Dietary Essentials - Health Digest

Hand holding glass of water under sink faucet

Michelle Washmuth

Why Tap Water Isn't As Bad As You Think It Is

Tap water has a reputation for being less safe than bottled water. Both are regulated by safety standards, but which of the two have more health benefits?

Robin Rothstein

How Unhealthy Is Mayonnaise?

If you love to spread a copious helping of mayonnaise on a sandwich, you're not alone. Delicious? Yes. But what about the nutritional value of mayonnaise?

Kimberly Smith

What Taking Bee Pollen Does To Your Body

Bee pollen, a combination of pollen, honey, enzymes, and other compounds, is touted for its health benefits. So how exactly does bee pollen affect the body?

a couple dining at a restaurant looking at the menu

Agnes Erickson

Things You'll Find In A Restaurant That Are Surprisingly Dirty

While we don't want to be the ones to turn you into a sudden germaphobe, there are a few items in restaurants that are surprisingly loaded with germs.

K.M. Langevin

Salt: Everything You Didn't Already Know

Salt is a mineral that enhances the taste of food, but there's so much more to salt -- from simple table salt to pink Himalayan salt -- than flavor enhancement.

Nicole LaMarco

The Real Health Benefits Of Potatoes

Low-carb diets have given potatoes a bad rap. As it turns out, these starchy vegetables are loaded with nutrients and have several important health benefits.

Chlorophyll extract is poured in pure water in glass against a white grey background with green leaf.

Emily Rhode

What Is Chlorophyll And Is It Really Beneficial?

A surprising new TikTok trend involving chlorophyll has been getting a lot of recent attention. Influencers claim a variety of benefits, but do experts agree?

Robin Rothstein

You Might Be Using Too Much Olive Oil. Here's Why

Olive oil is often pushed as a healthy alternative to other types of oils. But too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing, yes even olive oil.

Elaine Hinzey

Foods Every Man Needs To Have In His Diet

When it comes to men's nutrition, you can't go wrong with choosing whole and unprocessed foods. Here's a look at some foods every man should add to his diet.

Denise Porretto

Don't Chew Gum Before Having Sex. Here's Why

When you pop in a piece of gum, your breath may smell minty fresh, but in time, you'll be emitting other odors from somewhere else other than your mouth.

Jenna Demmer

Is Diet Soda Really Better Than Regular Soda?

What are healthy beverage options that taste just as good as regular soda? For many, this alternative is diet soda. But is diet soda really any healthier?

Catherine Caruso

Are Oats Gluten Free?

Oats are a popular and nutritious grain that can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or even as a topping, but are they gluten-free? Technically, yes —with exceptions.

Michelle Washmuth

What Happens To Your Body When You Forget Your Daily Vitamins

Many experts stress the importance of eating healthy foods in optimizing health, but if your diet sometimes suffers, multivitamins can help compensate.

Catherine Caruso

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Too Much Hot Sauce

How much hot sauce you can handle is a personal preference, but watch out for too much sodium, or negative side effects of thermogenesis.

Molly Hurford

The Real Difference Between Dairy-Free And Vegan Diets

You may be confused about the differences between eating a dairy-free diet, or being a dairy-free vegetarian or a vegan. But the three mean different things.

Maria Faller

The Truth About Lisa Rinna's 'Dirty Vegan' Diet

Rinna is one of the "dirty vegans" who sometimes eat animal products. The other type is those who eat processed food made from meat and/or dairy alternatives.

Catherine Caruso

Why Some Sugars Aren't Actually Vegan

Most people know that meat, fish, and dairy are not part of the standard vegan diet. Learn why some sugars also aren't vegan.

Man preparing to take sleep medication pills

Michelle Washmuth

The Real Reason Melatonin Can Make You Have Strange Dreams

Melatonin can affect your REM cycle, which is when you are most likely to have vivid dreams. Because of this, you might want to experiment with dosage.

Agnes Erickson

The Health Benefits Of Oranges Explained

This in-demand fruit is packed with nutrition and contains 100 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C.

a large saute pan of tomato sauce and raw tomatoes surrounding it

Lauren DeMello

Raw Versus Cooked Tomatoes: Which One Is Better For You?

Cooked tomatoes have more of beneficial nutrients like lycopene and naringenin, but don't tend to have as much vitamin C as the raw ones.

Woman holding glass of water and fish oil supplement

Nicole LaMarco

The Real Difference Between Fish Oil And Krill Oil Supplements

Fish oil and krill oil are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Here's a comparison of other health benefits of each.

Molly Hurford

Surprising Side Effects Of Taking Iron Supplements

Iron supplements can cause stomach troubles and more-serious symptoms. Getting iron via whole foods is one way to avoid these negative effects.

Allaya Cooks-Campbell

Here's Why You Should Start Drinking More Bone Broth

People credit bone broth with all sorts of benefits. It's said to be good for your bones, skin, immune system, and gut health. But how much of that is true?

Sparkling pink raspberry lemonade on dark background

Nicole LaMarco

Here's What "Natural Flavors" Really Means

When you see "natural flavors" on a food label, you're probably thinking about lemons or vanilla, but that is not what it means.

A woman with one arm up inspecting an under arm sweat stain

A. Sooter

Science Says Eating This Can Make You Smell Better

Researchers found that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables makes sweat smell better.

Andra Picincu

This Is What Happens When You Eat Too Much Broccoli

Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse, but it could harm your health when consumed in excess. This is what happens when you eat too much broccoli.

Nicole LaMarco

The Real Health Benefits Of Lemons

Lemons are often seen as a superfood because they have some real health benefits. The health benefits of lemon include heart health and kidney stone prevention.