Karen Asp is the contributing health editor for TheBeet.com. A vegan for over 10 years (and vegetarian for almost 20) whose vegan journey began after making a pact with a cow while hiking in Austria, she’s an award-winning journalist and author (Anti-Aging Hacks is her latest book) who specializes in fitness, health, nutrition, travel and animals. Karen writes the monthly pet feature for Better Homes & Gardens and is a contributing writer for VegNews and regular contributor to numerous other leading publications, including Martha Stewart Living, Eating Well, Forks Over Knives, Clean Eating, Real Simple, Sentient Media, Oxygen, USA Today’s magazines, Midwest Living, O, Reader’s Digest and Woman’s Day. A frequent podcast and web show guest who loves educating people about healthy living and veganism, she’s also a fitness trainer who’s certified in plant-based nutrition, athlete with Nordic walking world records, PETA vegan mentor and soon, a Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator. Visit her at karenasp.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @karenaspwriter.
Karen Asp
How Much Sugar Should You Eat in a Day? The Answer May Surprise You
Is your sweet tooth raging? It may be time to get it under control, for the sake of your health: Too much sugar a day can weaken your immune system, raise your risk of cancer and wreak havoc with your insulin levels. Doctors warn that too much sugar can drive up blood sugar, leading to insulin resistance, weight gain, and a host of other conditions you want to avoid, especially if you are worried
Do You Need an Omega-3 Supplement If You Don’t Eat Fish? The Answer
There is confusion about dietary fat, and especially whether or not we need to work to get the essential fatty acids omega 6 and omega 3, into our diet. These are called "essential" fats because they are not made by the body, yet they work hand in hand to lower inflammation, fight heart disease, and inhibit the dangerous clots from forming in the bloodstream. Most of us get ple...
Read M
5 Surprisingly Healthy Foods That Help Promote Weight Loss
You might think individuals who manage to lose weight and keep it off eat only salads, especially if they’re plant-based. Let's put that urban myth to bed. While plant-based eaters do eat salad, they also eat a lot more than that, including foods you probably consider off-limits because of their fat and calorie content. The surpr...
Is Cereal As Unhealthy As Everyone Says? This Expert’s Answer May Surprise You
Cereal is such a staple in the American diet, that people eat it more than any other classic breakfast choice (toast and bacon come in second and third), and four out of five Americans eat it for dinner, according to a YouGov survey. Yet cereal has been maligned as a sugar-laden highly processed food, largely devoid of natural nutrients (other than what's been added back in the form of fortified B
Men and Women Stress Differently. Here’s How to Cope, from Experts
Got stress? Of course you do – you’re human, after all. Yet not all stress is created equally, and how you handle that stress may depend on your sex, as men and women have different ways of expressing and handling that stress. Below, experts weigh in on these differences and offer practical solutions for getting stress under control.
Good St...
This Superfood Has the Most Plant Protein Per Ounce: 5 Reasons to Add It to Your Diet
You may have heard of chlorophyll or spirulina as daily health ingredients to boost your morning routine, but in fact, there's an alga called chlorella that experts are touting as even more powerful when it comes to health benefits–and its oversized protein content–to add to your daily ritual. Read this before you
...
Why Eat More Mushrooms, Doctors Say: They Boost Immunity & Fight Cancer
Crossed mushrooms off your list? Not a good idea, as they’re loaded with good-for-you benefits. Mushrooms... you either love them or hate them. And hate them many of us do, according to a recent survey. which found that mushrooms were the most common hated vegetable by consumers in every state.
Can’t say w...
For Immunity and Natural Weight Loss, Drink This Type of Tea, Studies Say
If there’s one beverage you should be sipping daily, besides water, of course, it’s green tea. Green tea is often touted as the world’s healthiest beverage, and there are numerous reasons it’s earned that title. It comes with a myriad of health benefits and surprisingly, could even help you manage your weight.
What's the Difference...
Here’s How to Choose Healthy Carbs and Lose Weight, According to Experts
The low-carb diet trend is hotter than ever. But if you’re avoiding carbs for weight loss or health benefits, or because you’re following a keto diet, it's time to reconsider. Carbohydrates are your body’s main fuel source, and your brain also prefers carbohydrates as well, so the key to being healthy is choosing the right carbs, experts say. “You need carbohydrat
...
Xanthan and Guar Gum Are in Everything: Are They Bad for You?
Food gums are in everything you add to your supermarket cart, but when you see them on the label, it might make you think, What the yuck? These additives are hard to avoid, even if you’re eating a plant-based diet and avoiding preservatives. Whether you sh...