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Cooking with Whole Grains: How to Soak, Cook, & Store Grains

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?

Ocean Robbins · January 13, 2023 · 12 min read

Nature’s 5 Most Powerful Medicinal Mushrooms (And How They Support Your Health)

There are over 50,000 mushroom species in existence. Some are common foods, and others are hallucinogenic or poisonous. But there are also other mushrooms that are highly nutritious and even medicinal. Research into this area is exploding, with findings that now have some doctors recommending certain mushrooms along with their patients’ conventional cancer treatments! Below, we explore five of the most researched and beneficial medicinal mushrooms out there.

Ocean Robbins · January 11, 2023 · 6 min read

Vegan Casseroles That Are Healthy, Delicious, and Dollar-Stretching

While food writers and chefs have snubbed the humble casserole for years, ordinary folks rely on it for easy and inexpensive dinners, potluck offerings, and crowd-pleasing comfort food. In this article, we explore the history, benefits, and drawbacks of traditional casserole recipes, and share seven healthy, plant-based versions of this ultimate “down-home” dish.

Nichole Dandrea-Russert, MS, RDN · November 23, 2022 · 10 min read

What are Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics — and What Do They Do for Your Gut Health?

The microbes in your gut impact every aspect of your long-term health, including immunity, energy, metabolism, respiratory function, and so much more. Here’s what the science says about how you can help them thrive and how gut health supplements can help.

James & Dahlia Marin · November 21, 2022 · 13 min read

Can Online Shopping Be Healthy and Sustainable?

Type a few words and tap or click a button or two, and you can have pretty much anything mailed to you from anywhere in the world. The Internet has transformed how we shop, and this has significant environmental impacts. So is online shopping bad for the environment, with all those warehouses and trucks and vans rushing stuff to us at a moment’s notice? Or might it actually be better for the planet — if we do it right?

Ocean Robbins · November 11, 2022 · 11 min read

What Is CoQ10 & Can You Get it From Food?

If you believe the hype, CoQ10 is a wonder supplement that can do everything from helping athletes recover faster to giving tired people more energy to slowing down the aging process. But how much science is there to back up these claims? What does CoQ10 do in the body, and what happens when it’s in short supply? And can we get it from food, or is supplementation the way to go?

Ocean Robbins · August 3, 2022 · 11 min read

Why You Should Choose a Natural Sunscreen for Your Health & the Environment

There are many factors to consider when making a sunscreen purchase. Spray or squeeze? Low SPF or high SPF? Regular sunscreen or mineral sunscreen? Discover the differences in sunscreens and why you may want to consider natural sunscreens for your health as well as the health of the environment.

Annmarie Gianni · June 24, 2022 · 10 min read

How to Make Vegan Stir-Fry Recipes That are Better Than Takeout

People around the world love Chinese food, especially stir-fried dishes served over noodles or rice. As traditional Chinese cuisine was adapted to appeal to Western tastes, however, many Chinese restaurants in the US ended up serving stir-fried dishes high in animal products, oil, sugar, and salt. The good news is, you can quickly and easily create stir-fries in your kitchen that are not only healthier than most takeout, but are also more delicious.

Ocean Robbins · June 16, 2022 · 14 min read

How Air Pollution Could be Harming Your Brain

According to one expert, “The risk of air pollution on the brain is a much broader risk factor than we’ve given it credit for.” Discover how the effects of air pollution may be impacting your brain.

Kasra Zarei · June 10, 2022 · 7 min read

How to Make Healthy Smoothie Recipes That Are Nutritious & Delicious!

Smoothies can be a convenient and delicious way to get our daily fruit and veggie allotment, but they can also fill us with harmful quantities of sugar and unhealthy additives if we’re not mindful of what’s in them. In this article, you’ll discover how to have the best of both worlds — delicious, chilled sweetness, as well as smoothie ideas and all the health benefits of a diet rich in whole plant foods.

Ocean Robbins · May 23, 2022 · 13 min read

FRN’s Reading List: Plant-Based Books to Encourage & Inspire You

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.

Ocean Robbins · May 13, 2022 · 11 min read

Plant-Based Hiking Food Ideas: What to Eat Before, During, & After a Hike

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.

Ocean Robbins · May 6, 2022 · 17 min read