First a list of the obvious factors in an unhealthy diet: too much sugar, too much fat, too much alcohol, too much caffeine and too much salt. Nobody recommends that you cut any off these things out entirely, but you must control your intake.

Some antiaging experts such as Dr. Perricone think American women in particular eat too little fat.

Alcohol and caffeine have been show to be good for cardiovascular health.

Salt is necessary to life.

So everything in moderation.

Now, how do you determine if your diet is healthy?

Do you eat a variety of different foods. No one food contains all the nutrients you need to be fit and healthy. Fruits, grains, breads, vegetables, diary products, protein from meat and fish, beans, nuts and even herbs and spices should all be consumed.

There is some speculation that some of these foods interact in such a way as to improve their antioxidant or their disease fighting power.

Also by consuming all the food groups you are getting at least the minimum recommended dosage of vital vitamins and minerals as well as sufficient dietary fiber to not only help digestion, but also to prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

If possible, it's best to eat fresh foods, but you have to balance this out with the rest of your life. Few people can shop daily for the freshest ingredients for their meals.

A healthy diet will contain 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. When shopping follow Dr. Perricone's advice and buy a rainbow of dark, rich colored produce. Those dark colors mean you are consuming healthy amounts of vital nutrients such as vitamins a and c as well as natural beta carotene.

Like your mother used to say (or maybe it was Kellogg's) you have to start off your day with a good breakfast. Maybe you can't face poached fish in the morning, but you can eat healthy whole grain bread or cereals, an occasional egg and a cup of coffee.

Are prepared foods worse than fresh? Many experts say yes. Prepared foods do seem to have excessive salt if nothing else. But you can buy healthy prepared foods by reading the labels and looking out for high fat, sugar or sodium content.

We finally come to water. Our bodies are mostly water as is the world around us. Drinking plenty of water is essential. You will feel less hungry. You skin will look healthier and plumper (this is good once you start to age). It flushes toxins from the body. So drink as much as you can.

One way to determine if you're on the right track is if you gain weight without trying or even while dieting. This will not happen if you are eating right and exercising regularly.

Now for the goodies.

Have a piece of rich dark chocolate for desert once in a while. A glass or two of red wine a day is good for your heart. Coffee is rich in antioxidants. And sex is one of the best exercises you can do.

Again: all in moderation (except maybe for the sex).

As Dr. Spock used to say: ?Live long and prosper.?

This article is for informational purposes only and does not purport to offer medical advice.