Whole grains

Good news if you love to eat popcorn at the movies--your favorite snack is healthier than previously thought! New research shows that popcorn and cereals contain phenol antioxidants, thought to protect against heart disease and cancer.

The study was presented to the American Chemical Society (ACS), and was led by Dr Joe Vinson, of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

You've counted grams of fat, gone low-carb, considered the GI of your foods, cut down on sugar, and you're still overweight ... what's left to track?

You might find paying attention to your fiber intake helps shift those pounds. Back in the 1980s, the F Plan hit huge success by promoting a high-fiber diet. Although our understanding of nutrition has advanced considerably since then, most diet books and gurus still recommend eating plenty of fiber.

The US government recommended daily fiber intake is 25g and the UK suggests a minimum of 18g. So why is fiber so good for you? And how can you make sure you're exceeding those minimum targets?

Everyone knows that whole grains provide a whole host of health benefits including lowering heart disease risk and helping with weight maintenance.

I love to experiment with different whole grains and by far one of my favorites is Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa).

WebMD have compared various brands of pasta - in particular those that use whole wheat and have a higher fiber content.

Whole wheat pastas are made from durum wheat. Durum is the second-most widely cultivated wheat species (after common wheat). The whole-wheat pastas tend to have a higher protein content (7g to 10g per 2 ounce dry serving).

Periodontitis is a disease affecting the gums that can result in the loss of bone surrounding the teeth. The disease is exacerbated by diabetes. A new study points to the reduced risk of periodontitis - due to the benefits of whole grain foods