Dana Hudepohl

Great news for the more than 80 percent of women who experience hot flashes in their menopausal years: A groundbreaking study recently published in the journal Menopause found that a plant-based diet including a daily dose of soybeans dramatically curtails these sweaty episodes. We talked to study author Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president of the […]

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? IBS is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine, causing symptoms that range from mild to debilitating. It is considered a functional bowel disorder, which means the problem isn’t with the structure of the bowels; it’s with how they work. Because symptoms are present without any visible signs of […]

Diet has a direct impact on the digestive tract—a fact that vegans can attest to firsthand. If you’ve recently transitioned to a plant-based diet or are simply looking to improve your bowel health, here are some things to keep in mind. 1. Vegans poop more. It’s true: Vegans poop more. A University of Oxford study […]

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can start at any age. It causes the lining of the bronchial tubes—the airways leading into your lungs—to become red, swollen, and sensitive. Once these airways are inflamed, they become hypersensitive to triggers that may not bother others. Under these circumstances, triggers can lead to […]

When it comes to your skin, certain factors matter: sun protection, sleep quality, even how well you manage stress. But one of the most powerful things you can do for your body’s largest organ? Choose your food wisely. “You can protect skin at the cellular level with what you’re eating,” says Houston-based dermatologist Suzanne Bruce, […]

Plant-based diets may offer a protective advantage against severe COVID-19, finds a new study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. It is one of the first studies to investigate dietary patterns and COVID-19 outcomes. Over a two-month period in the summer of 2020, researchers surveyed 2,884 frontline doctors and nurses who reported a high […]

Meal prepping and planning may sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be as easy as thinking ahead and sketching out what you want to eat for the next several days before making a grocery list. Or it can be as structured as spending a weekend afternoon prepping and portioning out single […]

Eating a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet and Still Experiencing Gastrointestinal Problems? After I transitioned to a whole-food, plant-based diet six years ago, I felt great overall, and my total cholesterol dropped 60 points. But I was discouraged that I continued to experience intrusive digestive issues like bloating and gassiness. When I complained to my sister, she […]

Two new large-scale studies published in July 2020 in the journal BMJ add to the growing body of evidence that consuming whole plant foods is one of the most effective ways to prevent type 2 diabetes.  The first study examined the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on the risk of type 2 diabetes. The […]