Bulking, or putting on muscle, is a goal of many bodybuilders. To gain muscle, follow a regimented exercise routine — allowing adequate time for rest and recovery — and eat a diet that supports muscle growth.

Carbohydrates are the body's preferred energy source. Eating carbohydrates provides energy to your muscles, brain and nervous system; facilitates the metabolism of fat; and ensures that the protein in your muscles is not broken down to supply energy.

Meat is a good source of protein and other important nutrients; but meat also contains saturated fat, which can clog your arteries, so you should not eat too much. The amount of meat an individual should consume is based on individual protein and calorie needs.

Raw carrots make a convenient and healthy snack, but too much of even a good thing can cause you problems. Overindulging in raw carrots, which contain 3.4 g of fiber per cup, can cause intestinal problems and might interfere with nutrient absorption.

Whether it's to bulk up muscles or lose weight, many people choose to eat a high-protein diet. If you are experiencing diarrhea while on a high-protein diet, you might wonder if too much protein is the cause.

While yeast served on its own probably isn't a staple in your diet, you likely eat at least one of the three common dietary types -- baker's yeast, brewer's yeast and nutritional yeast. Some people consume yeast as a dietary supplement, add it to recipes and, of course, use it in baking.

Dr. Sebi, a native Honduran who refers to himself as an intracellular therapist and herbalist, claims an organic, vegan, largely raw diet will cleanse your cells of toxins and cure diseases. He founded the USHA Healing Village in Honduras to help teach his ideas about dietary and herbal therapy.

Egg whites are a nutritious, economical food, containing over 3 grams of high quality protein in each serving, along with a number of important vitamins and minerals. For this reason, some people add egg whites to protein shakes or health smoothies, while discarding the egg yolk to avoid unnecessary cholesterol.

Pumpernickel -- a brown bread made from coarse rye flour -- features a rich, robust flavor and partners well with hearty foods such as aged cheese and smoked salmon.

You can still eat chicken if you have gout, but you'll need to choose certain preparation methods and limit how much you eat. Chicken, like all other types of poultry, meat, fish and shellfish, is a source of purines. Purines are broken down into uric acid in your body.

Coconut and rice bran oils are specialty oils used for cooking and for their purported health benefits. Coconut oil contains high levels of saturated fat, a fact that remains controversial among nutrition and health experts. Rice bran oil contains 42.

Omega-3 fatty acid, an essential fatty acid the body needs but cannot produce, plays a vital role in brain function, controls blood clotting and helps reduce inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acid belongs to the group of polyunsaturated fats and is in a variety of foods.