As we know, gut health plays a crucial role in our overall wellness. But what exactly does that mean? According to the American Medical Association , gut health refers to the “well-being of the digestive system.” Our digestive system helps to break down food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste products from our bodies. If we don’t maintain our gut health, it can lead to more significant health issues. It’s important to stay gut healthy by following a healthy diet that promotes a well-functioning “gut microbiome.” Dr. March Seabrook, MD, a gastroenterologist, advises that eating right, drinking water, and exercising can help establish and maintain good gut health. “From a pure nutritional value as opposed to stimulating anything in your colon, eat vitamin and fiber-rich foods, fruits and vegetables, but also make sure it is a well-balanced diet ,” he explains. “Mostly, it’s in the balance of what you eat and limiting a lot of processed foods.” If we’re going to focus on improving or maintaining our gut health, there’s no better place to start than with a good breakfast. Here are three gut-healthy recipes that will start your day with a boost. Quick and Easy Gut-Healthy Recipes for a Delicious Morning Green Smoothie If you’re a fan of a quick breakfast you can take on the go, this green smoothie is for you. It’s packed with spinach, fruit, and chia seeds that offer vital nutrients like folate and vitamin C. Plus, it’s delicious and fast. By Alex Lvrs Mango-Tumeric Smoothie This smoothie blends superfood turmeric along with kefir, a fermented milk drink, and sweet mangos. It’s spicy, sweet, and “so much healthier than it tastes!” Who doesn’t love that? Avocado Toast We don’t know about you, but we love avocado toast, particularly on gut-healthy sourdough bread. The base avocado contains a wealth of nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats. Plus, the variations are endless, so you can top your toast with whatever tickles your fancy that day for a versatile, filling meal. By Saymom Leão Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Make this breakfast the night before and wake up to a delicious high-fiber meal. Eating chia seeds can help regulate your digestive health, which promotes overall wellness. Plus, chocolate for breakfast? Yes, please.

Perimenopause is a season of a woman’s life that will come whether she wants it or not. There’s no telling how long it will last or what kind of havoc it might create. Fortunately, we live in a time when women speak up about their bodies and how they’re feeling. We will share our experiences with health professionals and other women who are going through similar challenges. One of the most dreaded issues perimenopausal women face is irritated skin. Suddenly, in our mid-40s, they're dealing with breakouts like when they were teenagers. By Wix Anna Cabeca , DO, OBGYN, FACOG, explained to Today   what perimenopause is all about, “It is a natural process of aging and a decrease in our hormone production. It can be exacerbated or precipitated by stress, birth control pills, [or] hormone disruption.” Aesthetician Amy L. Meier has worked in skincare for decades and told Today she wants women to understand that perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations may change their skin, too. “Many women are unaware this can start in our early to mid-30s,” she said.  “I wish someone would have told me this and talked to me about all the things that can happen!” During this time, we may also notice more wrinkles in our skin, and the texture may start to feel drier. That’s due to less collagen production and hormone changes. Proper Products Can Make All the Difference for Perimenopausal Skin “Perimenopause really starts with the decline in DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which is one of our adrenal hormones associated with longevity, bone strength, breast health, memory/brain health, and integrity of our skin and collagen production,” Dr. Cabeca said. So, we can have dry skin, wrinkles, and pimples simultaneously. Oh, the joys of being a woman. But don’t fret. The experts have some recommendations on how to treat our skin during Perimenopause. Leighann Blackwood Meir suggests looking at labels for products that are vitamin-rich, which can help heal inflamed skin. Of course, sunscreen is a must for daily skin protection, and a combination of serums and moisturizers helps to keep your skin hydrated. “If we think about our pigment skin cells as ‘little squid,’ when they are overstimulated, like an octopus or squid, they ink when they are scared,” she told Today. “ We want to give them sunglasses during the day (antioxidants) and a chill pill at night (pigment regulators). This will protect against further damage and help repair past damage.” Good skincare doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many trusted skin care lines are available online and in drug stores.

