Ocean Robbins

Acrylamide sure doesn’t sound like something edible. But nevertheless, the compound is in many of the most popular foods, including baked goods, fried and roasted potatoes, and even coffee. Some evidence suggests that acrylamide can trigger cancer growth — at least in rodents. But is there a cancer risk to humans? And should we try to completely eliminate acrylamide from our diets, or are there ways to cut back on exposure that reduce any potential health effects?

Most of us don’t think of lettuce as a super-nutritious food. Sure, it makes up the bulk of “ordinary” salads, and iceberg accompanies fast food meals — but in terms of raw nutritional value, we tend to think of it as a sideshow. But should we reconsider our tepid view of lettuce? Might it turn out to be a nutritional powerhouse after all? And are there ways to enjoy it that don’t just involve salad dressing?

At one time, small family farms provided most of the food eaten in the United States — and many of the livelihoods in communities across the nation. People knew where their food came from and how it was produced, and the profits mostly remained and circulated locally. These days, small family farms are in trouble. In this first article on family farms, we’ll take a look at the forces that threaten their existence and why their increasing loss is such a calamity for the food system.

Learn the truth about inflammation, what an anti-inflammatory diet looks like, and seven foods that fight chronic inflammation in your body.

Science has discovered that the heart is so much more than a mechanical pump. It has its own brain and a nervous system, and constantly changes what it’s doing based on its perception of your internal state. It turns out that love doesn’t just feel good — it can actually protect your heart from damage and disease, too.

As the earth’s human population tops eight billion, we need to figure out how to feed all those people without destroying the planet itself. In recent years, pea protein has emerged as a promising alternative to animal sources of protein, like meat and dairy. But is pea protein, a processed food, really better for us and the environment?

We’ve known about the vitamin antioxidants for a long time: vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene leap to mind. Recently, other phytonutrients such as lycopene and resveratrol have been having their day in the sun. But there’s one antioxidant that may be the most important of all, and it hasn’t really received the amount of attention justified by its impressive benefits. In this article, let’s get to know the dietary antioxidant glutathione.

Buckwheat is an ancient grain that deserves more and better press than it gets. It’s gluten-free, chock-full of nutrients, and tasty. Plus, it retains its whole grain qualities even as a flour. While buckwheat is a common ingredient in some Asian and Eastern European cuisines, it hasn’t yet made much of a culinary or nutritional splash in the West. So what is buckwheat, and why should most people eat more of it?

If you or anyone in your home loves coffee, then here’s some good news: It can bring joy and value even after all cups are empty. Coffee grounds can be reused in many different ways, including while gardening, baking, cleaning, and a few other surprising options. In this article, you’ll discover how to keep coffee grounds out of landfills while performing a bunch of useful functions around your home.

Feed a cold, and starve a fever. Or is it the other way around? It can be hard to separate fact from well-meaning fiction when it comes to preventing and recovering from colds and flu. But science has been busy, and now we have simple and powerful strategies to keep from catching a cold — and to suffer less and get better faster if we do. Here are five lifestyle strategies and seven superfoods proven to help keep you well during cold and flu season.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, but whether or not it’s a healthy choice has often been the subject of debate for a very long time. In this article, we’ll look at some surprising coffee health benefits, potential downsides, and how to enjoy coffee in ways that are healthy, ethical, and sustainable.

While processed grains like those made from white flour can lead to health problems, many whole grains might actually be good for you. So what makes something a whole grain? What kinds are available beyond wheat, rice, and corn? And how can you safely incorporate them into a healthy, convenient, and economical lifestyle?