I overnighted in a Spanish village earlier this year. I couldn’t help noticing how healthy everybody seemed to be. Could it be because of their Mediterranean diet?

The skins of children literally glowed. The older people seemed more agile. Could it be their magnificent hillside view across the Mediterranean Sea that did this for them, I wondered. Or was it something else perhaps? That evening, I enjoyed a delicious meal of linguine pasta seasoned with a tasty sauce, and washed down by a generous glass of red wine included in the price.

Later, I enjoyed the company of friendly locals around a convivial bar, although my Spanish and their English could have been better.

I decided to investigate the causes of their happy ambience after I got home. In the morning, I wondered whether it might be the food and wine I slept so well on. And so I Googled mediterranean diet and food shortly after I got back.

I learned that my new-found friends didn’t just look healthier. They actually were. And that was for two straightforward reasons. They couldn’t afford a red meat diet or sweets for their kids. And they cooked in olive oil because that was all they had.

The net result was that they enjoyed a diet rich in fibre, and full of healthy carbs like pastas, rice and wholegrain breads. They also ate a fair amount of fish rich in omega three that fisherman caught in the nearby ocean. I was delighted to discover that the wine I had enjoyed that evening contained flavonoids that protected my arteries and blood vessels too.

Elsewhere, I read that Spanish villagers have a fifty per cent lower rate of premature death from cardiovascular disease, when compared to westerners. Was this the reason my grandmother was always trying to feed me pasta and rice? In hindsight I guess she was just doing what came naturally.

Now I’m not suggesting for a moment that we should throw away our favourite foods because I know we won’t. I’m proposing we just trim our dietary sails a bit, and maybe educate our kids a little better. Health and fitness is a lifestyle issue. If you can’t afford the time to visit Spain, why not take your body on a Mediterranean holiday instead and change to a mediterranean diet?

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Britain’s much loved opera singer Elizabeth Connell died recently aged 65. What possible interest could this be to RatRaceWinner.com?

 

Well it’s of interest if you are planning to retire wealthy at a much younger age.

 

Elizabeth certainly completed the race she set herself in style. Along the way, she reinvented herself several times in ways that we can learn from.

 

Elizabeth was born in a backwater South African harbour town in 1946 of immigrant parents fleeing the fall-out from the war. Dad was a Yorkshire Catholic, Mum an Ulster Protestant. Not quite the best break in life for a little girl who was to stun the world through singing – although she did manage to learn to play the piano while at school.  Read more... (493 words, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

Google has announced this week the implementation of Google Panda Update 3.3.

The ethos of this site is to advise on how to make money online and to maximise on life.

Therefore I’ll keep this post short and sweet. It’s worth a mention however as these algorithm changes affect what we do online.

The Google Panda Update 3.3 In A Nutshell

The post released by Google says it’s getting rid of a link evaluation signal that it’s been using for years.  Read more... (282 words, estimated 1:08 mins reading time)

I've just been reading about an amazing opportunity to fly a Jetpack named the Jetlev Flyer..  And I've just added it to the top of my things to do this year!

Jetpacks were first made famous by James Bond in the film Thunderball. As always he made flying one look easy, but the reality is that they are extremely difficult to fly.

Plus the thought of strapping highly flammable liquids to your back, and then igniting it has never really appealed to the masses.

But after 10 years of trial and error, some mad inventor has developed a way to use water instead of flammable fuel!  

Watch the video below to see a Jetlev Flyer in action..



Named the Jetlev, it uses a floating pump to power the water Jetpack which is strapped to your back.

Both devices are connected together via a giant hose.  And the floating pump travels behind you in the water as you have fun flying.

The water is then super blasted out of two mini booster rockets. How cool is this! I am definitely gonna have a go either this year or next!

Anyone else who is interested can either go out and buy their own Jetlev for $99,500, or if you are heading down to Key West in Florida, you can try an introductory Jetlev flight for just $267.78. A bargain if you ask me!

I can see this adventure experience coming to a Water Park near you very soon!

Trying new experiences like this is what maximising on life is all about!  And having a go on a Jetlev certainly ticks this box!