We only have one life to live, and it’s our duty to make the best of it. One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to exercise and move our bodies. Every person’s fitness goals are different, but the endgame is typically the same. We all want to be healthy. Right now, functional fitness training is on the rise, and people love what the training does for their bodies. By Wix The Mayo Clinic  defines functional fitness as “exercises that train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work, or in sports.” Functional Fitness Prevents Injury When done correctly, functional fitness can transform our bodies and reduce the risk of injury from everyday tasks. Brodie Schroeder explained in an essay for Muscle Armory  that functional fitness has been a part of the human race for centuries before it had a cool name. “If we’re being honest, before the modern era, functional fitness was basically the only kind of fitness there was. Ancient humans hunted stuff and gathered stuff. That’s how they survived. If they couldn’t run fast enough to catch their prey or were not strong enough to wield their weapons, they simply would not live. Ever hear of the phrase ‘survival of the fittest?’ This is how the human race was able to evolve over millennia. Our bodies adapted to our environment and what we needed to do to survive. By training for functional fitness, you are training your body the way it was designed to be used,” he wrote. By Wix Functional fitness exercises like dead lifts, squats, overhead presses, lunges, kettlebell dead lifts, and forearm planks are a great way to start. Those exercises will engage your core and fortify muscles for an overall stronger body. Harvard Health  loves the idea of functional exercise and what it can do to give us longevity. “Functional fitness is a powerful tool for maintaining strength, mobility, and independence as you age. By staying active and following safety guidelines, you can slow down some of these age-related changes and continue to enjoy a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle well into your later years,” Harvard Health explains.

Our bodies are incredibly complex, and most of us have no idea how all the systems work together. If we realized just how intricate these systems are, we’d like to treat our bodies more like temples and less like dumping grounds. Thankfully for us, scientists and health professionals dedicate their careers to learning about and understanding the human body. They share their knowledge with us, enabling us to learn how to use this incredible tool properly. By Wix Take the vagus nerve, for example. If you know what it is and how it works, give yourself a point. If not, we’re here to help. The vagus nerve is the longest and one of the most important of our 12 cranial nerves. It travels from the brain to various parts of our body, including the heart, lungs, and digestive system. The vagus nerve helps with blood pressure, breathing, digestion, heart rate, and speech. If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, you’ll notice that some of the areas the vagus nerve controls are the same ones that act up when you’re anxious. Does your heart race? Maybe your breathing seems shallow. Or, you might feel a tummy ache. If that’s the case, there’s not only a connection, but also a way to help. By Wix According to UVA Health , we can exercise our vagus nerves when we feel anxiety to help calm ourselves down. Breathe Deeply And Slowly Take a deep breath and hold it, then blow out slowly. When you inhale, imagine you’re smelling a birthday cake, and when you exhale, you blow out the candle on top. Closing your eyes and getting into a steady rhythm will help. Splash Some Cold Water The sudden splash of cold water in your face or on your body will stimulate the vagus nerve and slow your heart rate. We often see this trick in movies or on television. It’s not just for show. That temperature change can have a big effect. Taking a sip of cold water can also help release enzymes that improve digestion. By Wix Make A Little Noise Your vagus nerve runs right through your vocal cords. Getting those babies to vibrate with a bit of singing, humming, or chanting can help you relax. If that’s not for you, listening to your favorite music can bring back those breathing exercises. “It turns out that many of the activities that we associate with calmness—things like deep breathing, meditation, massage and even the experience of awe—effect changes in the brain, in part, through increasing vagus nerve activity,” Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai, explained . Learning to exercise the vagus nerve to calm anxiety properly may take some trial and error. Find what works best and implement it when you start to feel overwhelmed. You just might be surprised what a deep breath or some humming can do.

