The benefits of dieting and fitness are well documented. Study after study has shown that maintaining a healthy weight with regular exercise (even walking ten minutes a day) prevents a host of serious diseases. From anemia to yeast infections, getting fit has long-term benefits that can help you to live a happier, more fulfilling life. If you have a family history of serious disease, read up on the ways in which diet can help you stay healthy for the long haul.

Cancer
The contents of this article are limited to information about diet and to a discussion of cancer prevention-not treatment. This information is provided solely to aid consumers in discussing such issues with their health care providers. It is not advised, nor is this information intended to advocate, promote, or encourage self-use of this information for cancer risk reduction. There have been hundreds of studies on the effects of diet on cancer. Although hard evidence is elusive, doctors generally agree that eliminating certain foods and consuming others can help reduce the risk of cancer. Read more...

Diabetes
The relationship between eating carbohydrates and type 2 diabetes is a complex issue. While eating carbohydrates increases the need for insulin to keep blood sugar normal, diets high in total carbohydrates do not necessarily increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers have found that diets very high in sugar may worsen glucose tolerance in nondiabetic animals and humans. However, the amount of sugar used in these studies in proportion to other foods is much larger than is typically found in human diets. Read more...

High Cholesterol
Eating animal foods containing saturated fat is linked to high cholesterol levels and heart disease. Significant amounts of animal-based saturated fat are found in beef, pork, veal, poultry (particularly in poultry skins and dark meat), cheese, butter, ice cream, and all other forms of dairy products not labeled "fat free." Avoiding consumption of these foods reduces cholesterol and has been reported to reverse even existing heart disease. Read more...

Hypertension
Primitive societies exposed to very little salt suffer from little or no hypertension. Salt (sodium chloride) intake has also been definitively linked to hypertension in western societies. Eliminating salt from the diet lowers blood pressure in most people. The more salt is restricted, the greater the blood pressure-lowering effect. Individual studies sometimes come to differing conclusions about the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure, in part because the blood pressure-lowering effects of salt restriction vary from person to person, and small to moderate reductions in salt intake often have minimal effects on blood pressure-particularly in young people and in those who do not have hypertension. Nonetheless, dramatic reductions in salt intake are generally effective for many people with hypertension. Read more...

Hypoglycemia
Doctors find that people with hypoglycemia usually improve when they eliminate refined sugars and alcohol from their diet, eat foods high in fiber (such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts), and eat small, frequent meals. Few studies have investigated the effects of these changes, but the research that is available generally supports the observations of doctors. Some symptoms of low blood sugar may be related to, or made worse by, food allergies. And even modest amounts of caffeine may increase symptoms of hypoglycemia. Read more...