There's been all kinds of stories circulating around lately on what a ridiculously huge amount of calories Olympic athlete Michael Phelps consumes every day while still managing to be totally ripped and toned. Talk about efficient calorie-burning! But you don't have to be on a crazy athletic training schedule and headed for the Olympics to learn how to burn calories better (although that certainly helps, I'm sure!), just try these 5 tips:

• Eat breakfast
• Tune in to your body's hunger cues
• Drink plenty of water
• Encourage healthy bacteria (take probiotics, eat yogurt)
  
• Go heavy on the spices (cayenne pepper, paprika, chili peppers)

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The most natural food of all -- water -- is something many don't consider in everyday life; do you? Personally, I keep three 20-ounce glass bottles of chilled Mountain Valley water (from my 5-gallon dispenser) ready at all times in the fridge -- and I sip from these bottles all day when possible. Why? Since water -- even pristine bottled spring water -- is the best natural tonic there is, in my opinion (and I'm not alone).

For those that may need convincing further, there is a list of 10 reasons to drink more water at this link, and I agree with every single one of the points made here. The best lubrication I can give my joints and the best beverage there is happens to be water. It's not that hard to not drink soft drinks and caffeine-laced beverages if you have pure, fresh and chilled water at hand at all times. Even the mass-produced bottled water brands -- which many think are just re-badged bottles of tap water -- are better than sugared water and high-caffeine *sports* drinks.

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