If you’ve found yourself in the throes of perimenopause, you know it’s a rollercoaster. During this time of our lives, our hormone levels shift dramatically. This can cause all kinds of fun things like mood swings, hot flashes, hair loss, itchy skin, insomnia, and brain fog. We hate to tell you, but that really is just a few. Some liken perimenopause to adult puberty. We don’t know what’s happening to our bodies, and we’re just ready for it to be over with. According to the Cleveland Clinic , the duration of perimenopause varies from woman to woman. Sometimes, it starts and ends quickly. For other people, the symptoms could drag on for years. The onset is about eight to 10 years before the start of menopause. For most women, that’s in their mid-forties. But of course, everyone is different. Unfortunately, there is no treatment to stop it; it’s a natural part of a woman’s life, and we just have to learn how to manage it. By Wix One of the best ways to tackle the perimenopause years is by focusing on healthy foods. Did we mention that this is also the time of life when our bodies tend to hold onto more fat, rather than letting it go like they did when we were younger? Well, it is. Balancing this all out can be done with some diet tweaks, according to Healthline . Pack Your Day With Protein We aren’t necessarily looking to build muscle during menopause, but maintain what we already have. Getting enough protein can help. Whether you like a protein-packed shake, lean meats, or lentils and beans, they can all help you hit those daily protein goals. Discuss your goals with a health professional to ensure you’re getting the proper amounts each day. Lock In With Omega-3 Fatty Acids Healthline explains that Omega-3 fatty acids can help fight inflammation and symptoms of depression. Since both can be present during perimenopause, it's a good time to increase your fatty fish intake. And while you’re at it, sprinkle some flax or chia seeds on your yogurt or in a salad. Not only can they help with perimenopause, but Omega-3 fatty acids are also heart-healthy. Travis Yewell Fill Up With Fiber If you’re the kind of person whose hormone fluctuations cause food cravings, perimenopause might be an even more difficult time for you. Fiber is not only great for gut health, but it also keeps us feeling full. If you feel full longer, you might not grab for that extra snack. Fiber is one of those good carbs that can be found in fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Mix up your fiber sources to keep your diet from becoming boring. Count On Calcium Dairy products high in calcium and vitamin D are essential during perimenopause. As we age, our bodies become susceptible to bone loss, also known as osteoporosis. Getting adequate calcium and vitamin D can help keep our bones strong and our bodies healthy. We need vitamin D to help our bodies absorb calcium, making them work together like best friends. Concentrate on getting plenty of each every day. Cut Back On Empty Calories Keeping a healthy diet during perimenopause is just as much about what we don’t eat as what we consume. Too much refined sugar is never great, but it can definitely cause issues during perimenopause. We should also limit alcohol. That’s not to say an occasional drink is a bad thing, but do you really want to have a hangover and insomnia? Yikes.  Speaking of insomnia, limit the caffeine intake, too. As we get older, our bodies react differently to stimulants, and that one cup of coffee in the afternoon might keep you up all night. Vitaly Gariev As with any diet or lifestyle change, talk with a healthcare provider about individual nutritional needs.

We can’t stop the clock from ticking. No matter how hard we try, our bodies inevitably change over time as we age. Our hair may turn grey, our skin might wrinkle, and our body shape will likely change. While we might hope for the fountain of youth, that miracle just isn’t there. But science shows that vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has amazing skin benefits. One study  found that vitamin C can be particularly beneficial when paired with other skincare treatments, such as microneedling. “The application of ascorbic acid contributes to wrinkle reduction and increased skin elasticity by preventing collagen loss through photoaging and natural skin aging,” the study notes. “The anti-aging effects observed in this study are not solely due to the use of pure ascorbic acid but also microneedle mesotherapy and sonophoresis.” Robert W. B. Love, a neuroscientist who specializes in helping patients prevent Alzheimer’s disease, also loves vitamin C. He shared an Instagram video  encouraging people to ensure they’re getting enough vitamin C daily so they can reap the health benefits. “It helps knit collagen together. Collagen is involved in the balance and elasticity of your skin,” he explains, “So if you take a collagen supplement, take vitamin C with it. You need vitamin C to use the collagen effectively. “ He adds that collagen and vitamin C can also help repair and maintain our blood vessels. And of course, vitamin C also aids in keeping our immune systems strong. For those of us who want to live longer, vitamin C can contribute to longevity. The best part? It’s a relatively inexpensive supplement that boosts multiple systems. One follower who swears by vitamin C sounded off in the comment section. “I've been taking 1000mg of Vitamin C for over 20 years along with 3000 of Omega 3. I will be 72 this month and have no wrinkles except for some fine lines above my too lip,” they wrote. “People are amazed when they see me. I just wish I could get rid of those fine lines. Lol."

