Nutrition

You're on the go, and you can't always find time to focus on your health. Putting your health first isn't always easy or practical. But you may be overlooking one basic strategy: drinking water. Yes, although many of us reach for sodas, juice or sports drinks when we're thirsty, plain water is the healthy choice.

We've all heard we need to drink water to be healthy. But how much water is enough? Do we need eight glasses a day, like many believe? How do we know we're getting the right amount? Let's take a few minutes to learn about our daily water needs.

You're hungry, and that bag of chips in the vending machine sure looks good. Maybe you could wash it down with a soda. What's the harm, right? Well, it depends on how often you indulge. These are what we call "junk food," and they aren't good for your body.

In today's fast-paced world, many of us rely on ultra-processed foods. These are things like fast food, cold cuts, frozen pizzas, chips, candy and soda. They're often high in sugar, salt and fat. And they may not have the nutrients your body needs. Let's look at some ways ultra-processed foods are bad for your health.

If you have a disease that's linked to inflammation, changing your diet may help. That's because some foods trigger inflammation, and other foods fight it. So if you know which foods to eat and which to avoid, you can reduce your risk of illness.

We know body weight is linked to the calories you eat. But what is a calorie, exactly? How many calories should you consume each day? Let's take a few minutes to learn about calories and what they mean for you.

Calcium is a mineral that you get from your diet. It helps build strong bones when you're growing. It helps keep your bones strong as you age. But many of us don't get enough calcium. This raises the risk for osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones. Here's how to make sure you're getting enough calcium.

Folic acid is a vitamin we all need to be healthy. We get it from the foods we eat. Let's learn about folic acid and how much we should be getting every day.

Zinc is a mineral we all need to be healthy. We get it from the foods we eat. Let's learn about zinc and how much we should be getting every day.

You want to be healthy, and you're thinking about taking a daily multivitamin. But what do we know about the benefits of multivitamins? Will they make you healthier? Well, it depends.

These are products made from plants. They're meant to keep you healthy or help with a range of health problems. These include headaches, arthritis pain, menstrual cramps and depression.

It most often comes from plants, commonly coffee beans and tea leaves. But it can also be made in a lab. Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. It stimulates your nervous system, and most adults consume it regularly.

This food allergy is an immune system response linked to shellfish. It happens when your immune system treats harmless shellfish proteins as if they're a danger to your body. Shellfish include crustaceans and mollusks. Some examples include shrimp, lobster and crab. Oysters, scallops and snails are shellfish, too. A person with this allergy may be allergic to one or more of them.

This food allergy is an immune system response linked to soy. It happens when your immune system treats harmless soy proteins as if they're a danger to your body. Soy is a product of soybeans. We see this allergy most often in kids. Many of them will outgrow the soy allergy, but not all do.

This food allergy is an immune system response linked to tree nuts. It happens when your immune system treats harmless nut proteins as if they're a danger to your body. Almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews are tree nuts. So are Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios and pine nuts. A person with this allergy may be allergic to one or more of them. Kids who have a tree nut allergy often don't grow out of it.

This food allergy is an immune system response linked to wheat. It happens when your immune system treats harmless wheat proteins as if they're a danger to your body. Wheat allergy is most common in children, but it can also develop in adults. It's not the same as celiac disease.

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. You'll find it in fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods. It helps your digestion. It also adds bulk to the foods you eat, helping you feel full.

These are substances our bodies need to live and grow. They support our cells, our organs and our immune system. If we don't get enough vitamins and minerals, our bodies don't work well.

This food allergy is an immune system response linked to finned fish. It happens when your immune system treats harmless fish proteins as if they're a danger to your body. Some examples of finned fish include salmon, trout, cod and tuna. A person with this allergy may be allergic to one or more of them.

This food allergy is an immune system response most often linked to cow's milk. It happens when a person's immune system treats harmless milk proteins as if they're a danger to the body. We see it most often in kids. Most of them will outgrow the milk allergy, but not all do.

People at risk for things like diabetes and heart disease may want to look at the Mediterranean diet. What is it, exactly? Well, this diet is modeled after the eating habits of people in Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean region. It's less focused on meat and carbs, and more focused on vegetables and fish. And it has some real health benefits. Let's take a moment to learn more.

The foods we eat play a key role in our health. To stay mentally and physically fit, choose a diet of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. And even among these healthy food choices, you should know that some foods stand out from the crowd. We call these "superfoods."

This diet limits you to foods that come from animals. This includes meat, fish and dairy products. On this diet, you'll avoid all foods that come from plants. While this may sound good, it may not be good for you. Let's take a moment to learn more.

People at risk for heart disease and stroke may have heard doctors talk about the "DASH diet." What is it, exactly? Well, the word "DASH" stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." This heart-healthy eating plan helps you lose weight and lower high blood pressure. It can also lower high cholesterol. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Olive oil has been a kitchen staple for centuries. We cook with it. We drizzle it on salads, vegetables and bread. But did you know that olive oil - especially extra virgin olive oil - is good for your health? Let's take a moment to learn more.

Herbs and spices don't just boost flavor. They're packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many have been used as health supplements for ages. Let's look at a few common herbs and spices, and learn about some of the ways they help you.

Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients your body needs to be healthy. One way to get more omega-3s is by eating fatty fish. What are some fatty fish? Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and anchovies are all common types. Let's learn how you can benefit by including them in your diet.

This diet is modeled after the way prehistoric humans ate. It focuses on whole, unprocessed foods that have a lot of nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy. Let's take a moment to learn more.

When it comes to eggs, we often argue if it's healthier to eat the whole egg or just the egg white. The egg white is high in protein and low in calories. But the yolk of the egg is where many of the nutrients are found. Let's take a moment to learn more.

When you eat a vegan diet, you don't eat anything that comes from animals. This means no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or any other animal by-products. Instead, you focus on plant-based foods. A person who eats a vegan diet is called a "vegan."

People on a plant-based diet eat mostly, or only, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. This type of diet is good for you in ways you may not realize. Let's take a moment to learn more.