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Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil made from the fruit of the Elaeis Guineensis tree, a palm tree native to parts of Africa. There’s a good chance that you’ve eaten palm oil or used products made with it. It’s used for cooking and as an ingredient in foods like crackers, butter substitutes,…

If you’re concerned about the environment, you may wonder whether to continue eating meat. Food production has environmental impacts because it uses water and land. Therefore, eating foods that are made with fewer resources (and don’t significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions) is often said to be better for the planet. Plant foods…

When I was 26, I had a humbling moment that would change my life’s trajectory. I was writing my master’s thesis on the environmental impacts of the standard American diet when I suddenly realized that my food choices didn’t reflect my personal ethics or values. This was particularly ironic because I’m a dietitian —…

Composting is a process by which organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, decomposes into soil. It’s a great way to recycle scraps from your yard and kitchen while also enriching the soil in your garden, improving water retention, and protecting against erosion. Although it may sound complicated, composting is very simple and makes…

Approximately 60% of all plastics produced worldwide are used for food packaging (1). That means that of the 380 million metric tons of plastics produced in 2015, 228 million metric tons were food packaging alone (1, 2). Due to the environmental and human health effects of nondegradable plastic packaging, many people are fighting to drastically…

Culture refers to the ideas, customs, and behaviors of a group of people or a society (1). It influences just about everything you do — the way you speak, the foods you eat, what you consider to be right or wrong, your religious and spiritual practices, and even your perspective of wellness, healing, and healthcare…

A dietitian is a board-certified food and nutrition expert who may provide medical nutrition therapy and counseling. Some dietitians refer to themselves as nutritionists. But, nutritionist isn’t a regulated term in every state. You may be wondering what defines true expertise in nutrition. Perhaps you have heard the terms “nutritionist” and “dietitian” and…

As a dietitian, I’ve been treating people with autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto’s disease, for years. Hashimoto’s is the most common type of hypothyroidism in the United States. It’s an autoimmune disease that damages the thyroid, a gland that releases hormones that control metabolism, growth, and a number of other bodily functions. Through my patients, I…

Evenings at my house are chaotic. My partner and I have two-year-old twins, and that gap between preschool pickup and bedtime can be the toughest part of the day. We both have busy jobs and are always doing too many things at once — cooking, trying to remember if anyone fed the dog, and…