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.

Drinks sweetened with sugar are all around us. You might have sweetened fruit juice with breakfast, soda with lunch, an energy drink or sugar-sweetened coffee or tea as a pick-me-up and a sports drink after a workout. In fact, sugar-sweetened drinks are so common they've become the leading source of added sugar in our diet.

Your brain is the most important organ in your body. And to keep it healthy, you need to eat foods that are good for it. Let's look at some foods that promote brain health (and some you should avoid).

Doctors tell us to eat a well-balanced diet for good health. And fruits and vegetables are an important part of a well-balanced diet. They're packed with vitamins and minerals that are great for your body. Let's take a moment to look at a few examples.

You're focused on eating a healthy diet. You eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and fiber. But are you eating nuts and seeds? Let's take a moment to learn about how they benefit your health.

Protein is an essential nutrient. Our bodies need it to grow and to stay healthy. Here are some ways to ensure you're getting enough protein in your diet.

No one likes gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. They can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. But with the right diet, you may be able to avoid them. Let's look at some tips for good digestive health.

This is a nutrient we can't live without. It supports the brain and nervous system. It also helps form the walls of our body's cells.

You may notice that you eat more when you're stressed, sad or bored. You eat even when you don't feel very hungry. But eating comforts you. We call this "emotional eating."

You have strong urges to eat a particular food. No matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to stop thinking about it. We call these urges "food cravings," and they're often centered on unhealthy foods that contain a lot of fat, salt or sugar. Let's talk about some ways you can manage these feelings.

These are strong urges to eat a particular type of food. Often, it's a food that isn't healthy, like candy or chips. You know you shouldn't eat it, but it's all you can think about. And if you give in to your cravings too often, you may raise your risk for health problems like weight gain and diabetes.

This is when your body reacts badly after eating gluten. That's a protein found in barley, rye, wheat and other grains. With gluten intolerance, eating or drinking products that contain gluten can make you feel uncomfortable and sick. Let's take a moment to learn more.

This is when your body has trouble absorbing fructose. That's a type of sugar found naturally in many fruits and in some vegetables. It's found in table sugar, molasses, honey and other sweeteners. It's also found in various breads and drinks. If you have this problem and you eat fructose, you can feel uncomfortable and sick. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Electrolytes are minerals like sodium, potassium and calcium that your body needs. You get them from the things you eat and drink. Electrolytes keep your muscles, nerves and organs running smoothly. But sometimes you can have too much or too little of one or more electrolytes. When this happens, we say you have an "electrolyte imbalance." Let's take a moment to learn more.

Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance that's found in your blood and your body's cells. It's made by your liver. It also comes from foods you eat. You need some cholesterol to be healthy. Your body needs it to form the walls of your cells and to make some hormones. But there are two types of cholesterol: "HDL" and "LDL," and they aren't equal. HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is known as the "bad" cholesterol. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance that's found in your blood and your body's cells. It's made by your liver. It also comes from foods you eat. You need some cholesterol to be healthy. Your body needs it to form the walls of your cells and to make some hormones. But there are two types of cholesterol: "HDL" and "LDL," and they aren't equal. HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is known as the "bad" cholesterol. Let's take a moment to learn more.

These nutrients (which we call "carbs") come from foods and drinks. When you consume carbs, your body breaks them down into a simple sugar called "glucose," which your cells use for energy. Let's take a moment to learn more about carbs.

This is a mineral your body needs to work properly. Your body can't make potassium on its own. You get it from the things you eat and drink. Let's take a moment to learn more.

This is a group of uncomfortable symptoms you can experience if you regularly drink coffee, tea, or other drinks with caffeine and then stop using them suddenly. These bad feelings may last a week or longer. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Saturated fat is a type of fat found in many foods. It remains solid at room temperature. Too much of it raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems. Let's take a moment to learn more.