Sea salt has some health benefits – but won’t lower your sodium content one bit.

Sea salt has boomed in popularity in restaurants and supermarket aisles across the country.  Many gourmet chefs say they prefer it over table salt for its coarse, crunchy texture and stronger flavor. Manufacturers are using it in potato chips and other snacks because it’s “all natural,” and not processed like table salt. And some health-conscious consumers choose it because it contains minerals like magnesium.

Each of the above-mentioned characteristics may set sea salt apart from table salt, but in one other very important respect there’s absolutely no difference between the two: sodium content.

If your doctor has instructed you to avoid gluten and dairy, it may seem like you have few food choices. In fact, many foods are both naturally gluten- and dairy-free. Crafting satisfying, healthy meals that follow your dietary restrictions does not have to be complicated or take too much of your time.

Making small, easy changes to our eating habits on a consistent basis -- more than 25 days a month -- can lead to sustainable weight loss, according to research by Professor Brian Wansink in Cornell's Food and Brand Lab. The challenge is to figure out which changes work for specific individuals and how to stick with changes long enough to make them second nature.

Each year, February is reserved as American Heart Month in order to raise awareness about the prevention and management of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women and accounts for almost 700,000 deaths each year or 29% of all U.S. deaths. Heart disease is a broad category referring to a variety of conditions, including atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure and hypertension. Present in nearly one-third of the American population, hypertension is, in fact, the most important risk factor for heart disease. Referred to as the "silent killer," hypertension produces no symptoms and, if left untreated, can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure. Other risk factors for heart disease include high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, cigarette smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle. But, there are ways to reduce your risk of heart disease by making simple life style changes.

It is a cold, rainy day. . . or school is canceled due to snowy conditions. . . or 105-degree weather outside is beyond enjoyable. Whatever the reason for not going outside. . . inside, the weather is perfect! Instead of retreating under the covers, consider a good jazzercise video, get your dance on, hula-hoop, reinvent "Simon Says," or design a tournament of physical activity!

February is a month dedicated to the heart – in more ways than one. This is the time to celebrate love and give your sweetheart a valentine. This is also the month to wear red and call attention to prevention of the No. 1 killer of women – heart disease.

During February, the American Heart Association wants people to “Go Red for Women” by wearing something red or a special pin to raise awareness of heart disease. The campaign is a call for women to take charge of their heart health.

While a great deal of research on childhood obesity has spotlighted the long-term health problems that emerge in adulthood, a new UCLA study focuses on the condition's immediate consequences and shows that obese youngsters are at far greater risk than had been supposed.

Compared to kids who are not overweight, obese children are at nearly twice the risk of having three or more reported medical, mental or developmental conditions, the UCLA researchers found. Overweight children had a 1.3 times higher risk.

Super Bowl Sunday is no longer just about football. It has evolved into a day that is as much about parties, friends, big televisions and food as it is about football.

This year, don't let high-fat, high-calorie Super Bowl snacks fumble your healthy eating game plan. Whether you're a host or a guest, develop a winning strategy before your Super Bowl party to help keep your snacking from going out of bounds.

Research shows that 51 percent of those who make resolutions will abandon their resolve within six months. If you’ve already jumped the track, consider these tips to get your resolutions rolling again.

Have you ever looked down at a bag of chips you were eating and wondered where the chips went? You don’t remember eating that many chips, yet they are all gone. You don’t even remember if the chips tasted good or not. This is called mindless eating or distracted eating. Eating breakfast while watching the morning news, having a snack while surfing the web, gobbling down a burger at a stoplight, all examples of mindless eating. Many of you are not even aware of the number of food decisions you make in a day. Research indicates that we overlook as many as 200 food decisions each day. These overlooked food decisions are made without you even being aware that you are making them. Your decision of what to eat, whether to eat, and how much to eat is based on what you usually do, external cues such as seeing or smelling food, or simply eating what is there. Moving from mindless eating to mindful eating can make a big difference in how you relate to food and ultimately can have an impact on your weight. There is a body of growing evidence that mindful eating is a strategy that can enhance weight loss.