The diet stereotype of noshing on carrot and celery sticks all day is a cliche for a good reason -- carrots are a great diet food. They're naturally low in calories and full of nutrients that can help your weight loss efforts.
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Sodium, or salt, makes up an essential part of your diet. Found in a number of food products, salt can act as a preservative to help extend a food's shelf life, or act as a seasoning and flavor enhancer in dishes.
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Almonds have a well-deserved reputation as a health food -- they're high in beneficial nutrients like magnesium, vitamin E and copper. And while almonds aren't a low-calorie food, they can fit well into a weight loss diet.
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While both black and green teas are made from the same plant, green tea leaves undergo minimal processing, while black tea has gone through an oxidation process, called fermentation.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends making dairy products -- a food group that also includes dairy alternatives, including soy or almond milk -- part of your daily diet. You need three servings daily, and a cup of vanilla soy milk contributes one-third toward your daily intake.
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Many people, especially women, tend to store weight in their lower bodies, which makes the thighs a common "trouble zone." How easily you can lose an inch off your thighs depends on your current fitness level -- if you're currently overweight, you'll be able to lose that inch relatively easily by losing body fat.
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While iceberg lettuce has a bad reputation of being low in nutrients, that's not exactly true -- it's just lower in nutrients than some other types of lettuce. Iceberg lettuce serves as a good source of some essential nutrients, and at just 20 calories per serving, it fits into a calorie-conscious diet.
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Get rid of loose stomach fat by creating a calorie deficit, toning up your midsection with exercise, and eating minimally processed foods. Losing belly fat is crucial for overall health, as it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Snacks make up an important part of a balanced diet -- they help increase your nutrient intake, give you energy throughout the day and might prevent you from overeating at meals -- provided they're healthy snacks.
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A number of proteins and genes affect the thickness of your blood to help maintain your health. Too-fast or too-slow blood coagulation can prove harmful, causing abnormal blood clot formation or abnormal bleeding, respectively.
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Many omnivorous diets include chicken and fish. Chicken breasts and tuna steaks both provide a relatively mild flavor, and make for excellent entrees consumed on their own, or as an additive or topper to stir fries, casseroles and salads.
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With their melt-in-your-mouth, sugary flesh, sweet potatoes are a healthy way to satisfy a carb craving. Sweet potatoes are a moderate source of calories but contain healthy carbs, like fiber, that help you lose weight.
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The mild, slightly sweet flavor of scallops makes for a pleasing and nutritious main course. They're low in mercury, according to Maine Sea Grant, so you can include scallops in your diet on a regular basis without having to worry about mercury poisoning.
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Folate, also called folic acid or vitamin B-9, is one of the essential B-complex vitamins. It plays an essential role in the development of the precursors to the nervous system during embryonic development, and it also aids in the production of energy within your cells.
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Dairy, or dairy alternatives, are a key part of a healthy diet, and USDA ChooseMyPlate guidelines recommend that both men and women get 3 cups of dairy each day. Milk, as well as plant-based alternative milk sources such as soy milk or almond milk, all count toward your daily intake.
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Ginkgo biloba is one of the most common herbal supplements in the United States. Available in capsules, powders, tinctures, extracts, or even teas, there are a number of ways to consume the herb.
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Whether you like them scrambled, poached or over easy, eggs are welcome in many health-conscious diets. They're relatively low in calories and full of high-quality protein and other nutrients, which means they can boost your health, as well as help you shed pounds.
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Ginger cookies fall into the category of "empty calories," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines. You should consume empty calorie foods in moderation. Columbia College recommends that you allot 260 calories in a 2,000-calorie diet to the foods you want, which can include empty calories.
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Whether you're thin but carrying too much abdominal body fat, which is a condition called normal weight obesity -- or you're relatively fit but trying to lose the last few pounds -- if you want to lose weight, you'll need to make some lifestyle changes.
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Although oils and fats don't have their own food group in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ChooseMyPlate dietary guidelines, the department still recommends including some oil in your diet each day. Women should aim for the equivalent of 5 teaspoons daily, while men should consume 6 teaspoons.
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