Sheila is an expert at translating complex topics in medicine and health into clear, accessible language for non-professional readers.
Sheila Buff
Is Coffee Good For You? Mostly. The Secret Health Benefits of Coffee
If you're a major coffee drinker hoping to cut back on your habit, don't, research tells us. Drinking 2 cups a day has been shown to help lower the risk of heart disease and help you live longer, but there's a caveat. Not all coffee is created (or brewed) equal
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The Secret Benefits of Coffee: How it Can Be a Healthy Part of a Plant-Based Diet
The average American drinks two to three cups of coffee every day. Why? For most of us, it’s the caffeine—the most popular psychoactive drug in the world. The caffeine in coffee is what wakes us from morning grogginess, brightens our work breaks, chases away late-afternoon energy slumps, and keeps us up at night.
We may l
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Fermenting Your Produce: How to Make Delicious, Healthy Pickles at Home
Fermented food is one of the healthiest things you can eat for your gut health and your body. This easy technique creates probiotics out of regular produce, creating healthier-for-you foods, as well as avoiding food waste and preserving your produce purchases for months. Fermenti...
Your Clean-Eating Diet: Now Is the Time to Eat Plant-Based to Feel Healthier
For anyone who wants to be their healthiest during the next two weeks, clean-eating is the way to go. This plan is simple: Eat whole, natural, minimally processed foods—mostly or entirely from plants. The recipes in our 2-Week Clean-Eating Plan will make eating clean both easy and delicious.
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The Truth About Lectins: Are They a Concern for Plant-Eaters?
Beans and grains are staples of a plant-based diet, but these foods are high in lectins, plant proteins that some say can be harmful to your health. Should you cut these foods from your diet?
The short answer, after doing much research on the topic: Probably not...
Do You Really Need to Take Vitamin B12 When You Go Plant-Based or Vegan?
Want to start a brawl at your next vegan potluck dinner? Mention you take a supplement to make sure you get enough B vitamins. The ensuing argument will rage between never! and take the damn supplement. Why is this such a controversial topic?
Plants vs. Genes: Is Food More Effective Than Medicine?
My husband has a scary family history of early (and fatal) heart disease. His dad was dead at 43 from a heart attack, leaving behind six young children. When we got married, I knew I was up against not just genes but also the lifestyle of a finance consultant with a heavy schedule of international travel...