Louisa is the Senior Health Editor at The Beet. She’s a BANT Registered Nutritionist in the UK and writes for several leading online publications, including Medical News Today and Plant Based News. Louisa has been plant-based most of her life and has bought up her family this way. She’s a firm believer that diet and lifestyle predict our health outcomes and wellbeing and enjoys educating people about the benefits of eating plant-based food. Louisa loves to cook healthy recipes, grow plants, and be outdoors but also enjoys the occasional vegan cupcake and glass of wine because moderation is key!
Louisa Richards
What to Eat If You Lose Your Sense of Smell and Taste Due to COVID
Losing your sense of smell or taste after COVID is not only distressing, it could also lead to further health problems, especially if it causes you to alter your diet. Although there are no proven treatments to bring back your taste or smell, and research into this symptom of COVID is still in its early days, making some small changes to your diet may help reset your senses and keep you healthy wh
5 Reasons to Watch Fantastic Fungi and Add Mushrooms to Your Diet
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (like our fungi friends) you know that mushrooms are the latest plant-based food to enjoy a resurgence in cooking. The main reason is that these are the original "food as medicine" ingredient, but for anyone who has watched Fantastic Fungi or was lucky enough to attend the first Fantastic Fungi Global Summit, you won't be able to stop talking about
It’s Never Too Late to Get Active to Live Longer, Heart Study Finds
It's never too late to start exercising to reduce your risk of death from heart disease and other causes, according to a new study that shows that taking up activity – even in your 60s – reduces your risk of dying prematurely by 45 percent. Among more than...
Raw Food Cured His Acne, but Eating Whole Food Got Him In Shape
Russell James is known as 'The Raw Chef' in the UK, where he taught his many followers how to make delicious food that is healthy. Suffering from debilitating acne in his teens, he discovered raw food which not only reversed his acne but taught him the power of food as medicine, setting him off on a new career path.
James went on to bec...
New Study: Eat a Handful of Walnuts Daily to Protect Your Heart and Stay Slim
If you're one of those people who won't eat nuts for fear they will make you fat, you need to stop thinking that way and take the advice of a new study, which finds that walnuts are a superfood. They protect your heart and don't cause weight gain – even if you eat them every day.
P...
Overeating Doesn’t Make You Fat, Study Finds. Getting Fat Makes You Overeat
Yes, that's right: New science tells us that overeating doesn't make us fat. But getting fat makes you overeat. Take a moment to digest that.
A new comprehensive study stakes the bold claim that overeating doesn't cause obesity; the process of getting fat actually causes overeating. The research ...
Study: Eating 5 Plant-Based Meat Meals a Week Can Improve Gut Health
Attention all flexitarians or plant-based meat fans. You may be on the right track. A new study finds that eating plant-based meats five times a week is enough to improve your gut health and tilt the balance of bacteria in your body from "unhealthy" to "healthy," which in turn helps prevent disease...
What Is the Healthiest Diet? Your Guide to 6 Popular Diets That Work
To say that diet information is overwhelming is an understatement. We're constantly bombarded with advice, studies, or told that the latest diet is the one we should all be eating to maintain a healthy weight, keep our energy levels up, and live a long, healthy life...
Studies Show Sleep is a Biological Necessity But How Many Hours Do You Actually Need?
If you're the type who's constantly bragging about how little sleep you need, it may be time to rethink your views on getting more shuteye. A new report from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that sleep is "a biological necessity," and lack of sleep and untreated sleep disorders are detrimental to your health and long-term well-being, your ability to lose weight and keep it o
Exactly Which Carbs Lead to Weight Gain? A Nutritionist Explains
A new study has found that fast carbs – or high-glycemic foods – do not make you gain weight more than eating slow carbs – or low-glycemic foods. However, fast carbs such as white bread, pasta, and soda can still cause inflammation and lead to conditions such as heart disease. So if you're aim...