People come in different shapes and sizes, but generally can be categorized as one of three main body types -- ectomorph, mesomorph or endomorph. Of the three, endomorphs tend to be people with the most body fat, those who gain weight easily and have trouble keeping it off.

Whether you're trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, a 1,600-calorie diet is a fairly low-calorie plan, so every bite you eat must count. To ensure that you meet all your vitamin and mineral needs, your meal plan needs to include a variety of foods from all the food groups.

Like other single-food weight loss fads such as the Egg diet or the Twinkie diet, the Strawberry diet doesn't meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture's criteria for a healthy, balanced eating plan.

Metabolism is a general term that relates to the chemical reactions that take place within your body, and it is your diet that generally governs how your metabolism functions. Because everyone's genetics are different, peoples' metabolisms also vary.

Along with the other macronutrients, carbohydrates and fat, you need adequate protein in your diet to support good health.

A low-fat, high-protein diet may help you lose weight, reported a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine and published in 2005.

A high-protein liquid diet is a medically prescribed meal plan. Physicians prescribe this diet regimen for a number of reasons. Most commonly, your doctor may prescribe a high-protein liquid diet preoperatively to promote weight loss before bariatric surgery, as well as postoperatively to help your recovery.

Whether you follow the one developed by the U.S Department of Agriculture or another authoritative source, food icons play a crucial role in establishing and sustaining healthy, well-balanced eating habits.

Whether your goal is to lose, gain or maintain, it all comes down to calories. A 1,700-calorie diet is a lower calorie plan that may help men and active women lose weight, and help inactive women 50 and over maintain weight.

If you're struggling with a bout of mild-to-moderate diarrhea, adding fiber to your diet might help. Look for foods high in soluble fiber, which absorbs water in the digestive tract. Mixed with water, soluble fiber turns into a gel, resulting in firmer, bulkier stool that moves more slowly through your system.

Some weight-loss diets focus on replacing one or two meals a day with specially formulated beverages. While it may be tempting to use Ensure in this manner, doing so probably won't result in lasting weight loss, and may even lead to weight gain.

Shaolin monks are Chinese Buddhists who practice Shaolin kung fu within the temple. Renowned for their martial arts skills, the monks follow a celibate, deeply religious lifestyle that includes a vegetarian diet, often referred to as the Shaolin Temple diet.