Dr. OzDr. Oz is such a good listener.You know a doctor is something special when you feel better after merely shaking his hand. That's what happened to me yesterday when I had the pleasure of meeting medical superstar Dr. Mehmet Oz at a roundtable interview on the set of The Dr. Oz Show: A little eye contact, a warm handshake -- and the dull headache and nagging neck pain that were plaguing me all morning disappeared like magic.

Okay, perhaps my miraculous healing had something to do with the fact that Dr. Oz is even more handsome and charming in person than you'd expect. But only a little something.

Because in all seriousness, it was the good doc's words of wisdom that really got me buzzed. No matter what we bloggers asked, Dr. Oz had an instant, remarkably informative response. Previously mystifying physical ailments (one writer asked about psoriasis, others asked about weight loss) suddenly seemed simple, easily solved.

Spending an hour with Dr. Oz is like soaking up a year's worth of med school credits in a matter of minutes. I wish I could give you a word-for-word transcript, but for now, the CliffsNotes version ...

5 Health Secrets to Remember from the Land of Oz:

1. "There are 4 things your body craves: Sleep, sex, water, and food. If you don't get enough of one, your brain will make it up in another area."

Aha! So if you're nodding off at 3 p.m. every day, don't go for a donut and coffee. Chances are what you really need is to get more sleep or to get ... well, you know.

2. "People who nap live longer."

Need I say more?

3. "Genes load the gun; environment pulls the trigger."

In other words, don't let a family history of cancer, asthma, or any other hereditary conditions make you feel doomed. Genetic predisposition to an illness only points you in its direction; lifestyle choices gets you the rest of the way there.

4. "Your kid won't eat the same thing at 35 that he eats at 5."

Take heart, moms of picky eaters! Little kids have an abundance of taste buds and a hard-wired, primal affinity for sweets (kept little cave-children from eating bitter, poisonous berries!). Eventually, they will learn to like broccoli. Really.

5. "I eat the same thing for breakfast every day."

People make bad diet decisions when they're hungry and tired and their choice-making capabilities are compromised. Dr. Oz avoids this trap by eating the same breakfast on a daily basis: 2 percent Fage yogurt, blueberries, and Ezekiel sprouted grain cereal.

Which of these tips is the most helpful to you?


Image via The Stir