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 Forks Over Knives empowers people to  live healthier lives by providing  tools and resources to make a plant-based  lifestyle easy and enjoyable.  

 Find out what the latest science is saying about your favorite foods to  help you make the healthiest choices for you and your family 

Learn about healthy nutrition, the nutritarian diet, and the steps needed to break the cycle of addiction to processed and unhealthy foods.

On Sweet Potato Soul you’ll discover hundreds of delicious and easy-to-make vegan recipes, cooking videos, and healthy eating tips. 

The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving and improving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective  scientific research.  

Olive oil is not a whole food, it is a fattening, low-nutrient, processed  food, consisting of 100% fat. One tablespoon of olive oil has 120  calories, as do all oils. One-quarter cup has 500 calories. Healthy  salads are definitely a way of life for people who want to lose weight  or improve health, but many of the benefits of a salad are lost when the  calorie count is increased ten-fold with oil. 

Olives conjure up images of the warm sun and deep blue seas of the  Mediterranean, where the olive tree flourishes. In more recent times,  olive oil has enjoyed similar admiration.

Considered by many as a staple in any serious kitchen, olive oil has  also achieved mythic stature as the ultimate healthy ingredient,  protecting us from heart disease. But does olive oil really deserve its heart-healthy reputation?

Many people are surprised to learn that it’s easy to cook great  food without oil or butter.  Some oils are advertised as health foods. But no oil is really healthy, not even coconut oil,  flaxseed oil, or olive oil. Oil is purely fat (with all other nutrients  stripped away) and contains more calories per gram than any other food. Besides being healthier, it’s not hard to make the switch to oil-free cooking. 

 New research from the University of Milan in Italy showed that a 12-week stretching  regimen improved blood flow, lowered blood pressure, and decreased the  stiffness of arteries. Good blood flow leads to less damage on artery  walls and may mean a lower risk for heart attacks and strokes. People  with stiff arteries often have high blood pressure, high cholesterol,  and/or inflammation. 

 One of the most effective techniques for immediate stress relief is deep  breathing. Several studies have shown how deep or diaphragmatic  breathing can slow your heart rate and reduce blood pressure. This kind of breathing stimulates the vagus nerve,  which reduces the “fight or flight” response that causes feelings of  anxiety or tension. 

Water makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Water gets rid of  wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements, water keeps  your temperature normal, and water lubricates and cushions your joints.  Water is also critical for your heart health. Your heart is constantly  working, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood a day. By staying hydrated  – that is, by drinking more water than you are losing – you are helping  your heart do its job. 

Inflammation is a protective response of the body to clear infections, repair tissues, and heal itself after injury. But when inflammation sticks around too long and becomes chronic, it can negatively impact your health. Read on for more information about inflammation and how dietary changes can help. 

Our gut bacteria influence our health in profound ways. They help  digest food, make key nutrients, fight harmful organisms, protect our  gut lining, train our immune systems, turn genes on and off, regulate  gut hormones, and possibly even affect mood and cravings. Gut bacterial  changes are closely linked to autoimmunity, inflammation, body weight,  diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Various factors shape our gut bacterial patterns, but likely the most important factor is food. Our bacteria mirror what we eat and respond quickly when we change our diet.

 Prevailing food myths largely contribute to our overweight population  and poor health for many. Lifestyle-related diseases are the most  common causes of death, but according to a 2011 poll by Consumer Reports  Health, 90 percent of Americans believe that they eat a healthy diet.

Most Americans do not understand that whole plant foods are the best  for our health – they are led to believe that processed foods labeled  “low-fat” or “low-carb,” artificially sweetened beverages, pasta,  grilled chicken, and olive oil make up a healthful diet.