Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips

By: Mehmet Oz, M.D.

My patients are among my best teachers. They've taught me how to communicate clearly—and how to live a better life. On The Dr. Oz Show, I've seen that once people are emotionally involved, change happens quickly, especially if they feel that their behavior is letting loved ones down. Large-scale change seems daunting. We want simple routines that we can automatically follow. Adopt some of the steps here, which anyone can do, and you will like your life more in just a couple of weeks. And you'll live longer. Try them—they work for me.

Men's Health tip: There are even more ways to add years to your life—and erase them from your face. Use the secret Age Erasers for Men to look younger, feel younger, and stay younger longer!

Dr. Oz Tip #1

ROTF, LMAO
Laughing not only eases stress, promotes social bonding, and lowers blood pressure, it may also boost your immune system. So bring some humor into your life, whether it's through friends or even a new TV show (preferably mine).

Men's Health tip: If humor doesn't work, these 52 ways to conquer and control stress will arm you with more than enough strategies to face anything life throws your way.

Dr. Oz Tip #2

Don't Skip Breakfast
Fiber in the morning means less hunger late in the afternoon, when you're most likely to feel tired and gorge yourself on sugar. My morning dose comes from steel-cut oatmeal, usually mixed with raisins, walnuts, and flaxseed oil. An early start on eating also keeps your metabolism more active throughout the day; breakfast eaters are thinner than people who just rush out the door.

Men's Health Tip: If you must stop at the drive-thru for your a.m. meal, be sure to avoid the 20 worst breakfasts in America.

Dr. Oz Tip #3

Hit the Sack
Conan and Dave are funny, but they're not worth the strain on your system. Seven hours of sleep a night not only helps you live longer, but also lowers your stress, sharpens your memory, and reduces cravings for pants-splitting foods. Set a bedtime and stick to it. My target is 10:30 p.m. I record the late shows and then watch them the next day as I pedal a stationary bike.

Men's Health tip: Try these expert tips to sleep better every night.

Dr. Oz Tip #4

Admire Your Work
Don't be so trigger-happy with the flusher. Turn around and take a look at your poop, which speaks volumes about your gut and overall health. Poop should be smooth and S-shaped, like your colon. If it comes out too lumpy, or drops into the bowl like marbles, you're constipated. Increase your fiber and water intake. This happens to me when I travel, so I fiber-load before a trip to avoid getting irritable.

Men's Health tip: You don't need Metamucil—here are 30 great-tasting ways to add fiber to your diet.

Dr. Oz Tip #5

Don't Pamper Your Bad Back
Even if you're hunched over in agony, taking to your bed will only make a bad back worse. The latest research shows that bed rest weakens back muscles and prolongs the suffering. Married men may suffer more than single men because of all the pampering. I used to love milking the care from Lisa, but the best solution is to get up, take a pain reliever, and be a soldier.

Men's Health tip: Perform the Ultimate Upper-Body Workout to strengthen your back and broaden your shoulders.  

Dr. Oz Tip #6

Taste the Colors
Foods with bright, rich colors are more than just nice to look at. They're also packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, powerful compounds that bind the damaging free radicals in your body, lowering inflammation. (Sadly, skittles do not count.) Eat nine fistfuls of colorful fruits and vegetables each day and you'll reap the benefits without having to give up other foods. Whenever I shop the produce aisle, I'm reminded that these foods are often more powerful than the drugs sold in pharmacies. My favorites are arugula and blueberries.

Men's Health tip: How do you know if your blueberries are ripe? Use this guide to select the best, freshest produce at your supermarket.

Dr. Oz Tip #7

Brushing is Not Enough
If you plan to spend your later years eating more than yogurt and applesauce, invest in some floss. No matter how thoroughly or long you brush your teeth, you're missing a good portion of their total surface. That's like washing one armpit after a workout. But the dangers of skipping floss go beyond hygiene: The bacteria that linger can increase your risk of heart disease. I use Reach Ultraclean floss, which stretches to glide between teeth.

Men's Health tip: For a bright smile, try this do-it-yourself whitening plan that will save you money.

Dr. Oz Tip #8

Take a Deep Belly Breath
Do this anywhere, anytime. Push out your bellows and suck air through your nose until your lungs are full. They'll fill with nitric oxide, a chemical found in the back of your nose that opens up blood vessels. The dose of oxygen will make you feel happier and more alert. This is my secret technique for calming down before a show or a tough stitch in the OR.

