Calcium needs for children and adolescents is particularly high during their formative years. However, according to US Dietary Guidelines 2010, the calcium intake for children and teenagers is less than the recommended guidelines. Teenagers in particular, often find their diet lacks calcium and this may lead to serious health problems. Understanding which foods contain the best sources of calcium can help to ensure your kids aren’t missing out on this vital nutrient. Read more ...

Sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits have helped contribute to the growing prevalence of obesity among adults and children. In the US, a staggering one-third of children are now either overweight or obese.

One of the main contributors to this growing problem is the high fat content found in much of the food consumed by children. Swapping to a low fat diet can significantly help reduce the likelihood of children gaining weight as well as helping them feel fitter and healthier.

The Weight Watchers diet regime has gained worldwide recognition for helping dieters lose weight. With celebrities such as Fran Drescher, Lynn Redgrave and Sarah Ferguson all advocating its benefits, the diet has proved to be a winning formula. But what really makes Weight Watchers stand out from the host of other diets, is their unique Points® system. However, Weight Watchers have given their phenomenally successful points system an overhaul and in November 2010, launched the new POINTS® program.

High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately, there is a great deal we can do to help lower cholesterol levels, simply though making healthy eating choices. While there are many foods which are known to raise cholesterol, such as those high in saturated fats, there are several other foods which can actively help to lower cholesterol levels. By combining these cholesterol lowering foods with other healthy ingredients, you can make your own delicious and wholesome cholesterol lowering meals.

Some people seem to be blessed with a head full of beautiful, healthy looking hair while others struggle to achieve any kind of bounce or shine.

Although many of the hair care products available today can work wonders with lackluster, dull or thinning hair, it’s the vitamins from the food we eat which will eventually determine how healthy our hair appears.

Finding out your child has a peanut allergy can come as a shock and will be a cause of much anxiety for everyone concerned. Suddenly, making healthy food choices becomes a daunting task.

In an era where much of the food we consume is processed, it can seem that every food label warns against the possibility of nut contamination, even those that don’t have nuts as an ingredient!

Gone are the days when a pregnant woman could happily eat for two without stressing over every morsel consumed. Nowadays, we are far better informed regarding the nutritional requirements for a healthy pregnancy and which foods a pregnant woman should and should not eat. Surprisingly, orange juice, usually considered a healthy drink, can pose a potential risk to a pregnant women and her baby.

The intestines are an integral part of the digestive system, without which, we wouldn't be able to absorb the vital nutrients from our food.

Together with organs including the liver and pancreas, the intestines perform an amazingly complex series of functions which work seamlessly to break down and process everything we eat. What's more, we don't have to consciously do anything other than enjoy the food we're putting into our mouth.

Finding out you have raised cholesterol levels can be a shock, particularly since it can put you at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke. Controlling your cholesterol levels can be done through medication.


However, one of the first suggestions often given by doctors, involves making changes to your diet to see whether this has any effect. Therefore, it's important to understand which foods are known to raise cholesterol levels in the body and actively start restricting them from your diet.

Looking after your teeth is just as important as your health. Most of us are fully aware that eating too much sugar is likely to result in cavities if we're not careful with dental hygiene. However, it's not only unhealthy food such as cakes, sweets and ice cream that can ruin your teeth. There are a few healthy foods to watch out for which are just as capable of wreaking havoc on your teeth.

Here are 5 healthy foods that can wreck your teeth.

It's not the best news for soda drinkers. But results from research carried out by the University of Miami, appear to suggest that drinking soda could put people at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Although diet sodas may help preserve the waistline, those drinking them were no less likely to succumb to vascular conditions.

Grains are enjoyed in many forms and are eaten as the staple part of the diet around the world. However, people eating a diet high in refined grains such as white rice or white bread, tend to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes than those eating plenty of whole grains.

Since whole grains are an important source of dietary fiber and carbohydrates, they should form the foundation of a healthy, well-balanced diet. But which grains are the healthiest and what are their benefits?

Ground beef is the most widely eaten type of meat in the United States. It's easy to see why as ground beef forms the basis of many popular dishes, most notably hamburgers, meatloaf and chili. As well as its versatility, it's an inexpensive and convenient form of meat to buy. Unfortunately, the majority of red meat is high in fat when compared to poultry, for instance. And high consumption of ground beef is responsible for much of the fat content found in the American diet.

Baby rice, the perfect weaning food

Starting a baby on solid foods is one of the most important milestones in your baby’s life.

After months of having all their nutritional needs met by their milk, now it’s time for them to explore some of the exciting tastes and textures to be found in real food. But since their digestive systems are still immature, introducing solid foods needs to be done as a gradual process.

Numerous health benefits have been attributed to omega 3. Several studies indicate it can help boost heart, brain, eye and joint health as well as preventing certain cancers. And more recently it has been suggested it could protect the body against premature aging.

If you’re trying to include more omega 3 in your diet, eating fish is a great place to start. Apart from the benefits of omega 3, fish is an excellent source of protein and it contains essential vitamins and minerals.

However, not all fish contains high levels of omega 3 and if you’re looking towards fish as your main source of omega 3 fatty acids, it’s important you choose the right type of fish.

Since their inception over 40 years ago, Weight Watchers has helped millions of people lose weight. In response to the diet’s popularity, Weight Watchers launched their own range of food products, all displaying their calories and points value.

Of course there is plenty of competition among the popular diet foods and Weight Watchers doesn't come out on top all the time. However, there are many delicious Weight Watchers food products that are well worth trying out, even if you’re not watching your waistline.

Queasiness is often one of the first signs of pregnancy and is usually at its worst during the first trimester. Though it's often called morning sickness, this is actually a misnomer since it can occur at any time of the day or night. Not all pregnant women are affected with some experiencing no queasiness at all. However unwelcome morning sickness may be, you can be assured that it's a perfectly normal part of being pregnant and is often considered to be an indication of a healthy pregnancy.