As more people try to move away from processed foods and focus on eating whole grains and vegetables, there is increased awareness about the importance of what we eat. Where does our food come from? Was it locally or organically grown? Who grew it?

Among the issues that are frequently raised regarding the “safety” of vegan diets is one that focuses on fat-soluble vitamins. Some of the concerns are based on legitimate questions about active forms of these vitamins and their absorption from plant foods, and others aren’t.

The film Forks Over Knives has been making its way around the country, it’s been starting up conversations and, we hope, changing everyone’s eating habits right and left. But if it hasn’t come to your town, there’s a new companion book that’s almost as tasty.

Of 17 outbreaks noted during a 25-year period by CDC researchers, 8 were meat, 8 were dairy, and one was from coleslaw made from cabbage contaminated with infected sheep manure.

The University of North Texas introduced an all vegan cafeteria, Mean Greens. Finally, here is a school that listened to the numerous requests of all to have more vegan and vegetarian options. The changes at UNT are a true reflection of a national movement and advocacy to offer healthier foods in cafeterias.

Age-related changes are a fact of life, but a healthy lifestyle can delay their onset or slow their progression. One way in which both diet and exercise may have a big impact is in protecting muscle tissue. Sarcopenia is a reduction in muscle mass and strength that occurs with aging.

Anyone who is vegetarian or vegan has heard ridiculous claims from someone who is typically unhealthy. The diabetic, overweight uncle telling you how unhealthy it is to be vegan, the chain smoking neighbor that had a friend who had a daughter that got really sick not eating meat, and so on and on and on it seems

Every year about two million pounds of arsenic-containing chemicals have been fed to chickens in the United States, one of the more than 20 drugs, antibiotics and supplements routinely fed to animals raised for slaughter in the United States. Why would the industry do such a thing?

The learning curve for a new elementary school parent is high. The anxiety for a health-conscious, plant-based parent is higher. Schedules, rules, and school supply lists have become the focus of my consciousness, and worries over snack time, lunch time, and school food have plagued me.

If you’re already vegan, then your diet is more heart-healthy than average. Replacing animal foods and highly refined carbs with whole plants and healthy fats is the proven way to lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease. But a few simple tweaks can make your vegan diet even more protective.

We are living in a very strange time. A time in which people who are overweight or obese can be (and most likely are) malnourished. Yet how can it be that a person who eats an inordinate volume of food can show signs of malnourishment? After all, isn’t food synonymous with nourishment?