Age GracefullyFoodTrients: A Recipe for Beauty
We all know by now that the right foods can help us maintain a healthy weight, keep our arteries unclogged, and reduce inflammation. But antioxidant-rich foods also help us to stay beautiful and keep our skin looking youthful and glowing. Hydrating, collagen-building foods help skin remain smooth and elastic and they also strengthen hair. Foods rich in carotenoids give skin a warm glow and keep the eyes healthy. Hydrating foods, like oats, rice, cucumbers, mangoes, asparagus, and strawberries, contain silica, a mineral that helps form collagen to keep skin elastic. Silica also strengthens hair and renders it less likely to […]READ MORE
April 7, 2025
Published by Grace O
We all know by now that the right foods can help us maintain a healthy weight, keep our arteries unclogged, and reduce inflammation. But antioxidant-rich foods also help us to stay beautiful and keep our skin looking youthful and glowing. Hydrating, collagen-building foods help skin remain smooth and elastic and they also strengthen hair. Foods rich in carotenoids give skin a warm glow and keep the eyes healthy. Hydrating foods, like oats, rice, cucumbers, mangoes, asparagus, and strawberries, contain silica, a mineral that helps form collagen to keep skin elastic. Silica also strengthens hair and renders it less likely to […]
April 7, 2025
Published by Grace O
Many people have never heard of annatto, also called achiote. The closest most of us in North America have come to this tiny seed that grows in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean is cheddar cheese. Annatto is used to color the naturally white cheddar a pleasant shade of orange. Stunning new research shows that this often overlooked spice from the rain forest is very good for us. For centuries, folk healers have used annatto to treat infections topically and orally. Some cultures consider it a digestive aid and a heartburn calmer. Annatto/achiote is full of the FoodTrients vitamin […]
April 7, 2025
Published by Grace O
Gut health refers to the overall wellness of your digestive system, particularly the balance and function of the microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. Did you know that your digestive system is a whole plant/animal kingdom of its own? The GI tract is a complex system responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste from the body. It’s inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome. Chew on this: There are more microbes in your digestive system than there are cells in your body! It’s estimated that […]
March 17, 2025
Published by Grace O
Everyone has their go-to sauces that add flavor and excitement to their meals. A well-crafted sauce can transform simple foods like chicken, omelets, or pasta into something extraordinary. And with just a few tweaks, you can put a fresh spin on your classic favorites. Let’s start with tomato sauce—an essential in many cuisines, from Italian to Mexican. But did you know that with a few simple changes, you can create unique variations with global influences? Tomatoes are a powerhouse FoodTrient, packed with lycopene, a potent antioxidant in the carotenoid family that also includes beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin—all of which are […]
March 16, 2025
Published by Grace O
Prunes – or dried plums — don’t usually get a lot of attention, and if they do, it’s limited to how they help fight constipation because they are such a good source of fiber (100 grams of prunes contain approximately 6.1 grams of fiber). But, did you know that prunes (and plums) are one of the healthiest foods you can eat? In addition to helping your colon stay healthy, prunes provide antioxidant protection, prevent pre-mature aging, promote cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of cancer and osteoporosis. Who knew? Personally, I like to eat plums and prunes by themselves. Prunes […]
March 5, 2025
Published by Grace O
With all the stress we juggle—packed schedules, deadlines, work, family responsibilities, and everything in between—we could all use a little pick-me-up sometimes. It’s easy to reach for coffee or even a glass of wine, but both come with drawbacks that can mess with mood, energy, and mental clarity. When I need a little extra support to power through a busy day, calm my mind, or even get better sleep, I turn to something I trust: herbal tonics. These natural remedies have been used for centuries to restore balance, and they’ve become my go-to for staying energized and centered. Tonics Are […]
March 5, 2025
Published by Grace O
Who doesn’t love pesto, the uncooked sauce most associated with the city of Genoa in Northern Italy? The pesto most of us have tried is made with fresh basil that’s been pounded and mixed with super-diced garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, then blended with extra virgin olive oil. Basil pesto imparts a beautiful green color on pasta and is a great spread on Italian bread. The dark green basil leaves are nutritional stars, because they are full of compounds that stabilize blood sugar levels and antioxidants that help protect cells from free radical damage. The garlic in pesto contains allicin, […]
March 4, 2025
Published by Grace O
When I was a teenager, my mom and I made atchara together. Atchara is a sweet-and-sour pickle made from green, unripe papayas and other vegetables. Eaten with grilled pork or fried fish, it’s considered the national dish of the Philippines (see our family recipe below). We also used to make our own pickled cucumbers—both the sweet kind and the salty kind. And because there were almost no German delis at the time, my mother fermented her own sauerkraut and grinding and stuffing her own sausages. Fermentation—the process of converting sugars into ethanol—has a long history. Because fermentation preserves food, people […]
February 18, 2025
Published by Grace O
Valentine’s Day brings warmth and joy to the often gloomy month of February. And let’s be honest—what’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate? As a child, I cherished the rare occasions when my parents treated me to American-made chocolates as a special reward, making each bite even more delightful. Later in life, my husband won my heart with roses and decadent chocolates on this romantic holiday. It’s no surprise that chocolate has become synonymous with love! The great news is that chocolate is an honest-to-goodness FoodTrient! Dark chocolate is loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and even some fiber. Sugar, butter, milk and admittedly other […]
February 17, 2025
Published by Grace O
Enjoying a hot cup of tea is a cherished daily ritual in many cultures, offering both comfort and incredible health benefits. In the UK, for instance, the 4 p.m. cuppa is practically sacred—and for good reason! Black tea is packed with powerful antioxidants like catechins, flavonoids, theaflavins, and magnesium, which support heart health by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. These compounds also help protect against certain cancers, promote dental health, and enhance weight loss by boosting metabolism. Additionally, black tea improves circulation, strengthens blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and keeps arteries healthy while […]
February 17, 2025
Published by Grace O
The Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025, marking the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The Snake is known for wisdom, transformation, and intuition—making this a year to embrace new beginnings and focus on health, balance, and nourishment. The Lunar New Year has always been a special holiday for me. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I was immersed in the traditions passed down from my family—my father was three-quarters Chinese, and my mother was half Chinese. Our celebrations were filled with symbolic customs, especially through food. At FoodTrients®, we love celebrating the Lunar New Year with […]
February 17, 2025
Published by Grace O
Your mother was right when she insisted you eat all your vegetables at dinnertime before moving on to dessert. Virtually every fruit and vegetable contains antioxidants. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans are so good for our bodies because they contain a host of antioxidants that can be broken down into multiple categories. I thought it would be helpful to highlight a few of those subcategories here. Antioxidants play a crucial role in the body by neutralizing harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, contributing to aging and increasing the risk of chronic […]
February 7, 2025
Published by Grace O
Valentine’s Day lets us turn our thoughts to adding a little more love and romance to our lives. Can certain foods boost romantic relationships and enhance sexual desire? According to St. Thomas Aquinas, aphrodisiac foods had to produce good nutrition and a “vital spirit.” In other words, the nutrients that contribute to overall well-being will also help to ensure a healthy love life. Chocolate is typically at the top of my list for Valentine’s Day, particularly dark chocolate. It truly is one of the best superfoods for lovers. Dark chocolate can help relieve stress, sharpen our minds, improve blood flow […]