According to the Cleveland Clinic, foods rich in antioxidants have substances such as flavonoids and lycopenes, which aren’t included in vitamin supplements. Eating a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, namely fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Now a new book, The 02 Diet, presents information showing how antioxidants also make you slimmer. If you’re game to eat your way fitter and prettier, in it you’ll learn where your foods rank on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Scale, kick-start your weight loss and boost beauty with an easy 4-day cleanse and a delicious 4-week antioxidant-based program.

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Stocking-stuffer gifts for fitness buffs are often bought last minute; they’re an afterthought or an impulse buy at the cash register. But at my house, plunging into the holiday stocking is the most eagerly anticipated event because of the element of surprise. The holiday stocking is the equivalent of a chef’s amuse bouche — a small sample of a dish to both excite a diner’s appetite and provide a glimpse into the dinner to come. My special someone and I look forward to tearing into our holiday loot bags and I enjoy that it’s my chance to impress him and set a happy mood for the holidays.

My most successful stockings were ones I planned in advance. Making time allowed me to fill the stockings with thoughtful, offbeat gifts. (If you want to melt someone’s heart, I recommend that you make the stocking. I hand-stitched the felt stocking pictured above for my muscle man, and I’ve yet to see him smile wider. It’s the stocking he wants stuffed every year.) I learned that picking unpredictable fitness gifts for someone dreaming of a tight Christmas requires a good eye for items that the recipient would want to try, but would not ordinarily buy; and that the presents should be easily affordable for you.
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The well-chosen book ideas for Christmas and holiday gifts for the health and fitness buff listed here are new or bestsellers. These books are a worthy addition to everyone’s library shelf or coffee table, but flipping through them, you might find fitness books to inspire your workout.

1.

Knockout Workout, Mia St. John

2.

Body Science, James Cracknell

3.

Walking, John Stanton
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Spotted on freshly-stocked shelves at Canadian grocery stores, is 20 grams of muscle-preserving portable energy from CLIF. Made with an emphasis on carbs until recently, CLIF has just doubled the soy protein in its Builder’s bar, which is made with organic ingredients, and free of antibiotics, hormones and genetic modifications. In addition, CLIF Builder’s doesn’t contain trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils and is considered a low-glycemic food.

The moist protein bar with a light peanutty flavour proved tasty, but the revelation was the lack of aggressive chewiness that can accompany other energy bars. For fruit & cereal bar lovers, the lemon is sure to please your palate for pre- or post-workout recovery snacks.

To help you understand the important role protein plays in your fitness, visit Clifbar.com, and then download a free protein tracker.

Do you eat protein bars? What brand and flavour is your favourite?

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When time-starved, you need an easy prep, fast clean-up and nutrient-dense post-workout meal. Put savoury bowls of muscle-maintaining protein, antioxidant-rich vegetables, and slow-burning carbs on your winter menu.

I crave the instant gratification of having a programmable one-pot meal on-the-ready when every cell in my body says ‘eat’ after burning 800 calories in spinning class. And I find hot and spicy exotically scented Indian fare after Ashtanga yoga gastronomically restorative. To help you make fit food fast, the editors at Epicurious offer a variety of easy crock pot recipes and meat dishes to please almost any palate. Pork, salmon, and chicken stews are spoon-lickers, but it’s their chocolate chip cookie slow cooker recipe that will surprise you the most.

Share your one-pot meal recipes or provide a link to your favourite.

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