Soy has been a regular source of food in other parts of the world for centuries, but it's just now becoming popular in Western culture. We see soy milk, soy yogurt and edamame on the grocery store shelves, but sometimes we don't really know why we should be eating them. What's so great about soy protein, and why is it better for us than other sources of protein? Turns out that soy protein is of great benefit for a woman's overall health, including muscle strength, heart health and strong bones. Grab that container of soy milk and read on.

There are many reasons why some people take diet supplements; the most common ones are to aid in weight loss, to look and feel better or to speed up the process of metabolism. What most people are not aware of are the side effects brought about by taking these diet supplements, arising from misuse or overuse, and not paying attention to the warning labels. There have been lawsuits filed against some of the manufacturers--some due to misleading advertisements and the failure to mention the side effects.

Coffee is one of the post popular drinks in the world and, until the last few years, it's gotten a bad rap when it comes to health. However, some recent studies are beginning to point to moderate (3 to 5 cups a day) coffee consumption as a boon to drinkers. According to Dr. James Coughlin in the April 2007 issue of Science Daily, researchers have just begun to discover the benefits that coffee may have for individuals.

In the United States, fewer than 5 percent of people eat vegetarian diets. However, this number may rise as more research is compiled and doctors begin to prescribe vegetarian diets as a way to boost health. It's being shown that vegetarian diets are healthy because they limit the occurrences of common, painful and deadly diseases and conditions.

Vitamin A, which aids the body's immune system, eyes, mucus membranes and cell reproduction, is really two kinds of vitamins: retinol and the provitamin-A carotenoids. Natural retinol comes from animals, while the carotenoids, of which the most well-known is beta carotene, come from vegetable sources. When you eat the animal sources of retinol vitamin A, you absorb the retinol the most directly and efficiently, while the vegetable carotenoids get converted into retinol inside the body less efficiently. The hype you might have heard about beta carotene, which is present in many vividly colored vegetables and fruits, is well-deserved and stems from the fact that it's the most efficiently absorbed of all the carotenoids. How much vitamin A should you take during pregnancy? In supplement form, take no more than the right amount of vitamin-A retinol for your age---to be safe, consult the chart from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine and speak with your physician. As for foods to take or not take that are high in vitamin A during pregnancy, see the recommendations below.

Taking supplements and eating fortified foods are very popular ways to stay healthy today. Vitamins and minerals have found their way into medicines, sodas, gums and breakfast cereals. Though this is good for the most part, vitamins and herbs can have side effects. It's important to learn about some of the most common vitamins and herbs and their side effects.

Estrogen is found naturally in many foods, while other foods may inhibit estrogen. Some of the same foods that offer natural estrogen also offer other valuable nutrients that are important to a healthy diet. It is always recommended to eat a wide variety of healthy foods rather than focusing on only a few. The effects of estrogen should also be discussed with your doctor to ensure it is a healthy plan for you.

Protein is an essential part of the diet, necessary for supplying amino acids and building healthy muscles. Athletes often consume high levels of protein to help their bodies build more muscles quickly, and low-carb, high-protein diets have become popular as a means of losing fat. However, though protein is necessary, too much protein can result in more health problems, most of which begin in the kidney as it works overtime to eliminate the leftovers from all that protein.

There are a number of practical reasons why yogurt should be included as a regular food source in a woman's diet. Since calcium is needed for maintaining strong bones, women who do not meet the daily requirements for calcium are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis, which could eventually lead to bone fractures in the hip, spine or wrist. An 8-oz. cup of plain low-fat yogurt contains more calcium than an equal serving of milk, but you should choose a brand that is low in fat and calories and has few additives.

Many people find that a hot cup of tea can soothe the mind and body, inspiring relaxation. However, it turns out that drinking tea can offer much more in terms of healing the body and protecting it from disease. At about one third the caffeine and the cost of coffee, a cup of tea delivers some surprising health benefits.