As the holidays approach, lots of people start to look forward to a fresh start in January. Whether or not you want to make a New Year’s resolution is up to you. Many people do, and they hope to live a healthier lifestyle in the new year. As busy moms, we often struggle to make time for a trip to the gym. Working out at home can be a great solution. Not only do we save money on a gym membership, but we can also sneak in a workout whenever we want. For some moms, creating the perfect workout space can seem daunting. How much money do we need to invest in a great workout? Good news, it’s probably not nearly as much as you think. Find Your Place You don’t have to turn your basement into a personal YMCA. But it’s helpful if you can carve out a corner of your home that’s a dedicated space. That may be where you store things like small weights or exercise bands. Maybe you have an elliptical or treadmill, that’s great. Keep it all in one spot that’s just for you. Elena Kloppenburg Check Out Your Streaming Accounts Many platforms, such as Amazon Prime and Netflix, have workout content built in. You’re already paying for the membership, so take advantage of what they have to offer. If you’re the kind of person who likes celebrity workouts like Jillian Michaels, Cindy Crawford, or old-school Richard Simmons, DVDs are fantastic for home workouts. You don’t have to buy them either; plenty of libraries offer video rentals for free. Thrift stores and garage sales are also a great place to nab vintage workout videos. Invest In Equipment If you have a bigger budget and can afford to purchase a piece of exercise equipment, it will still cost you less than joining a gym. Keep your eyes on garage sales, buy-sell-trade-sites, and Facebook Marketplace. Plenty of people sell their gently used equipment at a fraction of the retail price. There are always deals. If you’re serious, make the seller an offer. You never know. Exercise While You Work This hack incorporates your home gym into your career. If possible, consider getting a standing desk and a walking pad. They take up minimal space and can be easily stored. Walking pads are a great way to keep your body moving while you work, allowing you to tackle two big items on your daily to-do list at once. By Wix Make It Your Happy Place An at-home workout space doesn’t have to be big and fancy, but it should be a place you enjoy being. What is your motivation? Is it teaching your kids good exercise habits? Or maybe you’ve got a goal to get in shape for a big trip. No matter what your reason is, make sure your workout space brings at least a bit of joy. We know the sweat, sore muscles, and heavy breathing aren’t always the most joyful things, but the end result will certainly make you smile. Don't let cost prohibit you from hitting your fitness goals. A little bit of creativity and dollars wisely spent will create a whole new you.

As moms, we know that establishing a proper routine for our kids makes life easier for everyone. If they’re on a schedule and know what to anticipate during the day, they tend to be a bit more easygoing. That sounds pretty brilliant, doesn’t it? As moms, we often don’t prioritize ourselves, so our routines revolve 100% around our children. That’s all fine and good, but it's equally important to establish a self-care routine. To make it happen —and it totally can —we need to leverage habit stacking. What In The Heck Is Habit Stacking? We’re so glad you asked. Habit stacking involves taking simple habits we already have and adding something new to our routine that we’d like to incorporate. This very simple concept can have a profound impact on our daily lives. By Wix “The thinking is that engaging in the already-existing habit will cue you to do your new one,” Dr. Lauren Alexander shared with the Cleveland Clinic. Make A List Of Habits Dr. Alexander suggests that first, we make a list of our current habits. It can be simple things like brushing our teeth, taking the dog for a walk, or making the bed. Once we've established our current habits, it’s time to incorporate a few new elements we’d like to add to our routine. Make Of List Of New Habits You’d Like To Implement If you’ve always wanted to make the bed or spend 10 minutes meditating or praying, add it to the list. If you’d really like to have a specific spot for your keys, purse, and shoes so you’re not running around like crazy every morning, put that on the list two. By Wix Start Stacking Habits Together Ensuring that habits stack in a cohesive manner is crucial. It's best to plan to start a load of laundry after making breakfast, rather than during your lunch hour while you're at the office. If you’re in the habit of brushing your teeth, but flossing isn’t always your jam, that would be a good habit to stack. Then add on washing your face and maybe using a serum. If the habits stack and make sense, it will be easier to stick to the new routine. Don’t Beat Yourself Up If Habit Stacking Is A Struggle It might not come together quickly. Dr. Alexander claims it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to nearly a year to establish a habit. Anyone who's ever tried a new workout routine or given up a vice like smoking knows that it’s hard, but in the end, rewarding. “Generally, if people can attach new habits to ones that they already regularly do, they’re going to have some success,” Dr. Alexander explained. “But if the habits that they’re trying to attach to already-existing ones aren’t things they want to do in the first place, that will affect the likelihood of successfully forming the habit.” Give it a try, but start small. And if it doesn’t work, try it again. Give yourself grace. None of this happens overnight, but if you’re giving it your best, that’s a win in and of itself.

