There's not much that could have prepared me for genetic counseling. The numbers are staggering. The risk factor statistics for pregnancy and age look like a reverse pyramid: at the top, a 15-year old "woman's" chance of delivering a baby with Down's syndrome or something worse, comes with a lot of zeros at the end; it's practically an impossiblity. Towards the very bottom of the pyramid—where I fall in at age 40, more glamorously referred to as "late maternal age"—it's almost a guarantee that something will be wrong with my baby.

No matter how healthy we are—even if we take every step to avoid non-organic foods, GMOs, plastics and artificial ingredients—chemical exposure is a part of life. But how we handle that exposure to chemicals can make all the difference.

You may not know much about cumin, but chances are you've tasted it, and have probably even wondered what made the dish so delicious. Cumin is a powerful herb both in taste and in healing properties. Discover the hidden health benefits of cumin and how this underappreciated herb can spice up your life.

Several years ago, kale attained "trendy" status, pretty much unprecedented for a vegetable. But the new wave of eating organic, local and healthy (which we're totally on board with, of course!) elevated this nutrition-packed vegetable to unprecedented heights. But recently, a new green kid has its own level of trend status: collard greens. Which really begs the question... are collard greens the new kale?

Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows once again that paying attention while you eat helps you eat less and lose weight—and that eating while distracted causes you to eat more now and later.

Do you feel like you’ve stepped onto a roller coaster as soon as your morning alarm goes off? Are your days akin to whirlwinds, spinning you into a dervish fueled by stress? Create small yet mindful rituals throughout the course of the day and you can learn to lower stress levels all day long.

Adopting a vegan diet requires some planning, and often, a little compromise. Given the nature of the food industry and our access to quality foods, it's not always possible to comfortably get all your body requires from a vegan diet to function properly. Instead of compromising your vegan ethics, consider taking a few supplements to strike a healthy balance. The following necessary supplements in a vegan diet outline what it is you may be missing.

Can certain physical attributes express negative health characteristics? Are women being too picky about dating bald-headed men, or are they being savvy to hidden health defects that might affect their children’s future? Unfortunately for bald men around the world, recent studies show that male pattern baldness often goes hand-in-hand with a higher risk of heart disease. In the past, male pattern baldness has also been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. Now it seems that baldness is also related to heart disease – can’t a bald guy catch a break?

The worldwide March Against Monsanto that saw more than 2 million people gather in more than 50 countries made it clear: genetically modified foods are losing credibility, fast. There is no shortage of the reasons why; from farmers' rights to toxic pesticide use, and the health risks, people want the biotech industry out of their meals.

Ask food experts like Michael Pollan or Alice Waters about what a meal really means besides nourishment, and you might hear some unexpected replies like "storytelling", "connection", or "community." The latter, in this case, may be an easier element for us to grasp. Most of us, at one point or another, have gathered around a table, sharing food with others. It's a rewarding experience, most of the time.  For families, it can be the only chance during the day to sit down together and connect. For friends it can also be a way to share, laugh and catch up. It even has benefits between strangers, particularly when cultures are connecting through a shared meal. But now more than ever, many of us eat alone.