Hitting the gym, lifting heavy weights and training hard is only half the battle in creating your dream body. The other half comes in the form of nutrition. To get optimal results, you need to focus on what you eat just as much as you do on training.

A strange phenomenon can occur after you eat raw fruit. You may notice that your lips swell, your mouth tingles or tongue feels sore and itchy. Although you may suspect that you’re allergic to fruit, you are more likely experiencing a common syndrome related to pollen allergies.

Diet is one of the most important factors in maintaining good overall health. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains, nuts and legumes provides you with the nutrients required for optimal energy levels, a strong immune system and healthy internal organs.

A typical 1-cup serving of regular vanilla ice cream contains 14 grams of fat, 31 grams of carbohydrates -- most of which are sugar -- and only 4.6 grams of protein.

The recent rise in popularity of whole grains has the masses trading in their spongy white slices for something more nutritionally -- and physically -- dense. If you rely on color alone, however, you may not chose a bread that contains fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains.

Research shows that eating yogurt can shorten the length and severity of diarrhea caused by digestive complications, according to AskDrSears.com. Yogurt contains live and active cultures that help maintain the health and normal functionality of your digestive system.

A staple in Mediterranean cuisine, olives offer essential nutrients and provide a healthful source of fat in a balanced diet. Canned olives have a long shelf life, which reduces spoilage and offers an economical way to incorporate more olives into your diet.

Even if you're of normal weight, a wide middle can be a serious health concern. This belly fat -- particularly visceral fat, which surrounds abdominal organs -- secretes inflammatory hormones into the body and puts you at a greater risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Healthy eating may seem complicated and expensive with the large number of fad diets available. However, healthy eating is less complicated than you may think. It is possible to eat a healthy diet by choosing foods based on variety, balance and moderation.

Gastritis is the medical term for stomach inflammation. It can cause you to experience bothersome gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea, indigestion and abdominal pain to name a few.

No matter what your age, your daily food choices can make a huge difference in your overall health and in how you feel and look. Eating a healthy, balanced diet daily provides the nutrients your body needs to keep your bones, organs and muscles in optimum shape.

Although regular grass provides nutrition and fiber to livestock and other animals, the high cellulose content is difficult for digestion by humans and, as a result, provides very few nutrients.