When undergoing treatment for cancer, you may develop an aversion to foods, or you may experience side effects, such as mouth sores or nausea, that make it challenging for you to consume whole foods.

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, begins at about age 40 and accelerates after age 75, notes University of New Mexico researchers Chantal Vella, M.S., and Len Kravitz, Ph.D.

It is a common misconception that most people need to eat meat to consume enough protein. Nearly all foods except for highly refined products such as sugar, alcohol and oils contain varying amounts of protein.

Including dietary fiber in your diet provides several health benefits, including reduction of high cholesterol, stabilizing blood glucose levels and decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. As with most things, however, too much of a good thing isn't necessarily ideal.

Many different foods contain protein. Meat, fish, eggs and dairy are animal-based protein sources. Plant-derived proteins include soy products, beans, grains, nuts, seeds and some vegetables. Fruits don't contribute significant protein to your diet, but they do add valuable fiber, vitamins and phytochenicals.

Having an occasional alcoholic drink or two generally doesn't have an adverse effect on your body, but because your body can metabolize only small amounts of alcohol at a time, the remaining alcohol is left coursing through your body.

It's normal to lose about 50 to 100 strands of hair every day, says MayoClinic.com. Your hair naturally goes through a growth, rest and loss cycle, with new strands growing to replace the lost strands. But if you notice your hair falling out excessively or thinning noticeably, dietary factors could be at play.

Whey protein drinks supply you with essential amino acids as well as branched-chain amino acids to help you recover from intense workouts and build new muscle.

When you're on the hunt for an easy way to top up your protein intake, whey protein may be a convenient choice. If you have a dairy intolerance, you may be hesitant to consume a supplement derived from milk. You may find, however, that certain types of whey protein don't affect you and are perfectly safe to consume.

You need protein in your diet, but replacing whole meals with protein alone may not be the optimal choice for you. The reason is that you need other nutrients in your diet as well, such as carbohydrates and fats.

Proteins play essential functions that include everything from the creation of antibodies to muscle contraction, chemical reactions and the health of hair, nails and skin. The amino acids present in protein regulate chemical reactions and improve healing time, control blood pressure and help with blood clotting.

Weight gain from protein pills can be intentional or unintentional. You can use these nutritional supplements as a way to increase your dietary protein intake when packing on muscle mass or as a means to consume low-fat protein when on a weight-loss regimen.