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It wasn't very long ago that our society as a whole started to go on a “health kick.” We started getting wise about the dangers of obesity in children and adults alike, and therefore, “health foods,” weren't only restricted to the low fat category. Now you can hardly watch a strict of television advertisements without hearing about whole grain, dietary fiber, or regulatory bacteria.

Things used to be simpler than this–clean your plate, eat a balanced diet, and take your vitamins. But in the case of nutrition, simpler isn't always better. After all, our bodies are made up of complex systems that each need their own special grade of fuel to function properly. So let's go over a few breakthroughs in nutritional understanding and what they mean for your health.

For quite some time, a few mainstream fad diets actively demonized carbohydrates with the seemingly-logical argument that fewer carbohydrates would lead the body to use fat as its energy source, ideally leading to weight loss. The truth is that this leads to an imbalance in the recommended ratio of carbohydrate/fat/protein intake.

What you should be looking for is complex carbohydrates to provide a long-lasting source of energy. Enter whole grains and dietary fiber. Fiber is very complex when broken down to its molecular structure, which means that your body must work harder for longer to digest it, making you feel more full and satisfied for much longer than more basic sugars like sucrose and even fructose (sugar found in fruit).

Research has shown that a diet high in whole grains can help to fight against high cholesterol and even prevent certain types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. And because it's high in dietary fiber, your body wins all around!

All kinds of new yogurt products have been popping up at supermarkets across the nation. In TV ads, we hear the name of some fancy “regulatory,” bacteria spouted off as if it were something everyone clearly knows about. But in case you don't–as I didn't until recently–here are the facts:

The unique way in which yogurt is made–a process that ice cream does not go through–promotes the growth of bacterial cultures, which might sound rather repulsive, but the bacteria that ends up growing helps to strengthen your immune system and fight off bacteria that would otherwise make you sick.

Eating yogurt on a regular basis also promotes balance in your body's yeast levels, which in turn prevents the development of yeast infections. The bacterial cultures also help to provide regularity in your digestive system, especially when partnered with dietary fiber.

There are so many things our bodies need to stay strong and healthy, but you should be particularly mindful of your own special needs. Good nutrition boosted with any outside supplements you may need is one of the primary keys to lowering stress and anxiety and leading a satisfying healthful life.