to reach. You can always raise the bar after you achieve them.