Photo: Charlotte Kinzie/Flickr

If you take junk food and put something healthful in it, is it still junk food? Manufacturers seem to hope that you'll answer that question with a negative. Here in the states we've got Diet Coke Plus, where niacin, zinc, magnesium and vitamins B6 and B12 are added into the drink. And now they're releasing a green-tea flavored Diet Coke in Japan.

"We wanted to cater to people who are looking for something that tastes good but is also good for health and beauty," said Katsuya Sato, a representative from Coca Cola Co. in Japan.

So what's the bottom line? These drinks are soda. Though the addition of vitamins, minerals or antioxidants certainly isn't a bad thing, it doesn't change the fact that you're drinking soda. So whether they're beneficial depends on how you're using them. If you choose a Diet Coke with added ingredients instead of a regular Diet Coke, it's not a bad choice. However, if you choose a soda in place of water or (worse) use these fortified drinks as a replacement for getting nutrients through fresh, natural and nutrient-dense foods, then it's a very poor choice.

Green tea has been linked to many possible health benefits -- from reduced cancer risk, to better skin, to regulated blood sugar. But you're much better off drinking a cup of green tea than getting the antioxidants from a fortified soda.

Would you drink green tea-flavored Diet Coke?

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I've given up a lot of things in my diet to live a healthier lifestyle, but one thing I just haven't been able to ban is my favorite full-fat poppy seed dressing. (And if you try and make me, be ready for a fight.)

Turns out, I have an excuse to enjoy it on my salad a couple of times a week. Experts say that when combined with fat, antioxidants from leafy greens are better absorbed. That's just one example of how when certain foods are combined, nutrition gets a boost.

Researchers are discovering that sometimes, two great tastes don't just taste great together, they're better for your body that way too. It's called food synergy, or the "one plus one equals three" effect. And it might just be why we've developed a taste over time for certain food combinations.

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I'll be honest. I'm not a big fan of multivitamins. I don't think they're a bad thing and I would never try to talk someone out of taking them. However, if you eat a nutritious and varied diet, popping a pill seems a bit redundant to me. Kind of like putting in your contact lenses and then putting on a pair of glasses to make sure you can really, really see.

Researchers recently found that, while multivitamins are unlikely to do any harm, supplements don't help older women fight off heart disease and cancer. The results seem to confirm other recent studies that say some supplements don't have the same cancer-fighting abilities as the vitamins do when found in food.

As with most studies, other researchers have stepped forward to point out flaws. Be that as it may, it makes me wonder if we're expecting a bit much from our multivitamins. Since when did multivitamins have to don their superhero suits and fight off all diseases?

Multivitamins are intended to be a part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise. They aren't a free pass that gives you the option of eating nothing but junk and they aren't a magic potion that will ward off disease.

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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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Teenagers have this delightful tendency to favour the indoors -- you know, that whole sleeping all day, emerging only to talk on the phone, text friends or read celebrity gossip. Oh wait, that kind of sounds like my life. Ah, the life of a freelancer.

Anyway, teenage girls have a very good reason to venture outdoors on a regular basis because a new study shows that a lack of vitamin D (provided by the sun's rays) can stunt an adolescent girl's growth and -- worse yet, if you ask them -- cause weight gain. You can get vitamin D in supplement form, but why bother when you can get the same results from a few minutes of outdoor time every day.

That doesn't mean that you're off the hook if you're well past puberty. A lack of vitamin D in adults is even more serious, potentially leading to osteoporosis, cancer and other deadly diseases.

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If you have a slice of delicious cake, would you think it's OK to chow down the whole cake in one sitting? Of course not. Common sense would tell you that a whole cake is just too much. Unfortunately, when it comes to health advice, not everybody uses common sense.

I recently wrote a post about the benefits vitamin D can have on heart health. That's only one of the perks of vitamin D that has been in the press lately. Now many people -- buying into the vitamin D kick hook, line and sinker -- are buying high-dosage vitamin D supplements from pharmacies and health food stores.

There is no science that says high doses of vitamin D are necessary. And why waste your money on a supplement when vitamin D is so readily available from other sources? Sunlight is your best source, but again, it's important to be reasonable. You don't want to spend too much time in the sun without the protection of sunblock, so a few short 10-15 minute walks outside each week will do. Vitamin D is also available in fortified foods such as milk, some cereals, and orange juice, and it's naturally found in salmon and other oil-rich fish.

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Let's face it. Most of us have those days where we're tempted to use the old "I have a headache" excuse. But wouldn't it be a heck of a lot more fun just to take care of your sex drive like you take care of other aspects of your health? Try these tips:

• Exercise. Aerobic exercise gets your blood flowing, boosts your energy, and triggers endorphins. And when you incorporate exercise into your daily routine, you'll just feel better about yourself and confidence has everything to do with feeling sexy.
• Relax. A stressed-out mood isn't exactly made for the bedroom. In addition to your cardio workouts, try yoga or tai chi -- they offer mind-body benefits that can help you relax.
• Add a little novelty. And I don't mean novelty in the bedroom (although that's not a bad idea, either). Spend some quality time with your significant other doing something different -- go for a hike, play a game of tennis, or try your hand at a rock climbing wall. Any activities that have you working together will help increase your physical awareness of each other and will strengthen your relationship.
• Get your vitamins. Some supplements, such as Ginkgo biloba, have been linked with sex drive, but the science is sketchy at best. You're better off just sticking to a healthy diet including a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
  

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Think the food-mood connection is a real one? I do. A handful of nuts always makes me feel happier than a bag full of chips. Maybe it's because I know nuts are better for me than chips and by eating them, I'm preventing a trail of guilt that would follow my chip indulgence. Or maybe it's something else altogether.