Men's Health tip: If you have more time, fit in a stress-busting workout to feel relaxed and ripped.

Dr. Oz Tip #9

Join a Yoga Class
Yoga is the most important exer cise of my daily routine. Being surrounded by beautiful women in spandex should be reason enough for you to join a class, but if you need more motivation, consider this: Yoga eases stress, lowers blood pressure, slows heart rates, and increases flexibility. And there's nothing mystical about it. Loosening your muscles will make them more adaptable, so you may be less likely to injure yourself playing sports. Sure, some of the poses may look ridiculous, but that's for a reason you'll learn quickly enough. Yoga can reach and work muscles that are ignored during routine sports and daily life. My favorite maneuver is the sun salutation.

Men's Health tip: Learn that pose and many others in this guy-friendly 30-day quick-start yoga guide.

Dr. Oz Tip #10

Don't Be an Island
Ever wonder why women live longer than men do? One major reason: They form tight networks and actually talk about their problems. If you face life's stresses alone, you will make yourself older. Bankruptcy, for example, causes enough stress to wreak havoc on your body. With another person's love and support, that inner aging can be reduced.

Men's Health tip: You really can remake your body into a sleeker, fitter, stronger version of its younger self: Here's everything you need for your best body at 40-plus.

Dr. Oz Tip #11

Avoid Fad Diets
The secret to weight loss is not to avoid carbs, fats, yellow foods, solid foods, or foods that start with the letter G. The real trick is to lower your daily intake by about 100 calories. You'll hardly notice, but it'll add up to a loss of about 10 pounds in a year. Calorie restriction has been shown to lengthen life (in rats and monkeys). I cut back once a year to reset my appetite and tastebuds. Healthy food tastes great afterward. Frankly, any food would.

Men's Health tip: Lose 10, 20, 30 pounds or more eating all the foods you love with the secrets in Eat This, Not That! The Best (& Worst) Foods in America!

Dr. Oz Tip #12

Be a Smart Patient
Your doctor can help keep you in good health, but the responsibility ultimately falls on you. Seek a second opinion before undergoing any procedure, because 30 percent of the time, that opinion will change the diagnosis or plan. Keep a written medical history, and educate yourself about any family problems, even if that means calling your creepy uncle. You might even consider signing onto Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health, so your files are accessible in case you find yourself in trouble away from home.

Men's Health tip: If your child falls ill and needs to go to the emergency room, use these strategies to keep him or her calm and to be sure they receive the care they need.

Dr. Oz Tip #13

Lose the Beer Belly
Most men fasten their belts below their waists. It's just another way of avoiding the truth about that gut. Grab a tape measure and put it around your body at the level of your belly button. That number should be less than half your height. So for my 6'1" frame, I need to keep my waist under 36.5". If avoiding heart attacks and diabetes isn't enough motivation to eliminate that gut, consider this: For every point your body mass index is over 25, your testosterone drops 3 percent, which isn't very manly.

Men's Health tip: Learn the cutting-edge, 4-week plan to a leaner, stronger, more muscular body in The Big Book of Exercises.

Dr. Oz Tip #14

Go Green
I drink green tea three times a day. It's packed with heart-boosting and cancer-stopping polyphenols that black tea doesn't offer. (These beneficial chemicals are lost when it's fermented.) Green tea also delivers a boost of alertness, but from a smaller dose of caffeine than black tea. Green tea can even fight dandruff, although only if you pour it directly onto your scalp. (It's probably a good idea to let it cool down first.)

Men's Health tip: Any time you're thirsty, tea is a great choice—especially compared with the 30 Worst Drinks in America.

Dr. Oz Tip #15

Sweat Till You're Wet
If you can work up a sweat for just 1 hour a week, you'll enjoy a range of benefits: reduced risk of heart attack, better mood, and lower blood pressure. I like interval training on the elliptical, with 15 pullups and 15 dips every 10 minutes. Your muscles will become more efficient, so you'll have more stamina for more enjoyable activities that also work up a sweat.

Men's Health tip: Try our free downloadable training guides to stay in top shape.

Dr. Oz Tip #16

Put It in the Bank
Most people rank personal finance as their number one stressor, usually because they feel powerless. Stress not only shortens lives, it also drives people to habits like smoking, drinking, or bingeing on food. Keep some money in a special bank account, safe from your lust for a new television, and you'll establish an emotional comfort zone with major health benefits.

