Nutritional health is achieved through the therapeutic use of whole foods, safe culinary preparation, and understanding the metabolic impacts of specific dietary frameworks and ingredients.
Excess fat on your chest and abs not only obscures your six-pack, but it may pose a serious health risk. An ample abdomen is a symptom of excess visceral fat pushing outward against the layer of squishy subcutaneous fat just under the skin.
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Flavorful and easy to prepare, pasta is a classic food when you're "carb craving." And while you shouldn't help yourself to unlimited pasta on your diet, pasta dishes can fit into your weight loss plan.
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Stomach fat comes in two varieties. There's the under-the-skin "pinchable" fat, which affects how you look without posing a major health risk, and the deep-abdominal visceral fat, which pushes your abdominal wall out and releases chemicals that cause disease.
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Oats are a healthy diet staple for many good reasons -- they're affordable, endlessly customizable and packed with nutrients like healthy carbs and fiber. They're also a great option when you're trying to lose weight, so you should incorporate them into your weight-loss diet at least a few times a week.
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Stop by the protein powder section in virtually any health food store, and you're likely to find a variety of whey protein options. And while you don't need protein supplements for good health -- even if you're trying to change your weight -- adding whey protein to your diet can help you reach your goals.
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Fish makes up an important part of a heart-healthy diet, thanks in part to its beneficial oil content. If you're having a difficult time fitting enough fish into your diet, taking a fish oil supplement such as salmon oil, can help you reap some of the benefits of fish.
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Toning up requires two basic steps: strengthening and developing your muscles, as well as losing the fat overtop them so they're more visible and defined. Diet and exercise modifications can help you get fit and lean.
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Shoulders aren't a typical trouble spot on women -- most women store fat in their hips, thighs or midsection rather than their upper body, but broad shoulders are sometimes determined by genetics.
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Tuna boasts a reputation as a health food, and for good reason; it's loaded with essential nutrients that boost your overall health and well-being. It's also good for weight loss, thanks to its high protein content and relatively low calorie count.
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Blackberries grow naturally throughout much of the United States. In fact, they were a staple in Native American diets for thousands of years and were a favorite food of early European settlers. Today, you can find blackberries at most grocery stores, which makes it easy to enjoy their many health benefits.
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Maintaining a healthy weight is about more than just the number on the scale. It's also about achieving an appropriate body composition -- or a healthy ratio of body fat to lean mass -- too.
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It's a staple in many weight-loss and bodybuilding diets, but cottage cheese should be welcome in almost any meal plan. Each 1-cup serving of cottage cheese provides one-third of your daily dairy food requirement, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ChooseMyPlate website.
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Incorporating juice into your diet boosts provides you with nutrients in a form easily absorbed by your body.
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The essential mineral magnesium plays numerous roles in your health. Supplementing with magnesium helps compensate for not getting enough magnesium in your diet, potentially staving off a deficiency.
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Figs have long been a staple in Mediterranean cuisine -- archaeological evidence for the cultivation of figs goes back as far as 5,000 B.C., according to Julia Morton's "Fruits of Warm Climates" -- and they make up a regular part of the average American diet today.
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Fruits and vegetables should form the foundation of a healthful diet, but as many as seven in 10 Americans fall short of their daily fruit and veggie intake, reports the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.
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While most of your fluids should come from water, adding aloe vera and honey to your meal plan won't break your diet. Aloe and honey juice is lower in calories and sugar than many other juices, and it has some vitamins and phytonutrients that benefit your health.
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Cauliflower and broccoli -- along with other veggies, including Brussels sprouts and cabbage -- make up the family of cruciferous vegetables.
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A staple on many appetizer menus, calamari, which is made by frying sliced or whole squid that's been breaded, can fit into a balanced and healthful diet. It offers some nutritional value, boosting your intake of minerals and vitamins, as well as macronutrients needed for energy.
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While juice seems healthy -- especially the cold-pressed blends you can buy at health food stores and juice bars -- it's not necessarily your best bet for weight loss, explains the Harvard School of Public Health.
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