Seems certain vitamins and compounds can actually change brain chemistry in happy ways, like these.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Eat them and combat depression.
• Folic acid: Higher levels of folic acid lead to lower levels of depression.
• Low-quality carbs (candy, cookies, cakes): Watch out -- they can boost the blues.
  
• High-quality carbs (oats, barley, lentils, beans, sweet potatoes): The can stabilize mood swings.
• Vitamin D: It alleviates seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
  
  

Ready for some feel-good starter foods? Try these: Beans, wild salmon, skim milk, and blackberries. And don't forget to eat every four to five hours -- it will keep you feeling satisfied and happy all day long.

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It's easy to get stuck in a rut, eating the same foods day in and day out. But variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

Since I rarely eat meat, getting my RDI of iron is difficult for me, but I know firsthand how important it is -- if I'm not getting enough I get lightheaded and lethargic. The same can happen to you!

According to our friends at Fitsugar, we need 18 mg of Iron per day, and without this, we may be considered anemic. Get your share from the following sources:

• Iron-fortified cereal (1 oz) - 4.5-7 mg
• Soybeans (1/2 cup) - 9 mg
• Sun-dried tomatoes (1/2 cup) - 9 mg
• Pine Nuts (1/2 cup) - 9 mg
• Pumpkin seeds (1/2 cup) - 9 mg
• Oysters (3 oz) - 7 mg
• Spinach (1/2 cup) - 3 mg

Want to know more iron-rich foods? Head over to Fitsugar for the scoop on iron.

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When you were little, your mom probably made sure you got your vitamin C to help fend off those nasty bugs that float around classrooms. But recent research shows that adults have good reason to get their vitamin C as well.

At their Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, the American Heart Association revealed that vitamin C has a positive effect on blood pressure. The practical applications aren't yet known but in the study, high doses of vitamin C resulted in an average seven percent drop in blood pressure.

While it's not reasonable for you to take high doses of vitamin C like those administered in the study, you can be sure to incorporate lots of healthful foods that are rich in vitamin C. Choices include citrus fruits, broccoli, greens, and melon.

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There's no denying it -- some people seem to be prone to every kind of illness out there, while some are healthy as a horse. I tend to fall into the latter category -- besides one doozy of a cold I had last January, I haven't been sick in ages. But trust me, I'm exposed to just as many germs as anyone else, be it at the office, at the gym, at school and just about any public place I frequent.

AOL Health recently listed the healthy habits of women who never get sick, including these:

• Get regular massages (I really like this one!)
• Wash your hands
• Sip ginger and honey for stomach and bowel issues
• Take cold showers
• Get your fill of garlic, vitamin c and zinc

As for me, I find that the old adage an apple a day keeps the doctor away really works! How do you stay healthy?

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But here's the kicker. In order to avoid a multi-vitamin and still get enough nutrition, you need to eat the right foods. For instance, iron should rarely be taken in pill form (especially by men), but iron is an important nutrient for kids and teens. You can make sure they get enough by feeding them foods like fortified breakfast cereals or black beans, but serve them with foods that are high in vitamin C (such as orange juice) to boost absorption.

Prevention has the scoop on other important nutrients, who needs them, and the best way to get them, whether in supplement form or through the foods you eat.

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Alternative medicine may not always works as effectively as traditional western medicine, but they can't harm you, right? Not true. Recent studies recently found that one in five Ayruvedic medicines contains poisonous metallics like lead, arsenic and mercury.

Of hundreds of Ayurvedic remedies purchased from 25 different websites in the USA and India, 21% contained detectable levels of at least one of these metals, and of that 21%, half had higher levels than would be considered healthy.

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient practice that promotes overall health using a balance of medicine, meditation, exercise and diet, and while it can be part of a healthy lifestyle, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor first before taking any kind of remedy, natural or not.

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Nearly every time my son and I go grocery shopping, he begs me to buy children's vitamins. I know parents tend to disagree when it comes to children's vitamins. Personally, while I don't think they're harmful, I don't think they're necessary. My son eats plenty of fruits and vegetables, he gets sufficient calcium from milk, yogurt, and fortified orange juice, and he eats a broad range of other healthy foods as well.

But my kid LOVES his candy. And I'm quite certain that is why he wants those gummy vitamins he sees in the store so badly.

Angie over at ParentDish recently wrote about a study regarding children's vitamins. The study reviewed 14 types of vitamins and found that only five of the reviewed brands had the 12 essential vitamins you would expect. Some brands had as little as four vitamins. The researchers state that the vitamins are little better than candy.

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