Cherries, whether dark red or a blushing yellow color, are a delicious and nutritious treat that can be part of a healthy weight-loss diet. Both sweet and sour cherries -- sometimes called wild cherries -- have a number of weight-loss benefits, including being low in calories and high in dietary fiber.

You may have seen advertisements claiming that eating a specific cereal will make the pounds melt away, but the reality isn't quite so simple. Neither cereal nor any other food will magically burn fat, and sticking to a cereal-only diet will not guarantee weight loss.

Fruits, vegetables and fish should be the basis of any healthy diet. Together they provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber and lean protein. To ensure that you get the proper nutrients while on a diet, eat a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables, as well as different types of fish.

Monosodium glutamate may have a toxic effect on certain brain cells that may be responsible for the adverse effects some people experience after consuming MSG, reports a preliminary study published in the "International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine" in 2009.

The average 14-year-old girl should consume approximately 1,800 calories each day, while a 14-year-old boy needs around 2,200 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eating breakfast helps you perform better mentally and could aid weight loss. Many people, however, aren't hungry first thing in the morning or find it difficult to make time to sit down and eat a meal. But you can get all the benefits of breakfast with a drink instead of feeling like you're forcing down solid food.

The three macronutrients -- carbohydrates, fats and proteins -- contain calories, which deliver the energy you need to keep active and stay healthy. Even though your body can use all three for energy, protein is at the bottom of the list.

The nutritional requirements for elderly adults differ from people in other age groups. According to an article published in 2006 in the "Japanese Journal of Geriatrics," the definition of "elderly" should be those persons over the age of 75.

Dark chocolate may not only help you shed those unwanted pounds, it provides a host of healthy benefits that puts other indulgences to shame.

If you sometimes feel lightheaded, it may be a result of your diet and lifestyle, and you may be able to treat and prevent it by making some changes. However, if you frequently feel lightheaded regardless of what you do and cannot identify why, you should alert your doctor.

Rice paper wrappers can be found in Southeast Asian cooking, where they may be best known for making fresh spring or summer rolls in Vietnamese cuisine. Rice paper wrappers are purchased dried, so they store well and are easy to use, requiring little preparation.

Fifty-year-old women who eat a balanced diet are more likely to look and feel their best – and maintain healthy body weights. Choosing nutrient-dense foods and sticking within recommended calorie ranges are the keys to getting proper nutrition.