Exercise can enhance your energy levels, body composition, moods and overall health. If you fail to eat properly, however, you can miss out on these benefits. Although eating after exercise is "extremely important,"

Pregame football meals should be eaten at least three hours prior to the start of a game and should consist largely of foods rich in carbohydrates.

Your body loves to store energy. It is your animal self, protecting against food scarcity when food is abundant. However, for many in a modern society, that scarcity never comes and you pack on the pounds.

Skipping food for a day may seem like a quick solution for slimming down, but the reality is that fasting can be harmful to your health and probably won't cause lasting weight loss.

Flax meal is a dietary supplement that contains both fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Raw flax, however, may also contain an unwanted ingredient: cyanide. While most flaxseed supplements are safe, taking flax the wrong way can increase your blood cyanide levels.

A good pregame meal for a basketball player should consist of a combination of protein and carbohydrates and should keep fats to a minimum. Players should avoid empty calories from high-fat and sugary foods such as potato chips, cheeseburgers and cupcakes.

Your body needs protein to repair tissue and produce hormones and enzymes. However, you probably don't need as much protein as you think. Most Americans eat almost twice as much protein as they need, and athletes only need a little more protein than sedentary adults, according to MedlinePlus.

Although bananas make a healthy snack, you can have too much of a good thing. Binging on any food can lead to weight gain and poor nutrition, so moderation is important. Although no official consensus exists as to how many bananas are "too many,"

While eating foods made with flour won't necessarily make you fat, overindulging in this or any other food will lead to weight gain. The type of flour you eat also matters, so choose wisely to help you stay lean and slim.

Whether the nutrients you consume affect the quality of sleep is a new field of research, according to Sleep Medicine in January 2008. Studies published since then report that lack of vitamin C may cause shorter and nonrestorative sleep.

Piperine, also known by its trademarked name, BioPerine, is an extract derived from black pepper, Piper Nigrum L, and long pepper, Piper longum L. Piperine is what gives peppers their spicy taste.

Most Americans have trouble losing weight, but for 17 percent to 37 percent of adolescent males bulking up is the problem. Just like being overweight can wreak havoc on your body, being underweight is bad news for your health -- it can cause stunted growth, low energy and weakened muscles.