An increasing number of Americans are overweight and obese, yet strategies for losing weight don’t seem to be working. This is because most people are learning how to lose weight from personal trainers, TV doctors, and celebrity chefs. Most of these “so-called experts,” are not familiar with the scientific nutritional literature and simply render their own opinions. It is hard to lose weight, but it best achieved with strategies, which have been clinically tested. Below are three recent fact-based tips to help you lose weight.

Let’s be clear, the most common reason for dying is heart disease. New government statistics are out – the major cause of death, bigger than all forms of cancer combined, is heart disease. So, take care of your heart! Easier said than done.

Can you believe this — “Prolonged sitting is damaging to health,” according to Australian researchers. Basically, if you sit for more than 8 hours, then your chance of dying is almost twice that of those who sit for fewer hours during the day. And worse, you don’t get any benefit to living a longer life even if you exercise, are normal weight, or are young. Give me a break! Who thinks up this stuff? This just isn’t fair.

I bet just about everyone is worried about gaining weight after over-eating at their big holiday meal. Jamie Oliver would consider over-eating a no-no! Here is a simple way to avoid that without changing one recipe or skipping dessert. Yes, it is possible.

Just about every adult has a dietary deficiency of the essential fatty acids found in the omega-3 family. These omega-3s are primarily found in seafood. A poor-quality version of omega-3s is also found in some seed oils, like flaxseed oil. However, you need at least ten times more of the seed oil omega-3s than the seafood ones to get the same healthy benefits.

I bet just about everyone would say yes to this statement. Of course, all the experts say that you should eat healthy foods and exercise, which I agree with. However, the number of people who are overweight continues to rise, so that message isn’t working. Based on a couple of new research studies, here is what I’d recommend:

What if every American turned their heat down one degree Fahrenheit in the winter and their air conditioners up one degree in the summer? Guess what – everyone would lose weight and save money – two things that most Americans would like to do. But how can this be?

Unless you’ve been asleep at the switch, you know that there is a lot in the press about the benefits of vitamin D. The most compelling studies have shown that people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood have a lower chance of developing many types of cancer later in life such as of the breast, colon, and pancreas. This has triggered many Americans to start popping vitamin D pills. But, is this a good thing? YES and NO.

I bet most of you know how much you weigh, and some of you know your Body Mass Index (BMI). If you don’t, you can find it on your profile page of Anytime Health! It is important to know your weight and BMI today, as well as past and future values. It turns out that they are predictive of your future health.