5 Food Facts that Can Change Your Life

Now is the time to get the facts and make some changes to your diet. Get honest-to-goodness nutrition facts from the experts-registered dietitians (RDs)–and learn how specific foods can affect your health. Armed with that information, you can get yourself back on track starting today.

Fresh garlic might make your breath a little stinky, but it's well worth it if it can keep you healthy during flu season. Garlic is an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral bulb that has positive effects on the immune system. Most importantly, it can help ward of the onset of a cold or the flu to keep you feeling good year round.Video: Peeling and Mincing GarlicRecipe: Spaghettini with Oil and Garlic

Get a jump-start on your day with a nutrient-packed meal. Research consistently shows that beginning the day with a well-balanced breakfast can increase concentration throughout the morning. In fact, people who eat breakfast have a better time controlling their weight, lowering cholesterol, and consuming more vitamins and minerals. See more healthy breakfast recipes.Recipe: Quick Breakfast Tostada

Blueberry research is booming with exciting news that this antioxidant-rich fruit, also known as the "brain berry," has the ability to protect against short-term memory loss. At just 40 calories and 2 grams of fiber per half-cup, this wonder fruit also has the ability to help lower cholesterol and reduce cancer risk. Learn about other brain-boosting foods. Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler

A diet very low in trans fat is crucial for optimum heart health. But buyer beware: Some companies replace the trans fat in packaged foods with unhealthy saturated fat just so the products can read "trans fat free," so double-check the Nutrition Facts label. You want the fat in your food to come from heart-healthy mono- and poly- unsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil, avocados and peanut butter. See more heart-healthy recipes.Recipe: Broiled Salmon with Lemon and Olive Oil

Pump up your diet with foods rich in vitamin C to help keep skin looking smooth. Vitamin C is important in the production of collagen, the agent that maintains the integrity of the skin. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes. So fill up on these foods to reap the age-defying benefits. Video: Sectioning Citrus Recipe: Fresh Fruit with Lemon-Mint Sauce