Registered dietician nutritionist Nisha Melvani join us on the Plant-Powered People Podcast for a nutrition Q&A. She has a Masters in nutrition education from Columbia University, she's a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, and has a wealth of practical knowledge about how to thrive on a vegan diet.   Show Notes: About Nisha and her journey towards studying a Masters of nutrition at Columbia University How and why Nisha transitioned into plant-based living Nisha’s experience living in Jamaica, England, Montreal, and New York What Nisha learned from her Indian heritage and how it influences her plant-based cooking The challenges that Nisha encountered when transitioning to plant-based living & the conflicting information that she learned in nutrition school The truth about the protein obsession, and what people should really obsess over in their diets Meeting protein needs on a plant-based diet throughout each phase of life Why our bodies need protein & how to eat enough plant-based protein The relationship between protein and bone health Protein-rich plant foods & how many servings to eat per day Lectins & the importance of soaking dried legumes What you need to know about cooking beans in a pressure cooker Some of Nisha’s favorite easy, fast, & healthy plant-based protein bowl recipes Why fiber is essential & how to properly introduce more fiber into the diet to prevent bloating and discomfort What is enough water intake & why you should drink more water when increasing your fiber Why it’s important to chew slowly How more fiber can help build a stronger gut lining, diabetes, and more The calculation you need to know to understand the fiber content in processed foods Why iodine is essential & how to get it on a plant-based diet Iodine’s importance during pregnancy Iron-rich plant-based foods & how to get enough on a plant-based diet Tips to get rid of the aftertaste in tempeh The benefit of fermented foods vs non-fermented foods Why it is important to consume healthy fats & plant-based fat sources The importance of maintaining the joy of eating The meaning behind “cooking for peanuts” Thank you to our sponsors Caraway Home (https://www.carawayhome.com/plantpoweredkitchen/ or code plantpoweredkitchen at checkout for 10% off) and Bootstrap Farmer (https://www.bootstrapfarmer.com/)    Resources: Legumes Recipes: Plant Based on a Budget Legumes Recipes: World of Vegan Legumes Recipes: Cooking for Peanuts Nisha’s Instagram Nisha’s website for printable recipes Related Episodes: #75: Gut Health & Why it Matters With Dr. B #76: Fiber 101 With the Gut Doctor