1) Pay attention to what's different about crowd scenes in old movies.

No fat people. Even though most people in the old days probably hadn't even heard of nutritional supplements, couldn't care less about fiber content, glycemic index or ORAC, as a group they ate so much better than we do. Why? Virtually no processed foods-they ate whole, real food. It's that simple. And it can be again, if you get determined about sticking to the perimeter of the supermarket and avoiding anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize.

2) That yummy, spicy Indian food may protect your brain.

Turmeric, the popular Indian spice that gives curry its yellow color and characteristic flavour, is widely recognized as a potent anti-inflammatory and has been used medicinally in India through the ages. India has the lowest rate of Alzheimer's in the world, and it may be because of all that fabulous turmeric. Curcumin, the active ingredient, has been shown to prevent Alzheimer's in animal studies.

3) Use food to curb the North American epidemic of inflammation and cancer.

I have a degree in Dietetics in addition to my M.D., and I've been writing about the anti-inflammatory diet for a while-including a chapter about the power of food in my book, Live a Life You Love: 7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You.

Weil noted that most people in North America are in a pro-inflammatory state, due to various factors such as stress, second hand smoke, and to a great degree our diets. High levels of inflammation increase cell proliferation, which increase the risk of developing cancer. You can significantly decrease the inflammation in your body by choosing anti-inflammatory foods such as fish (especially salmon and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids), healthy fats from olive oil and nuts, fruits and vegetables, red wine, etc.

4) Stop thinking in terms of "complex" carbohydrates-the concept is obsolete.

I confess I still use this term sometimes as I was raised on it as a dietitian and doctor, but Weil is right. "The only way to look at carbohydrates is in terms of their glycemic index," he stated. The higher the glycemic index of a food, the higher your blood sugar and insulin levels will go after you consume it; eat enough high GI foods and you'll gradually develop insulin resistance.

Eat foods that are truly made from whole grains (i.e. you can actually SEE the grain itself). The germ layer around the grain has fat which slows the emptying of your stomach and lessens the spike in your blood sugar.

5) Fresh squeezed orange juice is probably not a healthy choice after all.

I mentioned this shocker in the first article but it's worth repeating. When I first heard this from Weil, it was a good thing I was sitting down. The predominant sugar in fruit juices is fructose, and there's lots of it.

According to Weil, "The liver can't process it and it deranges liver function; it may also cause metabolic disturbances potentially leading to obesity and insulin resistance." The fructose in whole fruit doesn't have the same effect, because of whole fruit's fiber content. Again, it seems with whole foods you just can't go wrong.