Proper post-workout nutrition is vital to maintaining healthy muscles and a high-powered metabolism. Here are five recipes that will give you the proper balance of carbohydrates and protein (yes, you want both after being active) no matter what time of day you exercise.

From animal rights to health concerns, there are many reasons why people choose to become vegans. Vegans avoid all animal foods, including eggs, dairy and in some cases honey.

While becoming a vegan can lend itself to positive dietary changes, such as increased vegetable, fruit and whole-grain consumption, it does not necessarily make someone a “healthy” eater – sugar, fried foods, alcohol and refined starches can all be vegan! Additionally, veganism involves significant dietary restrictions, so in order to prevent deficiencies vegans must be diligent to consume plant-based sources of nutrients commonly found in animal products. In some cases, supplementation may be advised, but speak with your physician before consuming supplements. The most-common nutrients of concern are: protein, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B2 (riboflavin).Read more

This gluten-free whole grain has been gaining popularity. But did you know that worldwide only about 50 percent of sorghum is used as food for humans? That’s a shame, since sorghum has so many nutritional benefits. Here’s more information about this whole grain, and ways you can try it at home. Read more

If you want to get more healthy greens in your diet but are burning out on kale, you’re in luck: There are new greens in town. In general, green vegetables tend to be high in vitamins A, C and K, plus those in the cabbage family have phytochemicals that have been linked to lower risk of certain cancers. Read more

Ever wonder how many calories are in your cocktail or your pint of beer? Soon that will be easier for diet-watching drinkers to discern. Alcoholic-beverage behemoth Diageo PLC — the global giant behind Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskey, Smirnoff vodka, Guinness and countless other products — says that, starting in a few months, it will begin including information about nutrition, including calories and fat content, and alcohol content per serving on its U.S. product labels and online. This is an industry first, according to the company. After the labels’ U.S. rollout, they will be introduced in Europe. Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes told the Wall Street Journal the company wants “to provide alcohol and nutrition information that consumers can quickly understand, instead of expecting them to do the math.”

Every day, millions of people — adults and children — in this country with Type 2 diabetes hit their pharmacy for a variety of medicines to control that condition as well as other obesity-related ills. But what if instead of the pharmacist giving them drugs to manage their diseases, they were handed a bin of fruits and vegetables to help prevent them? Read more

There are many healthy choices you can make when ordering Mexican fare. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of unhealthy choices you could potentially make too. Here are top picks for popular Mexican hot spots, as well as those options you should skip.

Chipotle

Order This:

Choose a burrito bowl with 1 serving of protein (chicken and steak have the least sodium), brown rice and tomato salsa, and opt for the healthy fat of guacamole.

Be wary of what you put into your burrito. Adding all three high-fat toppers — guacamole, sour cream and cheese — can add a whopping 345 calories to your base items (flour tortilla, rice, beans, 1 protein choice). This can make the calorie count skyrocket to over 1,200 per burrito.

Put canned beans — a healthy pantry staple — in the spotlight. Beans boast protein, fiber, folate and lots of minerals, like iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. If you’re worried about sodium, rinse and drain beans before using to cut back on the salt by as much as 40 percent. Read more

From animal rights to health concerns, there are many reasons why people choose to become vegetarians. In fact, vegetarianism is practiced by a number of cultures throughout the world, including nearly a third of the Indian population (primarily via the Hindu, Jain and Brahmin communities). There are different types of vegetarians, denoted by the prefixes attached to the title: Ovo- = eggs, Lacto- = dairy. For example, the only animal products an ovo-lacto-vegetarian eats are eggs and dairy products.

While becoming a vegetarian can lend itself to positive dietary changes, such as increased vegetable, fruit and whole-grain consumption, it does not necessarily make someone a “healthy” eater – sugar, fried foods, alcohol and refined starches can all be vegetarian! Additionally, vegetarians may be at increased risk of deficiency of certain nutrients, like protein, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin D. Check with your physician before taking supplements of any of the nutrients suggested below. Read more