Getting toned muscles requires a carefully planned diet. Muscle tone is a mixture of muscle size and a low level of body fat, which gives a lean, defined look. Exercise certainly plays a role, too, in helping to maintain muscle mass while you lose fat, but the phrase "Abs are made in the kitchen"

A healthy diet is one that provides adequate levels of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrate and healthy fats from a variety of foods. An unhealthy diet, in contrast, is one that contains too much saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, added sugars and processed ingredients or contains too few nutrients.

Lazy or sluggish bowels occur when the muscles in your colon slow down, resulting in constipation. Eating a fiber-focused diet can help wake up your colon and improve bowel function.

Lemon juice is such a good source of both vitamin C and citric acid that you don’t need to consume a huge amount to get the antioxidant benefits. Citrus fruits are the only sources of flavanones, which add to the antioxidant impact of lemon juice.

Like green and red grapes, the majority of the calories in black grapes come from carbohydrates. You can eat black grapes raw or use them to make jams or wine. Values listed are for 1.5 cups California black seedless grapes. Values, especially the fiber content, may vary if the skin is removed.

Additives to commercial food mixes act as leavening, emulsifiers and stabilizers and in other chemical reactions that improve the quality or shelf life of foods. Phosphate additives, such as sodium acid pyrophosphate and other phosphoric acid compounds, may pose safety concerns in certain concentrations.

Americans eat an average of 61 pounds of refined, white sugar each year, according to an article in the October 2009 edition of "Discover Magazine." In recent years, interest in organic sugar has increased as more people become concerned with the potential health hazards of eating refined and processed foods.

Sugar and stevia are natural sweeteners that have been used around the world for centuries. Stevia as a sweetener is relatively new to the United States, but consumers rapidly are catching on to its health benefits, resulting in its addition to some commercially prepared foods.

Trans fats are hydrogenated animal fats and plant oils that are used by the food industry because they help food stay fresh longer, as this alteration makes the oils more solid. They are usually present in snack foods, margarine, fried foods, shortening and salad dressings and are highly toxic for your body.

Many vegetarians, vegans and the elderly have a difficult time consuming their recommended daily allowance of vitamin B-12.

If you find your stomach making bizarre sounds and feel the need to sprint to the bathroom, it's possible that you ate something that didn't agree with you. Although fruits should be a staple of your diet because of their vast array of health benefits, some types of fruit can lead to diarrhea.

Being borderline diabetic, known as “prediabetic,” means that you’ll want to carefully start monitoring your sugar intake. Too much sugar can lead to weight gain, making it harder for you to manage your blood sugar level, which further increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.