Diets

What exactly is the glycemic index, and what does it have to do with your health? Here’s what to know about the benefits and limitations of the glycemic index, and how you can use it to make health-supporting food choices.

When we discover the benefits of plant-based eating, it’s natural for us to evangelize those benefits, especially to our own families. But being too gung-ho and insistent can backfire. So what are the most effective ways to get veggie-averse family members to embrace a healthy, plant-based way of eating without turning the dinner table into a civil war?

Oranges have long rolled around in kids’ and adults’ lunch boxes, been a breakfast staple in their juice form, and even donned cloves around the holidays. They’re beautiful and fragrant, sure, but are they good for us and the world? Here’s what you need to know about this wildly popular citrus fruit when it comes to your health and the environment.

The pomegranate is a unique fruit with distinct edible seeds that requires a labor of love — or at least time and attention — to remove. It’s also incredibly good for you. Here’s what pomegranate has to offer, along with some useful ways to make this fruit a regular and delicious part of your diet.

Eating for your health can be met with odd looks, aggressive questions, and even outright criticism at social events. Others’ reactions often come from feeling ill at ease, along with perceptions of being judged. But can you successfully address the fears that others may have, while also honoring your boundaries and not compromising your dietary choices? Yes, you can! Veronica Monet — Food Revolutionary, relationship coach, and assistant to Food Revolution Network President, John Robbins, shares ways to bring empathy into food conversations — and three key things you can do to stay true to yourself while helping those around you feel accepted and respected.

Cauliflower has gone from a boring side dish to one of the “It” veggies of the 2020s. This crucifer’s versatility is matched only by its powerhouse nutritional profile. Here’s what to know about the nutrition and health perks of eating cauliflower, plus how to prepare it to reap the most benefits.

Peas are funny little vegetables that come from the same plant family as beans and lentils. While they’re often grouped into a “plain Jane” side dish category, peas have a lot to offer nutritionally and for your health. And they can be delicious as well, despite what you might remember from your childhood.

Flaxseeds are nutritional superstars. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, phytoestrogens, fiber, protein, and lignans. Studies show that they may help fight heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. But if you don’t eat them the right way, they can go “in one end and out the other.” And both flax oil and flaxseed meal can degrade very quickly. Plus, some critics worry that flaxseed is high in cyanogenic glycosides, phytates, and cadmium — all of which could be dangerous. So is flax good or bad? And how can you eat and enjoy it safely?

Oxalates are compounds present in a wide variety of plant foods. Some health influencers tell us that they can cause kidney stones — and that they prevent your body from absorbing essential nutrients. But how warranted are those claims? Here’s what you need to know about oxalates, and whether to include foods that contain them in your diet.

Watermelons are among the largest and heaviest fruits available at most grocery stores, but is lugging them home worth the effort? Are they nutritious, or just a bunch of water and sugar? Here’s what to know about the nutrition benefits of watermelon — plus, the pros and cons of eating them.

Some people love spinach, and others, well… don’t. Regardless of your feelings, what's the truth about spinach for your health? And how can you prepare it well in order to incorporate spinach as part of your regular diet, and get the most from its nutritional potential?

If you grew up eating the standard American diet, your first curry might have been a shock to your palate. (Either “My mouth is on fire; where’s the fire extinguisher?” or “Where have you been all my life?” depending on the level of spiciness and your tolerance.) But if you have Indian, Thai, Caribbean, or Chinese ancestry, curries may have been part of your culinary tradition for centuries. So what kinds of curries are there? Are they good for you? Can they be plant-based? And how can you get started cooking some of the world’s most popular dishes?