Plant-Based Diet

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?

Adopting and maintaining a plant-based diet is one of the most powerful things we can do for our health, the environment, and the animals who share our planet. But it’s not always easy. And there are plenty of societal forces encouraging us to keep eating the modern industrialized diet. To help you get started on, or stick with a plant-powered path, we’ve put together a list of potent plant-based diet books from trusted allies that can guide, support, and educate you on your journey.

In a world of expensive medical diagnostic tests, there’s a free and convenient way to gain insight into your digestive (and possibly overall) health — paying attention to the frequency, size, consistency, and color of your poop. If your poop wouldn’t currently win any “best in show” awards, certain diet and lifestyle changes could make a world of difference — and give you healthier and more pleasurable bowel movements.

For many people, hiking is one of the great joys of life. During a hike, you immerse yourself in the natural world and can boost both your physical health and your emotional well-being. But a lot of traditional hiking food undermines both reverence for nature — producing a lot of waste and contributing to environmental deterioration — and personal health. In this article, we’ll explore healthy, convenient, and delicious plant-based hiking food options.

For decades, some health influencers have waged what’s practically amounted to a PR campaign against soy products. Because soy contains phytoestrogens, which are structurally very similar to the estrogen produced by the human body, these influencers argue that soy is a dangerous food that can cause cancer and other diseases by upsetting our natural hormonal balance. Recent research, however, increasingly shows that phytoestrogens may actually be good for you. So what’s the truth about phytoestrogens? What foods, in addition to soy, contain them? And should you include or avoid them in a balanced, healthy diet?

One of the three essential macronutrients, carbohydrates give your body the fuel it needs for energy. Despite this fact, many people fear carbohydrates and avoid foods that contain them, whether those foods are healthy or unhealthy. In this article, we’ll look at what the science says about carbs, and tell you which carbohydrates are the dietary heroes and which are the villains.

In our overview of vegan statistics from around the world, see why so many people are going vegan and eating plant-based — from athletes to celebrities to everyday people. Plant-based diets are here to stay.

The afternoon tea party can be a fun and social way to share food, drink, and conversation with people you care about. Though traditional tea party fare hasn’t exactly been healthy, you can still enjoy the ritual of high tea while serving food that loves you back. In this article, we’ll look at how to throw a fabulous plant-based tea party.

If you don’t think about your kidneys a lot, that probably means they’re not giving you any trouble. But kidney disease is on the rise worldwide, and unfortunately, the symptoms may not appear until the disease has progressed to a dangerous stage. The good news is, dietary and lifestyle strategies can help to keep your kidneys in tip-top condition, and to support them even if you already have some kidney dysfunction.

Switching from a standard modern diet to a plant-based diet can be great for your health, your pocketbook, and the planet. Yet, with any dietary path, there are pitfalls. The good news is, it’s easy to identify and avoid the most common plant-based food mistakes, so you can take joy in eating an optimally healthy diet that also helps build the world you want.

Nitrates and nitrites are in some of the healthiest and unhealthiest foods around. So what’s the deal? Are nitrates bad? Should we avoid nitrates and nitrites whenever possible? Does the source matter? This article summarizes what you need to know to get the good out of these compounds while avoiding the bad.

Are you interested in eating more plant-based foods, but can’t imagine giving up your family’s special holiday meat meal? Don’t despair; it turns out that pretty much every cuisine can be enjoyed, sometimes with a bit of modification, by those who choose to eliminate animal products from their diets. This article shares some of the easiest, fanciest, and most delicious traditional recipes from around the world, with all of them suitable for even the strictest vegan. And meat-loving friends probably won’t complain either!