Iron is a mineral that is essential for survival. This key nutrient takes part in some of the most important processes in your body and is a crucial part of your daily diet. Iron is responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout your body, and aids in red blood cell formation and maintenance.

Soup for dinner helps keep your calorie count down and your satisfaction level up. Whether you buy butternut squash soup or make your own, balance the creamy sweetness of the squash with flavors on the acidic side or with crunchy textures to contrast with the silkiness of the soup.

Bad bowel movements mean one of two things: diarrhea or constipation. Diarrhea consists of sometimes-uncontrollable loose stools. Constipation occurs when food packs up in your colon and won't move easily. High-fiber vegetables such as carrots may help your bowel movements in both cases.

Watercress is in the same family as mustard and cabbage,with a somewhat bitter, peppery taste. The vegetable is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A serving has more iron than spinach and provides 312 percent of your daily vitamin K requirements, according to Food Facts.

Since nature packages eggs individually, you can easily ramp recipes up or down whether cooking for one or a crowd. Although they are rich in protein and contain a mere 70 calories per egg, they also add fat into your diet -- almost 5 g of it for each egg.

Freezing fresh peaches and plums allows you to have fresh, juicy fruits available during any season for use in pies, cobblers or simply for a healthy snack.

Broccoli contains varying amounts of bitter compounds depending on the type. Standard broccoli is relatively mild in flavor, chinese broccoli is slightly more bitter and broccoli rabe contains the highest level of bitter compounds.

Food binders add volume, flavor, texture and firmness to recipes. You can find both natural and artificial food binders. Manufacturers commonly use artificial binders in packaged food products and you should pay specific attention to the specific binders used in these manufactured food products.

Named after the capital of Belgium, Brussels sprouts come from the cruciferous, or Brassica, family along with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, collards, mustard and bok choy. They provide high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, potassium, selenium, iron and fiber.

When many people think of turnips, they think of bitter, dry root vegetables that are suitable only as filler for stews or soups. These turnips are bitter and dry because they have been stored too long and aren't fresh.

Warfarin is a medication doctors commonly prescribe to help prevent blood clotting. The effectiveness of warfarin hinges on its effects on vitamin K levels.

Raspberries are extremely fragile and susceptible to spoilage, but you can extend their shelf life naturally with the right washing and storage techniques. Because raspberries break so easily, they are particularly vulnerable to natural surface molds and microbes that attack damaged fruit.