Breathe in. Breathe out. There. You just supplied your body with much-needed oxygen, some of which will make its way to your cells. When your cells use the oxygen, however, they leave some free radicals behind. Antioxidants are a cleaning crew, of sorts -- they clear away all those unwanted visitors.

When it comes to getting your antioxidants, are you turning to produce and other natural sources? Or are you looking to processed foods?

As so often happens in the food industry, when a health-related item becomes somewhat trendy, everything from soda to candy will be labeled to match the trend. You may not have to think back too far to remember a time when you had never heard of antioxidants. But now that they're in the public eye, you can find a wide variety of products with labels touting their antioxidant power.

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Upstairs in my shower there is a bottle of shampoo that has big letters stating "formulated with biotin." Obviously the manufacturers want me to believe it's a good thing. Biotin is a B vitamin that's found in lots of foods, but why is it in my shampoo and what is supposed to do? Your guess is as good as mine.

The weight loss industry isn't immune from this tried and true marketing technique. Take Slim Fast for example. Have you seen their recent commercial where a woman literally kicks her cravings? (I absolutely love the concept of kicking a giant-sized donut to smithereens.) The voice over for the commercial states that Slim Fast's HC4 will control hunger for up to four hours.

So what is HC4? Magic? Fairy dust? According to Slim Fast's website, HC4 is a blend of proteins, fiber and lipids. So no magic. No fairy dust. Just every day things that can be found in a healthy diet. If you're considering Slim Fast or any other diet aid, be sure to really check out the fancy names and claims that they make. You may find out that it doesn't really live up to the hype.

Have you ever used an appetite suppressant, diet pill or other diet aid? What made you decide to try it? What results did you see?

Diet Coke Plus is supposed to include quite a few vitamins and minerals right in with your favorite soda. But the FDA and the Coca Cola company are in the middle of a he-said/she-said type of battle. Coca Cola stands by its product, but the FDA says it doesn't meet their standards.

In my opinion, the whole concept of getting vitamins and minerals from soda is ridiculous. If you want a diet soda, then go ahead and treat yourself. But know that it's a treat. Soda just shouldn't be considered part of your daily nutrition no matter how many vitamins and minerals are added into the mix. It's the liquid equivalent of those glorified candy bars that are considered health food because they have a little extra protein thrown in.

You're much better of getting your vitamins and minerals from natural sources, such as fruits and vegetables.

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While the area I live in may have made my exposure to this fruit a little slower than it was for most people, it's still a relatively new addition to the regular fruits and veggies on grocery store shelves. In a short span of time the bizarre-looking pomegranate has moved from exotic to mainstream.

The world of nutrition has its trends just like anything else, and pomegranates certainly had their day (or couple of years) in the sun. Pomegranates have been linked to health benefits for erectile dysfunction, cancer risk reduction, lung health, and other issues. And they certainly are good for you... not to mention tasty. (Though pomegranate juice can negatively interact with certain medications (such as some blood pressure meds), so check with your doctor.)

But when a food item becomes trendy, there is a bit of a halo effect; anything that has that item listed on the package automatically seems healthier and better for you. Health by association, if you will.

My outlook, when it comes to weight loss and beauty fads, is a kind of mix between realistic skepticism and dreamy hopefulness. It's no fun to go through life all pessimistic and negative, shooting down every new invention and medical breakthrough before it even has a chance, but on the flip side you don't want to fall victim to random fads and gimmicks either. But how to know when they're just gimmicks and when they might be the real thing? After all, if that tube of lotion really does melt fat right off I don't want to be the one missing out!

Obviously there's no good answer to that question, except that if a product really does what it says it can then you'll definitely hear about it. But other than that, trying stuff out (and avoiding claims that seem to good to be true) is really the only way, and thankfully there are plenty of people out there willing to do that and share what they think. Case in point? This article from the Seattle Times, where three lotions claiming weight loss and firming properties were tested by real ladies, who share their thoughts and opinions to hopefully save us all some time and potential grief.

And let me encourage you all to please feel free to share your own experiences, so we can all know more of what works and what doesn't!

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I think most of us can say that at some point in our "weight loss lives" we've fallen for at least one gimmick and/or over-hyped health claim of some kind, whether it was in a small way or a big way. I know I have! Truth is that not only do some of these products not work, but many of them are downright dangerous.

Now we are all ultimately responsible for what we put in our own bodies, so if you're going to go out and buy miscellaneous herb concoctions and mix them all together with each other well, then, that's your choice. Good luck. But there is also something to be said for the trust we all have in the media and in advertising, however misplaced it may be. Being honest with yourself about whether the claims a certain product is making are realistic or not is the key, and educating yourself on how the product really works.

I am a big believer in different things working for different people, so in some cases I still try different things. But I don't expect miracles, and as I get older I'm more and more careful!

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