Cutting out fatty foods completely is a non-option for most of us. Instead, add two tablespoons of spices, like black pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, paprika, or oregano, to your next fatty indulgence. "The Journal of Nutrition" reports that those who incorporated spices into their fat-laden meals had 30 percent lower levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) than those who skipped the seasonings.

So, the next time you're making that macaroni and cheese, add some cayenne pepper. Or, opt for the green curry instead of the pad thai at your go-to Thai takeout place. Your belly will thank you.

While aloe vera is great for soothing sunburned skin, drinking the liquefied plant can also help heal your body, says
Tanner Martty, fitness guru at LEAF Lifestyle. "Drinking pure aloe vera not only aids in proper digestion, it helps repair a digestive system that has been under duress from a diet high in grains, gluten, and dairy." What American doesn't need help on that front?

Even after I've had the most satiating meal -- when I'm sure I can't take another bite -- I somehow always manage to find room for dessert. Even if all I crave is just one little bite, my sweet tooth wins (and I always end up taking more than just one bite).

If you can relate, Aim True yoga instructor, Kathryn Budig has an effective (if a little off-putting) solution: Take a spoonful of raw apple cider vinegar as your post-dinner cocktail. (And trust me, you're going to want to pound this stuff like it's a Jagermeister shot.) Raw apple cider vinegar helps stabilize blood sugar levels, says Budig, which curbs your craving for sweets. You can also take a shot of the vinegar in the morning, which will rev up your metabolism and digestive system for the day, she says.

Here's a little insight into my typical morning:

7 a.m.: Fill up my to-go mug with coffee and sip on my drive to work.

9 a.m.: Hit the office coffee maker for a re-fill (and a frozen burrito, or a bagel, or a leftover pastry from the morning board meeting).

11 a.m.: Walk to the local coffee shop with some co-workers for a double-shot latte (and, on most days, some sort of sweet treat).

You're probably starting to get the picture. I'm hungry almost all day, every day. But to keep my appetite in check -- and help me avoid noshing on some sugar-filled treat every time I need a caffeine fix -- James M. Andry, MD, co-founder of MDWeightWorx in Bloomington, Ind., tells me to add some cinnamon to my diet. And sprinkling a little bit into my morning java is a great way to start.

Not only does cinnamon help curb appetite, research also shows that this sweet spice also helps control the insulin spike that often comes after meals. Cinnamon causes your body to absorb carbohydrates much more slowly, and lowers your blood sugar levels -- both which contribute to a lower insulin level, says Andry. And remember, insulin is a hormone that converts excess sugar into fat, which ultimately contributes to weight gain.

Andry says even as little as 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can improve your blood sugar content by 24 percent and cholesterol levels by 18 percent. To get the benefits, start sprinkling the sweet spice into your coffee, oatmeal, or cereal.

Bacteria gets a bad rap. It's the stuff that makes us sick, the stuff we're supposed to avoid at all costs. But there is such a thing as good bacteria, and when it comes to our digestion, this good bacteria is crucial.

"Beneficial bacteria [known as probiotics] keeps your gut healthy," says Stella Metsovas, a nutrition and diet expert in Los Angeles. "Having healthy, functioning intestines allows you to better digest and assimilate nutrients -- a key factor to optimal health!"

While Metsovas takes a bite of kimchi or sauerkraut every morning, any foods with live, active cultures (like miso, tempeh, and kefir) fit the bill.