The difference between skinny people and heavy ones might be the bacteria in their belly

When those afternoon hunger pains hit, are you the kind of person to calmly prepare yourself a nutritious plate of hummus and veggie sticks? Or the type to make a mad dash for the vending machine, blindly jabbing in numbers until a sugary/salty treat falls out?

Fact: You can get a healthy meal from most top fast-food chains. Don't believe us? It's true!

Is there anything better than reclining on a beach chair, looking out at the crashing waves, and sipping a summer cocktail like a margarita or piña colada?

When I think of the most decadent, fattening food I can eat, my mind doesn't go to the high-priced, frou frou chocolate éclair or the rich and creamy New York cheesecake. No, I think more along the lines of pure sugar, cream, and processed chemical goodness that comes in a pretty plastic wrapper: the all-American Twinkie.

Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven. It's fast. It's convenient. It makes any road trip with screaming kids somewhat bearable.

There's no denying it: Snacking is fun. Look at Pringles. "Once you pop, the fun don't stop." Oreos provide endless entertainment with all that cookie twisting. And Chester the Cheetah? Such an exciting guy.

Detox. It's a word that carries so much hope -- and so much fear. Detox the smart way and you're in for clearer skin, more energy, and a smaller number on the scale. Detox drastically (Master Cleanse, anyone?) and you're likely to do more harm than good. But with so many detox plans out there, and so much conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of each, how's a girl to choose the cleanse that's right for her?

Think what's in your brown bag would pass muster with a professional nutritionist? You might be surprised to learn how poor your diet really is

Wouldn't life be easier if a magic calorie-burning pill did exist? One that has zero side effects and is actually good for you?

Is it a no-no to eat after 8 PM? Discover the real answer to this question and more

In pursuit of the thin-is-beautiful ideal peddled by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, most of us have -- at one time or another -- counted calories, embarked on a crash diet, sworn off sweets, or had periods of extreme gym rat-itis.

While you won't find the definition of "superfood" in any seriously scientific textbook, in recent years the term has been bandied about by the media, nutritionists and women's diet gurus to describe foods (mostly fruits, veggies and seeds/nuts) that are rich in phytonutrient content -- in other words, foods that boast significant amounts of stuff that's good for you and should be included in your diet. "Stuff" like antioxidants (to help prevent cell damage), anthocyanins (to help cells block UV light), vitamin C (to help with everything from wound healing to oxidative stress) and dietary fiber (to help food move through your body more quickly).