After practicing as a gastroenterologist for decades, Dr. Hiromi Shinya claims he has discovered the key to better health: a diet heavy in plant-based foods with few or no dairy products or animal-based protein. His theory, which he detailed in his 2007 book "The Enzyme Factor,"

High in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, fruit and vegetables may reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Some detox diets promote eating only fruit and vegetables for a period of time to cleanse the system of toxins and improve digestion.

Pectin’s ability to thicken jams and jellies represents the same quality responsible for its health benefits. After it enters your stomach, it forms a gelatinous mass that may support weight loss by creating a feeling of fullness.

It may be a challenge to get your 12-year-old to eat healthy, but proper nutrition is essential for growth and development and peak performance in school. A healthy diet is about balance and variety. Instead of focusing on taking away unhealthy foods from your child, find nutritious foods that you child enjoys.

Obesity among adolescents has increased since the dawn of the 21st century, but one way a 17-year-old can avoid weight-related health risks is to eat a balanced diet.

A very restricted diet containing just a few foods isn't a healthy or lasting way to lose weight, making diets such as the oatmeal diet less-than-ideal choices for weight loss.

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but three apples a day might help you lose weight, claims registered dietitian Tammi Flynn. Flynn developed a 3-Apple-a-Day diet plan that, she says, can help you lose an average of 17 pounds in 12 weeks.

When you are trying to plan a healthy diet, it is easy to look up the nutritional information for pre-made foods, even if you get the foods from a restaurant. It can be more difficult, however, to determine the nutritional information for foods from a recipe.

If you eat plenty of fiber, you'll be less likely to become obese or to develop diabetes, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure or digestive disorders like gastroesophageal reflux, reported a 2009 article published in "Nutrition Reviews."

Currently, there's no evidence that any one food, vitamin, mineral or herb is going to help you lose weight, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That includes weight-loss supplements such as Hydroxycut. However, if you're eating fewer calories than you take in, you should lose weight.

Soba noodles look like whole-wheat spaghetti, but they possess a nutty flavor thanks to their defining ingredient -- buckwheat flour.

A balanced diet is one of the keys to good health. One way to ensure a balanced diet is to eat foods from all the food groups; another way is to balance your intake of acidic, or acid-forming, foods with alkaline foods.