Oatmeal has long been a staple of the American diet, while quinoa has become widely available only within the past several years. Even though it's actually a seed, quinoa is cooked like a grain, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers it a part of the grain food group -- the same group that includes oatmeal.

Regular cardiovascular exercise boosts your long-term health -- it lowers blood pressure, promotes weight loss and improves cholesterol levels. These effects, in turn, reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and heart attacks.

The optimum amount of protein per meal for muscle building -- about 30 grams, according to one study -- is sometimes quoted as the maximum amount you can absorb, but the two are not related.

Brown rice offers you nutrients in greater quantities than those present in refined white rice or other refined grains. Determining exactly how much brown rice you should eat is a highly individualized process. However, the U.S.

Pasta has gotten a poor reputation because it is considered a carbohydrate food, which many people believe leads to weight gain.

While a number of different factors can cause constipation, diets that are high in fat are often to blame. The high fat content found in cheese means that people who enjoy eating this food may be at an increased risk for the development of constipation, which is characterized by hard stools that are difficult to pass.

If you've got a craving for something sweet, digging into a bowl of strawberries can often be just what you need. This juicy, sweet-tasting fruit might satisfy your taste buds, but for some people, it can also lead to bowel-related issues.

It might sound like an ineffective fad diet or an advertising gimmick, but a milk and cereal diet actually can be effective for weight loss. The key is using cereal and low-fat milk as a meal replacement, which works because this food is low in calories.

A staple in many American diets, scrambled eggs make for a filling breakfast and also work well as part of a quick and easy dinner. Plain scrambled eggs offer protein, as well as vitamins and minerals that make them a healthy addition to your diet.

Healthy foods and dietary habits promote physical wellness and in many cases, restful nightly sleep. You may have heard that food eaten at night "turns into fat," causes weight gain or metabolizes slower.

While Subway offers a number of healthy options on its menu -- including sandwiches and salads -- if you like to eat dessert with your meals, you'll need to save room for their cookies. As you might expect from their large size, Subway's cookies are high in calories and fat.

A naturally occurring sugar, fructose is found in all fruits and vegetables. It provides sweetness to these foods, but fructose content can vary widely. Vegetables typically contain smaller amounts of fructose than fruits.