Heart Health

Fat is one of the most misunderstood nutrients. It’s essential for health, yet it’s often seen as a major cause of obesity and heart disease. Are there healthy sources of fat? And how much dietary fat is too much? This article looks at the science, rather than the hype, about fat.

Kale is one of those so-called “superfoods” that totally lives up to the hype. And when you discover all the ways kale can support your health and prevent disease, you may want to double down on your efforts to bring it into your diet on a regular basis. In this article, we’ll review the science around kale and share easy and delicious ways to get more kale into your life.

Lycopene is a nutrient that has only recently received the attention it deserves. One of the most potent anti-inflammatory antioxidants, lycopene appears to protect against a staggering array of chronic conditions, including cancer, heart disease, male infertility, and cognitive decline. But there are precious few dietary sources of this wonderful nutrient, and there are questions about its bioavailability. How much lycopene do you need, and what are the best sources?

High blood pressure is one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. Medication can help manage the condition, but most hypertension drugs come with unpleasant side effects that make people not want to take them regularly. Dietary interventions, on the other hand, can actually prevent and reverse hypertension in many cases, and they come with only positive side effects. In this article, we’ll look at the compounds in food that can lower blood pressure, and identify 9 specific foods that have been shown to fight hypertension.

Cashews are incredibly versatile nuts (well, drupes), providing creaminess and flavor to Indian and other Asian dishes, commercial dairy analogs, and homemade nut cheeses and “nice” creams. They’re also quite nutritious. Unfortunately, the cashew industry is known for mistreating its workers. So is there a way to enjoy the taste and health benefits of cashews while not contributing to horrible working conditions?

Peppers, from sweet to wickedly hot, became staples of cuisines around the world almost as soon as they arrived from their original homes in South America. Both mild bell peppers and 5-alarm chili peppers provide significant health benefits. In this article, we’ll look at what those benefits are, whether the hottest of peppers are safe, and how to prepare peppers to please the palates of the people you love.

Vegan comedian Myq Kaplan’s podcast is called “Broccoli and Ice Cream,” because he wants his output to be as good for you as broccoli and as enjoyable as ice cream. While it’s true that broccoli delivers a powerful health punch, it’s also a delicious vegetable in its own right. But what is so darn healthy about broccoli? And how can we prepare it to make people forget about being forced to eat mushy, discolored broccoli when they were little?

Beans are some of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Discover some of the top health benefits of beans, why they’re sometimes controversial in the nutrition world, and how you can best prepare and use beans in delicious, plant-based recipes.

Most plants manufacture compounds to protect themselves from predators. Some of these chemicals act by limiting the plant eater’s ability to fully absorb the rest of the plant’s nutrients. Called “antinutrients,” they’re the subject of heated controversy. Should we avoid foods that contain antinutrients, or do those foods offer more and greater health benefits than potential downsides?

Prunes and plums have vastly different reputations, despite being the very same fruit. Many people associate prunes and prune juice with constipation, which doesn’t exactly bring captivating culinary delights to mind. And considering how delicious fresh plums are, they’re surprisingly not nearly as popular as many other fruits. In this article, we'll answer common questions about plums vs prunes: What are prunes? Where do prunes come from? What are the benefits of eating plums and prunes? Plus, we’ll look at whether prunes and plums deserve to be part of your diet and some ways to enjoy them that you may not have considered.

If we played a word association game and I said “vegetable,” chances are your response wouldn’t be “artichoke.” That’s a pity because the beautiful globes are not only glamorous but delicious and very healthy as well. Once you get to know artichokes and discover how easy they are to prepare, you might just wonder how you ever got along without them.

Research has shown that a colorful diet is a great way to boost your health and vitality. But how can you be sure that you’re getting all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that your body needs to thrive? In this article, we’ll look at the whole spectrum of rainbow nutrition to show how adding color to your plate could add years to your life (and life to your years!). There’s also a shareable rainbow foods infographic that can help you choose a diversity of colorful fruits and vegetables.