If you ask actress/model Sherri Saum what's one of the things that has changed her life the most in the last several years, she'll say, without hesitation, "Good nutrition." Sherri, who plays the ambitious newspaper reporter Vanessa on daytime's Sunset Beach, stays healthy and energized with the help of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole, organic foods, yoga, and close family ties. We talked to her about her healthy lifestyle and more.

LL: What's your secret to a healthy lifestyle?
SS: Balance. I've always been searching for balance in my life, and I've finally found it by listening to my body. Living simply, by eating whole foods, from nature, using the earth to nourish my body and exercising, are all so important for establishing a balance in life. It wasn't until I moved to LA and started doing Sunset Beach that I discovered, through my friends and co-workers, that my body needed more protein for energy. I use to go around eating nothing but bagels all day long - I didn't get the connection.

Good nutrition and exercise have changed my life. Supplements have also helped to give me more energy. When I feel run down, I take a little extra iron. Normally, I take a good multi-vitamin, and sometimes I take bee pollen for allergies, garlic for immune strength and doing quai for female health.

LL: What do you eat on a typical day?
SS: I always eat breakfast, which usually consists of cereal and banana. I try to eat small meals throughout the day to keep my energy level high, and I also drink lots of water.

For lunch, I generally eat something high in protein, like a turkey sandwich with fresh fruit. Then, I grab a protein bar as a snack. Dinner is usually vegetarian chili, chicken, or turkey and vegetables. I'm lucky because my boyfriend Tim Adams (who plays Casey on Sunset Beach) cooks dinner for me every night.

LL: With such a busy schedule, how do you stay fit?
SS: Yoga is my savior. I do yoga twice a week, sometimes more. I just started doing sauna yoga, which is yoga in a heated room. It's a great form of detox. I also racewalk and do the treadmill a few times a week.

LL: What other things are important to you?
SS: Family is very important to me. I'm very close to my family. Even though most of my family lives in Dayton, Ohio, where I'm from, I talk to them on the phone constantly. My sister lives in LA with me. It's nice to have one family member close by.

I love to travel, especially to New York. Outside of the US, Spain is probably my favorite place to visit. I also love to read, especially crime novels. If I weren't an actress, I would want to work for the FBI.