The fruit of the bitter melon plant resembles a small, bumpy cucumber and is used as a food and, along with its seeds and leaves, as an herbal remedy. The plant, which is also known as bitter gourd, cerasee and balsam pear, is native to tropical parts of Asia, Africa and South America.

Green tea, the unfermented leaves of Camellia sinensis, retains much of the color of the plant's leaves, while black tea, derived from fermentation of tea leaves, takes on a darker color. Dozens of countries produce tea; however, most green tea production remains in China and Japan, where tea drinking originated.

A cold glass of milk is a common sight on dinner tables around the world. It isn't just for children either. Adults should consume 3 cups of milk daily, according to the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010."

To gain weight, you need to consume a serious number of calories. Taking in 500 to 1,000 calories more than you burn daily yields a 1- to 2-pound gain per week. Milkshakes are an easy and tasty way to boost your calorie intake.

Staying away from pollutants, not smoking and participating in regular exercise are all ways to keep your lungs healthy. In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, having good dietary practices can also help increase the health of your lungs.

Over one-third of the U.S. population was obese as of 2012. While exercise is often recommended for those interested in weight loss, making dietary changes -- including the use of meal-replacement products -- can also be effective.

Seltzer water is just water that has undergone the process of carbonation. As long as it’s unsweetened and has no additional ingredients, seltzer water has no calories, making it an effective addition to a low-calorie diet. Typically, manufacturers do not add minerals or mineral salts to seltzer.

Glaceau Vitamin Water has become a very popular sports recovery drink. Athletes such as LeBron James and Adrian Peterson turn to Vitamin Water for their electrolyte fix. However, many people are questioning the health benefits being promoted by Vitamin Water. In short, people want to know if it is really good for you.

According to the University of Maryland, tea is consumed by hundreds of millions of people around the world; only water is imbibed more frequently. There are three main varieties of tea -- green, black and oolong -- and all are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.

You can experience indigestion when you drink coffee or from an underlying medical condition. Coffee increases stomach acid production, which could lead to indigestion as a normal side effect, or indigestion can occur as a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD.

Herbal teas typically contain boiled water and dried fruits, herbs or flowers. Some herbal tea ingredients provide good sources of nonheme iron, a type of plant-based dietary iron.

Diet soda is one of the most controversial beverages around. According to Purdue University, research suggests that there is nothing diet-friendly about such sodas. When compared with regular soda, diet soft drinks seem like healthier selections, because they lack sugar and calories.