There are so many buzzwords in the health and wellness space that it can be tough to keep them all straight. Some of these words also sound strikingly similar, which makes things even more confusing. Enter probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. If you’ve ever been on an antibiotic or suffered from gut issues, you may already know the difference and why each plays a significant role in keeping our gut microbiome healthy. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics can be consumed as supplements or as part of a balanced diet through food. Is one better than the other? Some experts say, yes. When we examine the function of probiotics, they exist to promote diversity in our microbiome. Believe it or not, the more bacteria, fungi, and viruses in our gut microbiome, the better our overall health will be. “The doses of microbes found in supplements are overly potent, with billions to trillions of microbes, far exceeding the amounts in fermented foods, which contain hundreds of thousands to millions,” Rachele Pojednic, PhD , Stanford University nutrition and exercise scientist, explains. “In this context, more is not better; natural sources provide a gentler, more physiologically effective way to support your microbiome.” The most effective way to introduce probiotics into our system is by consuming fermented foods. Great options include kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, cottage cheese, and tempeh. Prebiotics, like fibrous foods, help to keep the “good” bacteria alive and well in our guts. The great thing about prebiotics is that they come in various forms that cater to many different dietary habits. High-fiber prebiotic foods include legumes, seeds, whole grains, nuts, fibrous vegetables, and berries with seeds. Even the pickiest eater will find at least one thing on that list they’ll eat. But What About Postbiotics? Postbiotics are created when probiotics ferment prebiotics in our gut. These compounds help our bodies fight off inflammation, strengthen our gut, and support our immune system. If we fuel ourselves properly with probiotics and prebiotics, the postbiotics will be in great shape. “To ensure your microbiome is getting the sustenance it needs, it is best to get your probiotics from fermented foods and prebiotics from high-fiber foods, which have the added bonus of numerous other health benefits,” Dr. Pojednic says. Eating delicious foods while promoting gut health is a win/win for us.

We’re moms, which means if our kids get sick, we have to take care of them. Of course, that’s something we love to do, but we don’t want their germs. With cold and flu season upon us, the funk will inevitably make its way into our homes. We can’t make the germs check themselves at the door, but we can do our best to build our immune systems so we stand a better chance of not getting sick. To build up that armor, we need to eat the right foods, get our bodies moving, eliminate toxins, and manage our stress levels. We know, it seems like a lot, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons on this one. Dmitry Ganin As far as our diet is concerned, it’s best to pump our immune systems with vitamins and minerals through real foods and not supplements. Victoria Othersen, DO , a board-certified family physician with Franciscan Physician Network in Beech Grove, Indiana, recommends stocking the fridge and pantry with an array of superfoods that will help boost immunity. Luckily, the best foods to fight the flu are items you might already have on your shopping list. Fight the Flu With These Immune-Boosting Foods Lemon - Lemons give us much-needed vitamin C, which can help build up that immunity. An easy way to incorporate lemon is into your water, tea, or even on a salad to give it a tangy boost. Garlic - Eating garlic will keep the vampires away this fall and the germs during cold and flu season. Throwing garlic into your favorite recipes is simple. And if you really want a treat, roast it in your oven with a bit of olive oil, and it will give you the most delicious spread for sourdough toast. Together, you’ll have immune system support and a little gut health to boot. Almonds- Almonds are a great snack to take on the go, providing us with protein, fiber, and vitamin E. A handful of almonds can help you feel satiated in between meals while helping make your immune system stronger. Add them to your oatmeal, granola, and yogurt for a boost of added crunch. Sweet Potatoes - This versatile tuber is loaded with vitamin A, which protects cells that fight germs. The best part is that one sweet potato has your daily dose of vitamin A. So, mash it, bake it, or put it in a pie to boost your immunity. Photo By Wix Of course, there are plenty of other foods that can help boost our immune systems. As we often hear, it’s essential to eat the rainbow. The brighter your fruits and vegetables, the better they are for you. And when it comes to cooking, plenty of spices will not only flavor your food but also help keep you healthy. Try combining ingredients like ginger and turmeric with lean proteins like chicken to create a delicious and immunity-building meal. "The stomach is a huge part of our immunity," Dr. Othersen said. "Our good gut bacteria help protect us. But when you eat all those processed foods, it kills good bacteria, and bad bacteria start to grow. So, things like processed meats, charred meats, fast food, sweets — they may taste good, but they're not good for your immune system." It's more than just the foods we eat; our immune systems run on exercise, plenty of water, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking, alcohol, and drugs. When you’re hurting your body, it’s less likely to be able to fight off germs for you. "What I tell my patients is it's not all or nothing," Dr. Othersen shared. "You don't have to be perfect. I always say, 'Small steps, big rewards.'" So, treat your body as a temple. Nourish it, care for it, and help it stay strong. When cold and flu season arrives, you’ll be happy you did.

