Cashews are legumes and contain an abundance of nutritional benefits, including all three macronutrients -- carbohydrates, protein and fat -- and numerous vitamins and minerals. As their name suggests, salted cashews contain more sodium than raw cashews, which can be a nutritional disadvantage.

Pineapple contains few calories per serving and no fat or cholesterol. Like other fruits, it provides a good source of many essential nutrients. One whole pineapple contains several individual servings, so share with a friend or store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer after cutting it.

Malnutrition is a dangerous condition that develops when your body does not get enough nutrients to function properly. Malnutrition can be caused by a lack of food or an unbalanced diet that's missing or insufficient in one or more nutrients.

Bananas contain nothing that will make you gain weight, but eating any food in excess can trigger weight gain if you consume more than your daily calorie needs. If you enjoy bananas, eat them as part of a weight-gain strategy to help you add mass.

About 17 percent of the adults in the United States have high blood cholesterol, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An elevated cholesterol level increases your risk of developing heart disease.

A frothy drink made from papaya, evaporated milk, condensed milk and ice, papaya milk supplies several key vitamins and minerals. It pays to take a closer look at the nutrition information, however, because a papaya milk drink can also be quite high in fat and sugar, leading to weight gain.

Beans might have a reputation as "the magical fruit" for less-than-savory reasons, but they're actually a nourishing addition to your healthy diet. Beans come loaded with essential minerals like magnesium and potassium, as well as vitamins like folate.

Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means that your body must have it to function normally but cannot synthesize it on its own. Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid, closely related to cysteine, and both are building blocks of protein, as are most amino acids.

Once only found in health food stores, you can now buy organic foods in mainstream grocery stores. Independent and large manufacturers crowd store shelves with organic products. In addition to organic produce, milk and meat, you can also buy organic cereals, sauces and even snack foods, such as tortilla chips.

The foods you eat provide the raw materials for energy production and body function. Your body reacts differently to the foods you eat based on their chemical composition. High-carbohydrate foods provide a good source of energy. These foods are especially beneficial if they are also low in sugar.

Next time you're debating whether to reach for popcorn or chips, grab the popcorn. You'll be able to eat a larger serving for the same number of calories, so eating popcorn will fill you up and you will feel more satiated.

V8 supplies several key vitamins and minerals you need for good health, but it shouldn't be the only way you consume fruits and vegetables. If you only drink V8, you could be missing out on certain nutrients, as well as consuming too much of other ones, depending on which flavor and type you choose.