Healthy Eating Resources

To reduce your risk of all types of cancer, it's vital that you regularly eat foods that are rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants work throughout your body to neutralize free radicals.

Chet Day is the founder and editor of ChetDay.com , a premier online resource for natural health information. What follows is a must-read article for people who are following strict vegan diets and experiencing health challenges. I appreciate this article because it serves as a reminder to be honest with ourselves about how we're doing rather than stay rigidly attached to a particular philosophy or program. Many thanks to Chet for his gracious support in sharing this article with our readers. - Ben Kim

I know that this post will get some members of the food police upset with me, but I've said it before and I'll say it again: in some cases, I firmly believe that cooked white rice can be a healthy food choice.

Making top notch soup doesn't require any number of stars, formal training, or a pint of heavy cream.

All I dare say you need to make a soup that your family and friends will rave about are a handful of wholesome ingredients: two heads of cauliflower, a couple of Yukon gold potatoes, two shallots or a yellow onion, and a fresh bunch of any favorite herb.

What you eat isn't the only determinant of your overall health status. There are plenty of other facets of your life that play major roles in determining how functional and energetic you are.

Here's how I think about the role that diet plays in contributing to health and disease:

As mentioned in part one of this series, a key principle to healthy eating is to eat nutrient-rich foods. Vegetables, fruits, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and eggs are good examples of health-promoting, nutrient-rich foods.

Unfortunately, simply wolfing down nutrient-rich foods doesn't guarantee optimal nourishment of your cells. Your digestive system has to be able to extract nutrients out of the foods that you eat - this is why chewing thoroughly is vital to your health.

As mentioned earlier in this series, cooking vegetables and other plant foods can soften naturally occurring fiber, which makes it easier for your digestive system to extract the many micronutrients that are abundant in plant foods.

Updated on December 23, 2009

Korean pancakes, called bin dae duk, are unique in that they aren't made with flour. Traditionally, bin dae duk includes small amounts of pork, but in the interest of healthy eating, this version is 100% plant-based - nothing but hearty beans, fresh vegetables, and a small amount of rice.

I've long maintained that pasteurized dairy products should be avoided whenever possible, as regular intake of dairy is associated with a number of health challenges, the most common of which are: chronic ear infections, nasal congestion, acne, eczema, a variety of autoimmune illnesses, and even cancer.

I almost never eat dairy products, but like a lot of people who follow a dairy-free diet, I find myself craving different types of cheese from time to time. I mean, come on, nothing provides a mouthful of flavor like a nice helping of cheese, right?

If you're looking for a delicious and filling vegetable that is naturally abundant in antioxidants, look no further than the humble sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes are rich in a number of micronutrients, the most prominent of which are vitamin C and beta-carotene; both are powerful antioxidants that can significantly decrease your risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, and various types of cancer, including colon cancer.