Caffeine is a part of many moms’ daily routines. Whether we get it from coffee, soda, energy drinks, or supplements, it’s everywhere. But how much caffeine is too much? If you’re a three-cup-a-day coffee drinker or someone who likes a few diet sodas, are you putting your health at risk? The U.S. Food & Drug Administration suggests the average adult stick to about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. You can mix the types of caffeine you consume, but be aware that if you drink all day and don’t stick to just water, it can affect your health. Per the FDA, 12 oz of liquid can contain varying amounts of caffeine. Here are a few examples. Caffeinated Soft Drinks 23 to 83 milligrams Green Tea 37 milligrams Black Tea 71 milligrams Regular Non Specialty Coffee 113 to 247 milligrams Energy Drinks 41 to 246 milligrams It’s also important to note that caffeine isn’t only in what we drink. Foods also contain caffeine, albeit likely in smaller amounts. According to the FDA, food products do not necessarily have to list the amount of caffeine on the label, but they must list caffeinated ingredients, such as chocolate. By Wix “By law, food companies are responsible for making sure any use of caffeine in their products is safe. Caffeine, like any substance added to food, must be safe under the conditions it’s expected to be used, including the amount expected to be consumed,” the FDA notes. Too much caffeine can cause an array of symptoms like anxiety, headache, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, insomnia or disrupted sleep, jitters, nausea, and upset stomach. By Wix As with anything we consume, moderation is best. The FDA recommends against the cold turkey method for lowering caffeine consumption. “If you’re used to drinking caffeine-containing beverages every day, and want to cut back, it’s best to do so gradually. Caffeine withdrawal isn’t considered dangerous but can be unpleasant,” the FDA explains. Always consult your physician before making any changes to your diet to ensure you’re doing it in the safest manner for you.

They say that with age comes wisdom. While that may be true, we moms would’ve liked a bit more warning about midlife. We’ve got mood swings, hot flashes, chin hair, and belly fat, too. Sure, we might have the wisdom to deal with all that ails us at this stage, but it doesn’t make it any more fun. When it comes to belly fat, it may appear even if we aren’t actually gaining any weight. According to the Mayo Clinic , women, in particular, notice more belly fat as their estrogen levels decrease. The belly seems to be the spot on a woman’s body that likes a bit more fluff, whether we want it or not. A bit of belly fat is OK, but too much is linked to serious health conditions. By Wix Per the Mayo Clinic, belly fat is some invasive stuff. It’s not just surface fat just below the skin; it’s actually considered visceral fat. That means it's deep in the abdomen, surrounding internal organs. When you have excessive belly fat, it can lead to conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, and even cancer. To prevent excessive weight gain around our waistline, we should follow a healthy diet and exercise plan. Make sure to drink plenty of water and limit portion sizes. “The ideal approach involves addressing your overall lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet of whole, naturally fiber-rich foods, being regularly active, prioritizing sleep, not drinking excessively, and managing stress,” Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian from Los Angeles who specializes in nutrition and plant-based eating, shared with AARP .   By Wix Sass recommends a plant-based diet, intermittent fasting, and high-intensity interval training. Getting your body moving and calories burning will always help the bottom line. You may not notice a dramatic reduction in belly fat, but preventing any more from forming is equally important. It all goes together. “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet,” Michele Promaulayko told AARP. “Eating a healthy diet and working out are great companions.” Use a bit of that wisdom you’ve developed in the last few decades and make some strides toward better health. If it means fewer sugary drinks and a few more laps around the block, your body will thank you later.