We're conditioned to believe that salads are typically the healthiest menu options. However, our friends over a AOL Body have put together a slide show that features ten of the most unhealthy salads around. Clocking in as some of the worst offenders are Dairy Queen's Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (48 grams of fat), Chili's Southwest Cobb Salad (970 calories) and Cosi's Signature Salad (52 grams of fat). That last one really makes me sad, as that Cosi salad has always been one of my favorites. Thankfully, the folks at AOL Body also offer ways of making all the salads a bit more heart and diet friendly.

A recent study done at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles studied the diets of normal weight and overweight people and found that the normal weight participants ate more fruit and more fiber each day than their heavier counterparts. The overweight eaters tended to consume more total fat and cholesterol, and fewer carbohydrates. The normal weight subjects ate an average of one more piece of fruit per day.

Scientists are saying that their findings lead them to believe that the composition of the daily diet can make a big difference in obesity levels and though the study was on too small a scale to extrapolate the data to the nation population at this time, it is an indicator that the still-popular high fat, low carb diets may not always be the best choice when looking to lose weight or maintain it. Researchers stress, of course, that there is no "magic formula," but when the formula might involve one more piece of fruit per day, what's the harm in adding it in?

Most diets are about losing weight - high protein, low-carb, low-fat, Mediterranean, South Beach, etc. Most diets also emphasize balance and variety, regardless of what they discourage people from eating. There is a new diet that is not about losing weight, balance or variety, though it may have other health benefits. Researchers at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York have conducted a trial in which patients ate an ultra-high fat diet - over 90% fat - to see if a diet "devoid of protein and carbohydrates might temper symptoms of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease." The results of the original study, published last year in Neurology, were encouraging. Patients with Parkinsons reported a decrease in their symptoms. Since then, additional studies have been done that have shown positive results, as well.

The success of the regimen is credited to the high numbers of ketone bodies that are produced when the body is taking in next to no carbs or protein. Even a very strict Atkins wouldn't produce enough keytones to have a measurable benefit, according to the doctors. A typical diet, which did allow up to 8% protein, for a study participant included butter, cream cheese and heavy cream, with small bits of fish or egg added for flavoring.

The results of all trials are not firmly conclusive, but are promising enough to have prompted another round of testing to see if doctors can devise a diet that is easier to follow. The problems with the diet are obviously things like heart problems, so the next round of testing involves a combination of the ultra-fat diet and the Atkins diet.

Forbes list of the 10 best diets to follow did not include the carb-phobic Atkins diet for a good reason: while people who follow the diet do lose weight, a new case study shows that it could lead to life-threatening health complications.

The study followed the case of a woman who developed a condition known as ketoacidosis while following the diet. Though it is somewhat rare, the disease is caused by a buildup of ketones in the blood-stream. Ketones are produced by the liver when insulin levels fall and more are produced the lower the insulin levels get. An excessive buildup of ketones in the blood can cause patients to fall into a coma, preceded by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

According to WebMD, ketosis, which would precede the onset of the extreme condition of ketoacidosis, can be prevented by eating approximately 100 grams of carbohydrates a day, or about 1 cup of oatmeal. Carb-Counter.org is a good source of information regarding the amount of carbohydrates in various foods.

The average person will eat 1200 calories of high fat snack food while watching the Super Bowl, not including a few beers or sodas to wash down those munchies. And while it is a good idea to provide enough snack foods to satisfy the cravings of your guests, it is nice to snack with your friends without ending up looking like a member of your favorite football team.

Potato chips are the number one snack. Test out a few brands that bake their chips instead of frying them to find one you like, or make your own pita chips. Better yet, leave out the chips and fill your plates with chopped and sliced vegetables, which are crunchy and go great with almost any dip. If your favorite dip happens to be high in fat - a spicy cheese or hot artichoke dip - do yourself a favor and use vegetables or crackers for dipping instead of chips. Pretzels, both hard and soft, are often low in fat and make great snack food, especially when paired with mustard or some other dip.