Gestational diabetes occurs in 14 percent to 25 percent of all pregnancies. Obesity, maternal age, ethnicity and a diabetic family history are all factors that contribute to risk of gestational diabetes. An oral glucose test is performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to test for this condition.

Fish oil is the primary source of two omega-3 fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA -- which prevent inflammation and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eating more vegetables is supposed to be healthy for you and beneficial for your digestive tract. If the ingredients aren’t handled properly or if you’re not used to the fiber surge, however, your plate of leafy greens can leave you with uncontrollable loose stools.

Waking up to an invigorating workout can leave you hungry after your exercise. When you're trying to lose weight as well as refuel after your morning workout, you'll want to choose your menu carefully. Your breakfast has to satisfy your keen appetite while staying within your diet-plan's budget.

Some vitamins are essential for bones, others for cell growth, and still others, like B-complex vitamins, are supporters of skin. Your lips, which have extremely sensitive skin, depend on vitamins to keep them healthy and prevent them from drying and chapping.

Diet restrictions for vegetarians depend on several factors, including the type of vegetarian diet you follow. Semi-vegetarians sometimes eat chicken and fish, while lacto-vegetarians, lacto-ovovegetarians and strict vegetarians eliminate all meat, fish and poultry, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

You need protein for muscle growth, so it seems logical to get some protein into your system before a workout. But muscle building happens after your workout, during the recovery stage, so the best time to take in some protein is 30 to 60 minutes after exercising.

Gout is called a rheumatic, or inflammatory, disease because its symptoms develop when your blood level of uric acid is high, causing small, needle-like uric acid crystals to form in your joints and cause inflammation.

Although there’s no cure for herpes once you contract the virus, you may be able to manage outbreaks with lifestyle and dietary changes. Stress, for example, can trigger a flare-up of cold sores or genital blisters, and learning stress-management techniques may help with prevention.

If you're looking for an alternative to your usual type of rice, consider jasmine rice. Native to Thailand, jasmine rice is a long grain rice a bit rounder and starchier, which makes it stickier, than other types of rice. Its popcorn flavor and jasmine aroma pairs well with seafood and dishes made with coconut.

Eating medjool dates satisfies your sweet tooth while providing energy, vitamins and minerals needed to maintain overall health. Medjool dates have been cultivated for thousands of years for their sweet, rich flavor.

Shredded wheat is one of many boxes of cereals staring at you from store shelves, and it's actually one of your better choices for nutritional value. Unlike most breakfast cereals, shredded wheat is not loaded with added sugar, and it also supplies good amounts of several key vitamins and minerals.