Blogs

Most people picture a 60-year-old easing into retirement. Rick Scott is on the ice five days a week. He plays competitive hockey, trains up to 14 times a week, and routinely keeps pace with athletes decades younger. At 5'5" and 133 pounds, he gives up size to nearly everyone he skates with, and time, too. His secret, he'll tell you plainly, isn't a supplement or a shortcut. It's the way he eats, trains, and thinks. Rick is an athlete, coach, and founder of Peak Performance Co

Some people change the world by standing on stages. Others change it by helping important ideas reach the people who need them most. For decades, Glen Merzer has done exactly that. While many people in the plant-based movement recognize the names of physicians, researchers, and advocates who have helped advance the science of nutrition, fewer realize that behind many of those messages stands a gifted storyteller whose work has helped shape how those ideas are communicated to

• Speciesism refers to valuing one group of beings above another solely based on their species and is as pervasive yet subtle in our daily routines as racism or sexism. • Countering speciesism involves small, daily actions such as mindful buying, using non-speciesist language, and co-habitating harmoniously with other species, rather than grand declarations. • There's a profound shift when our everyday routines begin to align with our ethics, transforming actions from sacri

• Sustainable creativity is described as the strategic, behind-the-scenes work that supports a more livable world and can be maintained over time without exhausting or demotivating the individual. • Focusing on behind-the-scenes change, like redesigning systems or defaults for more ethical options, can have a significant impact and provide a more comfortable mode of activism for introverted individuals. • The durability of creative projects relies on their ability to be used

• Living a plant-based lifestyle in a meat-eating family involves quietly navigating cultural and personal differences while respecting each other's choices. • Despite initial misunderstandings, showing resilience, patience, and compassion can help soften family members towards a new dietary regime. • Small acts of resistance, including reinventing family recipes using plant-based ingredients, can subtly influence family eating habits. • Even when considered the "difficult

• Growing your own food can enhance your connection with what nourishes you and reduce reliance on long, anonymous supply chains. • Cultivating plants at home can transform you from a passive consumer to an active participant in your nutrition, even in a small apartment or with limited resources. • Besides known health and environmental benefits, homegrown food can imbue a sense of mindfulness, gratitude, and more respect for meals due to the personal involvement in the gro

• A whole-food plant-based lifestyle is a practical and non-confrontational mode of animal advocacy, creating change through daily food choices. • By shifting focus from meat to minimally processed plant foods, demands on resources and the environment are reduced, challenging the harmful economics of animal agriculture. • This diet not only minimizes environmental impact but also promotes personal health, potentially enhancing one's ability to engage effectively in long-ter

• Nutrition headlines can be misleading, often being "clickbait" rather than true reflections of the underlying research. • The impact of a diet should not be evaluated by fluctuating headlines, but by personal experiences such as improved health markers, affordability, and sustainability over time. • Questioning the methodology of studies mentioned in headlines, like what is compared and who is studied, can reveal their true relevance and validity to one's situation. • A hea

• Hiking offers a raw, authentic experience with no pretense, urging people to just be present and continue walking. • Slow hiking can be perceived not as a race, but as a moving meditation, focusing mindfully on each step and moment. • Choosing plant-based food on hiking trips can be a fulfilling alternative, tying into a broader goal of living lightly and with lesser impact. • Hiking trails can serve as reflective spaces where thoughts and emotions are unraveled, listened t

• Vitamin B12, necessary for red blood cell production, nerve function, and DNA synthesis, is crucial for maintaining brain health, energy levels, and overall longevity, especially for those on a plant-based diet. • While B12 is primarily obtained through bacteria in the environment and animal products, modern sanitary practices and dietary patterns have disrupted these sources, making supplements necessary. • Relying solely on fortified foods for B12 intake can be inconsis

• Iodine is vital for our thyroid and overall energy levels, but often overlooked, particularly by those following a whole-food, plant-based diet. • Despite being plentiful in traditional diets, iodine can be depleted when we switch to healthier eating patterns that exclude iodized salt, dairy and seafood. • Relying on seaweed as a primary source of iodine can be risky due to inconsistent iodine levels and irregular consumption patterns. • Iodine is not only important for in

• Low-profile advocacy involves influencing progress through personal habits, editing default choices in infrastructure, and asking thought-provoking questions. • Consistent personal habits, such as choices in food and transportation, quietly shift societal norms and provoke curiosity among peers. • Adjusting infrastructure, like food options at events or systems in a local community, can change behavior by making the sustainable choice the default. • Respectful questions

• Oil sparks intense debates due to its intersection with cultural values, health impacts, and diet choices in the context of whole and processed foods. • While some studies link certain oils to healthier lifestyles, it's essential to understand the nuances beyond sensational headlines and to focus more on overall dietary patterns. • Concerns surrounding oil often revolve around fears of missing the best dietary approach, social judgment, and substantial changes to traditio

Meditation, contrary to popular belief, isn't about becoming spiritually enlightened or conjuring a mythical sense of peace. It's an act of rebellion against mental chaos and noise, whether that noise comes from external influences like a busy environment, societal pressures or the silent yet overwhelming cacophony of our thoughts and anxieties. Meditation is like turning down the volume of this noise, granting us a sense of tranquillity, and subtly allowing us to hear our vo

The connection to nature can be found not just in forests and mountain ridges, but amidst the everyday activities of our lives, especially in our kitchens and our exercise routines. This connection manifests itself when we take the time to realize the journey and process our foods go through from the Earth to our hands. Cherishing a simple act such as slicing a tomato can evoke the understanding that we are partaking in a long conversation between the Earth and our bodies, as

Living with GERD doesn't mean having to deprive oneself of all enjoyable foods or reducing one's life to plain crackers. Shifting to a whole-food, plant-based eating pattern can provide a calmer, less restrictive and more predictable way to feed the body. Importantly, managing GERD goes beyond avoiding typical "trigger foods". It requires attention to the overall trend of one's dietary intake, bearing in mind factors like meal heaviness or fat content, portion sizes, the leve

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle involves a slow, methodical shift in both mindset and eating habits. The first step is reconciling with the grief associated with leaving cherished family food traditions behind. The next is realizing that the goal is not to become an ideal vegan, but to build a lifestyle where personal values and habits are in harmony. Furthermore, changing “normal” or default foods at home plays a critical role in this transition; a plant-based diet can gr

Grocery stores are intentionally designed to frustrate and fatigue shoppers to encourage impulse purchases by positioning profitable items at eye level, providing an overwhelming number of choices, and using ‘health halo words’. Such an environment can be detrimental to those aiming to lead healthier, whole-food-based lives. However, following a clear strategy focused on conscious shopping can help. By consistently sticking to a list of simple, versatile, and healthy mainstay

Much of the effort towards sustainability and social responsibilities is not the grand, publicized actions we often celebrate, but instead, consists of quiet, behind-the-scenes work. It's routine yet critical efforts like amending company polices, reworking supply chains, or reorganizing procedures to reduce waste. Often, the individuals involved in these transformative tasks aren't publicly recognized but their substantial contributions help drive change from within their or

We often grapple with a sense of disconnection from the living world due to our daily routines and digital interactions. One way to address this gap is through small rituals related to food and activity that remind us of our ties to the planet. Mornings can be used to establish contact with nature by spending a few moments outside and eating breakfast thoughtfully, focusing on the origins of the food. Before getting into work, engage in a simple movement exercise such as yoga