Frequently getting out of bed for a late-night slice of cake or bowl of ice cream may not be great for your waistline, but eating late at night isn't always unhealthy. Making healthy food choices at night is important for more than just nutrition, though.

You may not give much thought to your bowel movements until you're experiencing a problem. Whether dealing with stool that's too soft or loose or trying to soften your stools if you experience constipation, what you eat or don't eat may help ease symptoms. Consult your doctor before making changes to your diet.

You’ll only get cholesterol in your diet from animal-based foods. Coconut is naturally free of cholesterol, whether you have raw coconut meat, coconut milk, coconut water or coconut oil. The controversy behind coconut and its link to cholesterol, however, lies in its saturated fat content.

Eating oatmeal may help you lower your cholesterol, lower your blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight, according to a study published in "Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety" in July 2012.

The Office on Women’s Health recommends women of childbearing years get 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid daily whether or not you have visions of a baby in your future. Folic acid, or vitamin B-9, is the man-made version of folate, which is found naturally in foods.

Snacking can be part of a healthy diet. Choose snacks that are 100 calories or less, contain protein and fiber, and have little fat or added sugar. Pistachios fit this profile if you limit your intake to 100 calories.

If you go out for Chinese food, your meal will often contain Chinese water chestnuts. Water chestnuts belong to the nonstarchy, low-calorie vegetable group that can keep you full longer while supplying your meals with vitamins and minerals. Water chestnuts also contain no cholesterol and are low in sodium and fat.

Dr. Steven Gundry initially created a diet to help his patients lower their cholesterol. He soon realized the diet might help others improve their health and wrote the book "Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution," detailing dietary recommendations that he says help prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure.

With 1 to 2 grams of carbohydrate per stick, sugar-free gum in your low-carb diet should not cause you many worries. If you're chewing piece after piece, however, you may need to start paying attention -- not just for your low-carb diet but to prevent a bellyache, too.

Citric acid is common in foods. It's both naturally occurring and a common additive that serves as a flavoring agent and preservative. Your cells also make citric acid. The citric acid you consume is neither good nor bad for you, and the citric acid you make is essential to life.

While protein shakes give you a boost of protein, they aren't for everyone. Some people who drink these beverages experience side effects, such as gas, bloating and diarrhea, because of ingredients commonly found in the shakes. These include protein, milk-based ingredients, sugar alcohols and fiber.

Sodium benzoate is a common type of food preservative and is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. Food manufacturers make sodium benzoate by synthesizing the compounds, sodium hydroxide and benzoic acid, together. In addition to its use as a food preservative, sodium benzoate has other roles in food production as well.