A healthy diet is important for everyone at all stages of the life cycle. Children require the same kinds of nutrients as adults to support their growing bodies and activity, but the amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals children need varies depending on their age, sex and activity level.

While you won’t grow taller than you’re genetically designed to, getting plenty of essential vitamins daily helps ensure you reach your full growth potential.

B-complex vitamins are nutrients that help your body convert calories into energy. They are also important for vision, normal appetite, and healthy skin, hair and nails. In addition, they play a role in the formation of red blood cells and the functioning of the nervous system.

Coconut oil adds a twist of flavor to many popular foods such as sauteed veggies, recipes for baked goods and seared meats. Coconut oil is high in fat, however, particularly in saturated fat. Coconut oil, as well as other tropical oils like palm kernel oil, contains lauric acid, which is a good kind of fatty acid.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning that your body only requires them in minute quantities. They don't directly provide energy, yet they're critical for life. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a vitamin-rich diet can help you stave off many diseases.

Refueling your body with appropriate food after running, biking or other cardiovascular exercise enhances recovery, staving off fatigue and low blood sugar.

Ian Somerhalder shares his top tips for living a healthy lifestyle in an exclusive interview with LIVESTRONG.COM.

Dr. Steven Gundry, author of the best-selling book The Plant Paradox, is a big fan of the intermittent fasting lifestyle. In this episode of the Stronger podcast, Dr. Gundry talks about his experience with intermittent fasting — and how it's connected to the keto diet.

Cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and children, according to Food Allergy Research and Education.

Hamburgers can be cooked many different ways, including on the stove or grill, and in the oven. The oven-cooked hamburger tends to be juicier and more tender than hamburgers cooked with other methods because the oven allows heat to be evenly distributed.

Nightshade fruits and vegetables belong to the family of Solanaceae plants of the Solanum genus. This group of plants contains more than 2,500 species that are widely used as food and medicine, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Smoking increases your risk of cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, eye disorders such as cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis, dental problems and stroke, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.