Men's Health tip: How can you do that considering the economy? Throw out the old rules and follow these seven new guidelines to retire rich.

Dr. Oz Tip #17

Have as Much Sex as Possible
If a 50-something man could have sex 700 times a year, the exercise and stress reduction would make him look and feel years younger. I wouldn't recommend quitting your day job in order to hit that number—but what's the harm in trying? The next time your loved one says she has a headache, tell her she's literally killing you. It works for me.

Men's Health tip: Use this fun schedule to have sex eight times this week.

Dr. Oz Tip #18

Know Your Numbers, Then Aim Lower
Take the part of your brain dedicated to your steak house's phone number and reassign it to your heart's vital signs. These include blood pressure (which ideally should be below 115 over 75), LDL cholesterol (under 100), resting heart rate (under 70), and fasting blood sugar (under 100). If your numbers aren't ideal, change your diet until they improve.

Men's Health tip: It doesn't take drastic changes: Check out how real guys have lost 2 million pounds on the Belly Off! diet.

Dr. Oz Tip #19

Add Some Weights
Just 30 minutes twice a week spent lifting weights can build significant muscle mass. What's more, working all that muscle burns tons of calories, making it a great way to lose your gut, too. Don't have weights? Try lifting yourself: Pullups are the most valuable muscle-building exercises I do. Oprah's trainer, Bob Greene, pointed out to me that pullups work the back, pecs, arms, and belly all at once. And since you're lifting yourself, you'll think twice before eating that doughnut, because you'll just have to lift it later.

Men's Health tip: A simple setup in a door frame is convenient and inexpensive. Even better: Download exclusive Men's Health workouts to your iPhone!

Dr. Oz Tip #20

Grab Your Nuts
Nuts are among the best sources of healthful fats and protein around. I keep a bag of walnuts in my fridge and use their massive dose of omega-3 fatty acids to boost my brainpower while I see patients. Half of a handful eaten about 30 minutes before a meal will temper your appetite and help you avoid the drive-thru.

Men's Health tip: Check out our pick for the best nuts in our list of the 125 Best Foods for Men.

Dr. Oz Tip #21

No, Seriously, Grab Your Nuts
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men in the 15-to-35 age group, but it's usually curable if it's caught early enough. I strongly urge you to grab your testicles. Check them for bumps at least once a month. Each testicle should feel smooth and slightly soft, and one should hang slightly lower than the other, like two avocados (which, in Aztec, actually means "testicles") growing on a tree.

Men's Health tip: Here is everything else you need to know to keep your package healthy.

Dr. Oz Tip #22

Hit the Dance Floor
Crosswords and card games aren't the only way to keep your brain razor sharp. It turns out that any kind of dancing with complex moves is stimulating enough to give your neurons a workout. Even the simplest moves provide some physical exercise. So don't be such a wallflower on your next night out. As a bonus, dancing may help you with tip No. 17.

Men's Health tip: If golf is your favorite leisure activity, learn the 20 exercises that will lower your score and power up your swing.

Dr. Oz Tip #23

Do Your Penis a Favor . . .
. . . and step on a treadmill. Men who exercise enough to burn 200 calories a day significantly lower their chances of impotence. That's because impotence often has the same cause as heart attacks: blocked arteries. Your penis is like a dipstick for your arteries, so check it. If you're interested in keeping it up later in life, lace up the sneakers now.

Men's Health tip: You don't have to hit the gym. Head outside to challenge your muscles to one of these fun, fat-burning workouts.

Dr. Oz Tip #24

Learn to Cook
Think you know how much butter goes into those mashed potatoes at a restaurant? You're probably off by half. If you can cook, you not only save money but also gain control over what goes into your meals. Plus, for most women, a man who knows how to cook is as sexy as one who stars in movies. I have trouble boiling water. Thankfully, I'm already married.

Men's Health tip: Turn on the woman in your life with these impressive, mouth-watering recipes.

Dr. Oz Tip #25

Some Pills Should Be Popped
The indoor life gives modern man protection from the elements and the ability to watch Gossip Girl in private. Unfortunately, roughly half of us are deficient in vitamin D which the sun is a major source. This crucial vitamin may aid in fighting cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. I take a 1,000 IU supplement each morning.

Men's Health tip: Consult this A-to-Z guide to figure out which other supplements you sho

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