aging gracefully Archives

October 10, 2025

Published by Grace O

Ginger – At the Root of Healing

Like many people from Asia, I’ve always loved ginger. Besides tasting wonderful in soups, stir fries, rice dishes, beverages and desserts, it’s like a little medicine chest of natural remedies and health benefits. Traditional Indian medicine calls ginger the “universal remedy.” It’s commonly used to relieve nausea, can stimulate circulation, relax muscles, relieve pain and as an anti-inflammatory. As a child, my mother made a Chinese porridge with ginger for me, or she’d boil ginger and make it into a tea with honey to cure a cough and sore throat. I still find ginger tea very soothing to this day. […]

October 10, 2025

Published by Grace O

Enjoy the World of Benefits in Chicken Soup

No matter the country or culture, every one of them has a version of chicken soup. There is something universal about a warm, briny brew with chunks of chicken, vegetables, herbs and sometimes rice or pasta. Depending on how it’s prepared, chicken soup provides fluids, fiber, protein and vitamins. It’s a delicious first course, soothing comfort food, and some even attribute it with healing powers (‘Jewish penicillin’). But it’s not just folklore. Chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory, inhibiting immune system cells from over-reacting. It also relieves nasal congestion and sore throats. Plus, the zinc in chicken improves absorption of […]

October 10, 2025

Published by Grace O

Rainbow Chard and White Bean Soup

This is an easy and satisfying soup to make, particularly when it’s cold outside. It’s load with chard, a great ‘supergreen,’ and white beans that deliver plenty of protein. You can add in leftover chicken if you like to make it even more loaded with protein. Serves 4 Ingredients 4 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, diced 3 stalks of celery, sliced 3 carrots, sliced into coins Sea salt 2 15-oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 4 cups (1 carton) low sodium chicken or vegetable broth Juice of ½ lemon 4 cloves of garlic, minced ¼ cup […]

September 23, 2025

Published by Grace O

Fabulous Figs Deliver Calcium, Fiber and Flavor

Figs can be dried and enjoyed all year long, but there is nothing better than fresh figs in the summer. I think figs can turn a bland salad into an elegant entrée, and they can enhance the flavor of meat beautifully, so I like to marinate my rack of lamb in a f Fig and onion paste. I included my Rack of Lamb with Fig Sauce recipe (below) in my newest cookbook, The Age Beautifully Cookbook, and it has been a favorite at dinner parties. Lamb has protein for building muscle and plenty of vitamin B12, which protects neurons and […]

September 23, 2025

Published by Grace O

Turmeric Is a Top Anti-Inflammatory

Turmeric, a vibrant root akin to ginger, is celebrated for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I became well-acquainted with its warm, earthy flavor and brilliant yellow-orange hue. In Indian cuisine, turmeric gives curry its signature color, while in America, it’s often found as a dried powder used in soups or sauces. But turmeric’s benefits and versatility deserve more exploration! From spicing up fish to adding a zing to roasted vegetables, it’s time to embrace this golden root and its incredible health potential in more creative ways. Jonny Bowden’s, Ph.D., C.N.S., practice of using food as medicine […]

August 23, 2025

Published by Grace O

Baobab Powder Benefits: “Tree of Life” Superfood Supports Gut Health and Immunity

When I first saw pictures of the baobab tree, I thought I was looking at something from another planet. Standing up to 60 feet tall with wide, bottle-shaped trunks and branches that look like roots reaching toward the sky, the baobab has a striking, otherworldly presence. Native to Africa, Madagascar, India, and Australia, the baobab has earned the nickname “Tree of Life” for good reason. Not only can it thrive in extreme climates, but its fruit is one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods on earth. What Is Baobab Powder? Baobab fruit naturally dries on the branch and is ground into […]

August 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Beautiful Bounty: The Stone Fruits of Summer

It’s so easy to eat well in summer! I get inspired every time I walk through a farmer’s market or even the produce section of the supermarket. There are so many stone fruits and melons available and right now they are at their peak. You just can’t go wrong creating desserts and salads from fruits like peaches, nectarines, apricots and the new pluots and apriums, which are hybrids created by crossing plums and apricots. In addition to the delicious taste there are plenty of health benefits from eating stone fruits. For instance: As a collagen booster: A cup of sliced […]

August 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Summer Produce Brings a Bounty of Recipes

Let’s just start by saying that in summer, just about ALL fruits and vegetables are at their peak. With all the rain we had in California last winter, the quality of the local produce is more spectacular than usual. The summer months are the best time of year for enjoying produce prepared in the simplest methods. These fruits and vegetables are not only refreshing and delicious during hot summer days but also often have high water content, which can help keep you hydrated. Remember to choose fresh, locally sourced produce whenever possible for the best flavor and nutritional value. Tomato […]

July 30, 2025

Published by Grace O

Summertime Is Tops for Tasty Tomatoes

Now that it’s summer, it’s the perfect time to look for tomatoes at local farmers markets to see what’s organic, fresh and in season. I am always drawn to the variety of tomatoes that are available in the summer. The flavor is nothing like those pale, sad things you see in the supermarket in February. During the summer I’m inspired to use tomatoes in just about everything from appetizers and salads to satisfying main courses. Tomatoes are very good sources of lycopene, which is an effective antioxidant. Lycopene is in the carotenoid family, which includes beta-carotene, lutein (good for eye […]