As many of us know, the food we eat impacts everything. Current food systems are failing us in terms of livelihoods, inequality, human health, and the environment. Today’s guest, renowned writer, Mark Bittman, is one of the most successful food writers of all time. Over the past 30 years, he has penned over 17,000 recipes and countless books, including the best-selling book “How To Cook Everything.” In the past, he wrote mostly about the pleasures of cooking but has shifted gears to become a...

If there's one person who put the vegan lifestyle on the map, it would have to be Kathy Freston. For over 10 years, Kathy has been part of the plant-based movement. She has written nine books including Veganist, The Lean, Clean Protein, and Quantum Wellness. Her newest offering, co-authored with Gene Stone, is entitled "72 Reasons To Be Vegan - Why Plant-Based. Why Now" which was released on March 30 of this year. Kathy's appearance on The Oprah Winfrey show inspired Oprah and her entire...

Mushrooms are one of the hottest wellness trends of 2021. From weight management to cognitive health, the mushrooms' health benefits are abundant. Today's podcast is dedicated to exploring the magic and the mystery of mushrooms with mushroom guru, Jeff Chilton. Jeff Chilton has been deeply steeped in mushrooms since 1973. In the late seventies, he was a founder of Mycomedia, which held 4 mushroom conferences in the Pacific Northwest. These educational conferences brought together educators...

Are you thinking of adding more plants to your diet in 2021?  Today's podcast shares some easy vegan swaps to ease the transition.  Finding substitutions for animal products is perhaps the most difficult part of vegan cooking. But it can also be the healthiest thing you can do. For example, when you switch one tablespoon of aquafaba for one egg, you cut out 5 grams of fat and 75 calories.  So if you are looking for equally delicious and healthy vegan swaps, look no further. Podcast #96 will...

In today's podcast, Dr. Noelle LoConte discusses the relationship between alcohol and cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, alcohol use is one of the most preventable risk factors for cancer. They further state that alcohol use accounts for about 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths.  For many cancers, the more alcohol you drink, the higher your cancer risk. But for some types of cancers, in particular breast cancer, consuming even small amounts of alcohol can increase...

The questions about arsenic in rice have been floating around for many years. Mainly because studies have detected high levels of arsenic in rice. So should you eat rice? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, but today I present all the evidence so you can make an informed decision. Podcast #94 will answer all the critical questions about the amounts of arsenic in rice and how to avoid it along with: Maximum levels of arsenic allowed in drinking water Forms of arsenic Why rice absorbs...

It is more and more common for parents to discuss raising vegan children.  But, is a plant-based diet nutritionally adequate for kids? Today we ask an expert. Reshma Shah, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and clinical instructor at Stanford University of Medicine. Along with her colleague, Brenda Davis, RD, they are the authors of a new book called "Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families." The book answers many of the common questions that often worry parents...

In this episode of the Ordinary Vegan Podcast, I talk with a man who needs no introduction. His name is Dr. T. Colin Campbell and he is one of the most famous people in the plant-based movement. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, PhD has dedicated his life to the science of human health for more than 60 years. His primary focus is on the association between diet and disease, particularly cancer. Although largely known for the China Study--one of the most comprehensive studies of health and nutrition...

Is it time to turn your passion for a vegan lifestyle into a plant-based business? What was recently a radical lifestyle choice, eating plants, is now rapidly moving into the mainstream. And if there was ever a time to open a plant-based business, now is the time. According to Meticulous Research, the plant-based food market worth will be 74.2 billion by 2027. Clearly, the growth in this market is due to the nutritional benefits offered by plants and for the sake of the environment.  These...

Starting a vegan business is not for the faint of heart. Building a new business can be scary and risky, but every successful entrepreneur will tell you that it’s worth it. Today’s podcast is part 1 of a vegan business series focused on plant-based entrepreneurs.  You might be saying why now? Because the coronavirus is sparking a plant-based sales explosion, and this could be a good time to turn your passion into a vegan business. Additionally, many big successful businesses started in a...

Today, Ordinary Vegan tackles some of the most common vegan questions asked by our community members. And more than likely, all vegans have been asked these common vegan questions at some point. Furthermore, if you’re thinking about becoming vegan, you may find the answer to something that’s troubling you right here. Podcast #89 is dedicated to common vegan questions asked by the Ordinary Vegan community along with: Oil or no oil Oil-free salad dressing recipes A typical day of food for...

Several studies that have tested the effects of consuming soup on a regular basis found that routinely eating soup can reduce energy intake, enhance satiety, and promote weight loss. Vegan soups are especially satiating because high fiber vegetables are high volume foods. This is called energy density. Energy density is the number of calories in a particular weight of food. It means you can have satisfying portions of low-energy-dense foods with a relatively low-calorie content. Such high...

