American Medical Association Names Plant-Based Diet Part of Breast Cancer Prevention Strategy

This summer, the House of Delegates (HOD) of the American Medical Association (AMA) convened for its annual meeting in Chicago.[1] The HOD, which comprises 733 delegates, is the policy-making body of the AMA. As such, they have the potential to influence medical practice and reimbursement nationwide. Their annual meetings cover many topics, including, this year, … Continued

Disease

The Undercover Vegan: How Ramona Is Changing Herself to Help Others

Let’s go back to 1999. That’s when my life was turned upside down. I had so many chronic illnesses that it would take a week to list them all. My doctors stopped all my medications, and I stepped away from meat, though I didn’t yet know about the whole food, plant-based (WFPB) journey. I had … Continued

Success Stories

The Once-Eradicated Screwworm Pest Is Back: Are We Ready?

In early August, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a human case of New World screwworm in a Maryland patient who recently returned from El Salvador. As reported by Reuters, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services claims the public health risk is very low.[1] Nevertheless, the story illustrates … Continued

Food Sustainability

The EAT-Lancet Diet: A First Step toward a Healthier Planet and Healthier People

As the global population climbs toward ten billion and environmental pressures intensify, the connection between what we eat and the health of the planet is clearer than ever. Food production is a leading driver of environmental degradation, fueling climate change, deforestation, freshwater depletion, pollution, and biodiversity loss. In fact, agriculture is pushing us beyond at … Continued

Food Sustainability

Ocean Acidification: The Newest Planetary Boundary Breached This Year

In 2009, a group of twenty-eight internationally renowned scientists proposed the planetary boundaries framework, combining insights from various disciplines of environmental change research. Their assessment defined nine large-scale earth system processes and associated boundaries that, if crossed, could lead to catastrophic environmental change. The group of scientists determined that we have already breached seven of … Continued

Food Sustainability

Planetary Boundaries 101: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How Food Impacts Each One

Planetary boundaries are a set of scientifically defined environmental limits within which humanity can sustainably survive. These thresholds establish a “safe operating space” for human development, ensuring that the earth’s systems remain stable and resilient. Crossing these boundaries increases the risk of triggering large-scale, potentially irreversible environmental changes. The concept was introduced in 2009 by … Continued

Food Sustainability

Who’s Controlling the Health Narrative? How Media Trends Are Rewriting Public Health

In the not-so-distant past, most of our health information came from textbooks, physicians, and peer-reviewed journals. Today, it comes largely from viral social media posts, including TikTok videos and Instagram reels, many of which have more flair than facts. The line between education and entertainment has blurred, giving rise to what some now call “health … Continued

Social Issues

The Big Business of Infant Formula: A Case Study of Industry-Funded Research

This article is an edited instructor post from our Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate Program, in reference to the critical analysis assignment. In this assignment, students critically review published health claims and receive feedback from the instructor team. You can learn more about the program here. Our goal is not only to increase nutrition literacy but also … Continued

Nutrition Science

How to Reduce Your Water Footprint through Smarter Food Choices

Water is often described as the most essential element for life on Earth, yet it is a resource we frequently take for granted, especially when it comes to the food we eat. While we may be mindful of turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth or fixing leaky taps, the vast majority of our … Continued

Food Sustainability