In the 2016 US Presidential election, over 10 million people who listed the environment their top priority didn't vote.You might be asking, how can you be an environmentalist and not vote? Today, Nathaniel Stinnett provides the answers. Nathaniel Stinnett is the Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, a non-partisan nonprofit that uses big data and behavioral science to identify non-voting environmentalists and then get them to vote. Dubbed “The Voting Guru” by...

Today I sit down with Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams. Eric is in the running to be the next mayor of New York City and he is using his platform to spark real change and spread the plant-based message. Here is some background. At 15 years old, Eric Adams was beaten by police. The traumatizing incident inspired him to become a police officer to help reform New York City policing from the inside. He co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, and after 22 years on the force,...

News flash: 2020 has been a rough year on everybody. And according to a recent happiness study, people in the US are more unhappy today than they've been in nearly 50 years. The study found that just 14% of American adults say they're very happy. This statistic is down from 31% who said the same in 2018. Furthermore, in other parts of the world, the health and economic impact of Covid-19 has been significant. So stress and unhappiness isn't just an American problem. Obviously, it's easy to...

T cells are the most important cells in adaptive immune response because these immune hunters can seek and destroy an infected cell. Unquestionably, building an army of these cells is the single most important defense we have against Covid 19. And although a robust immune system will not totally prevent us from getting the virus, it will offer additional protection. Furthermore, a strong immunity can lessen symptoms if you contract the disease. As we all know, this pandemic has been...

Socially responsible investing is a strategy where people choose to invest in companies that are environmentally and socially responsible. As well as align with their core values. Today we welcome Stephan Kerby, author of the book "You Are The Change: A Beginner's Guide To Socially Responsible Investing." Stephan, a vegan himself,  is an expert on the topic of the effects of animal agriculture on the environment and ethical spending. Furthermore, his book "You Are The Change" is dedicated...

Hormonal imbalance may be to blame for a range of unwanted symptoms and diseases. Addressing the causes directly is the first step in balancing your hormones. Today we welcome back Dr. Neal Barnard. Dr. Barnard is one of the world's most respected authority on vegan diets. He is a best-selling author, clinical researcher, and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes,...

On this special episode, I speak to leading health expert, Dr. Michael Greger, on how to survive a pandemic. It's hard to make sense of the scary reality we now live in. And fears about catching Covid-19 can take an emotional and physical toll. Furthermore, there is so much confusion about protecting ourselves from this pandemic. This is why I am so happy that we have Dr. Greger here today to help clear up some of the confusion. Today's podcast is dedicated to how to survive a pandemic...

There are plenty of good reasons to include lots of physical activity into your life. Big ones include reducing your risk for heart disease, obesity, type-2 diabetes, or stroke. Exercise can also cause changes in antibodies and white blood cells. White blood cells are the body's immune system cells that can help reduce your chance of becoming sick. In addition, physical activity can help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways, which adds another layer of protection against Covid-19. ...

Did you know the Food and Drug Administration does not require dietary supplements to be proven safe before they are marketed? Furthermore, supplement use has reached an all-time high. So clearly, it is important to know how to purchase and wisely use dietary supplements safely. Supplements are available without a prescription and usually come in pill, powder, or liquid form. Popular supplements include vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. People take these products to make sure they...

Experts have long been concerned about loneliness, and now social isolation has made the epidemic worse. According to a 2018 national survey by Cigna, loneliness levels have reached an all-time high, with nearly half of 20,000 US adults reporting they sometimes or always feel alone. Sadly, one of our youngest generations, Generation Z, is feeling the most significant impacts of loneliness. In an analysis conducted by The Pew Research Center, one-in-ten Americans say they feel lonely or...

"The single most powerful determinate of healthy gut microbiome is the diversity of plants." ~Dr. Will Bulsiewicz Did you know that over 70% of the immune system lives in the gut?  And the Covid-19 virus can hit people with a weakened immune system harder. That is why I am delighted to have Dr. Will Bulsiewicz as our guest on today's podcast. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist in clinical practice in Charleston, SC. He is one of the leading gut health experts in...

“My mission is to empower people to take control of their own health, well-being and fitness using simple breathing exercises proven to improve body oxygenation”. Patrick McKeown Most people take their breathing for granted. Why shouldn't they? They have been doing it since birth without any effort.  But my guest, Patrick McKeown, takes breathing very seriously, and he is convinced that breathing correctly can change your life. Patrick McKeown has written seven books on improving your...