aging gracefully Archives

June 1, 2025

Published by Grace O

Why Cauliflower Deserves a Spot on Your Plate

Cauliflower has quietly transformed from a humble side dish into a nutrient-rich staple worth celebrating. A standout in the cruciferous family—alongside broccoli and Brussels sprouts—it’s loaded with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that support heart health, brain function, and healthy aging. It’s also a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and fiber, which all work together to boost immunity, aid digestion, and help the body detox naturally. What makes cauliflower especially powerful? It contains indoles, sulfur-based compounds that help neutralize carcinogens, and SOD (superoxide dismutase), an antioxidant enzyme that protects cells from free-radical damage—supporting both internal health and youthful-looking […]

May 30, 2025

Published by Grace O

Mint: It Does the Mind & Body Good!

If you ask me, mint makes just about everything taste better. It also delivers some impressive benefits: Digestion: Mint is a great palate cleanser, and it promotes digestion. It also soothes the stomach in case of indigestion or inflammation. When your stomach feels sick, drinking a cup of mint tea can give you relief. Nausea and Headache: The aroma of mint leaves, especially freshly crushed leaves help you deal with nausea and headache. Asthma: Regular use of mint is very beneficial for asthma patients, as it is a good relaxant and relieves congestion. But using too much mint this way can also […]

May 15, 2025

Published by Grace O

Zing Up the Flavor with Lovely Lemongrass

I love to cook with lemongrass. It adds a wonderful perfume and zingy flavor to both savory and sweet dishes, and it has health benefits, too. It pairs particularly well with coconut milk, ginger, red chiles, chicken, and seafood. Use the white, more tender section of the stalk in recipes where it remains in the final dish. If you’re just steeping the stalk, as in my tea recipe, you can use all of it, including the tougher green part. Lemongrass also contains vitamins A, B, and C, plus calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. According to studies, it is a great antioxidant […]

May 15, 2025

Published by Grace O

Nuts About Nutrition! Nuts are Full of Valuable FoodTrients

Nuts are full of valuable FoodTrients and they’re so easy to eat as a snack or to add into a huge variety of foods from salads and appetizers to main courses, side dishes and desserts. Nuts are one of the most versatile and healthful foods out there, which is why I have incorporated them into my own diet and included 15 recipes in my new book, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, that feature them. Nuts are high in fat and calories, but they are nutrient dense, which means they are full of good omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. […]

May 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

One-Bowl Wonders: Power Meals for Any Time of Day

Bowls are having more than a moment—they’ve become a way of life. These one-dish meals are colorful, nutrient-packed, and endlessly versatile. Whether you’re starting your day with a savory breakfast bowl, powering through lunch, or winding down with a cozy dinner, bowls bring flavor, function, and ease to every meal. Asian cuisines have been ahead of the game for centuries—think ramen from Japan, pho from Vietnam, or Korea’s bibimbap. But the “bowl life” has gone global, with inspired versions popping up from Latin America to the Mediterranean and beyond. They’re hearty, healthy, and perfect for our fast-paced lifestyles. In fact, […]

May 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Adobo! A Delicious Dish Heard Round the World

As the song goes, “You say, Adobo and I say, adobo….” Yes, it’s confusing. There’s Spanish adobo (the original adobo from Spain), Mexican adobo, Filipino adobo, and others. How can these dishes, created so many miles apart, have ended up with the same name? Adobo is a Spanish rub or marinade typically made with paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to flavor meat before cooking. It comes from the word, adovar, which means ‘to marinate.’ Mexican adobo is a fusion of indigenous and colonial influences. In the Mexican version, crushed chilies, spices, and vinegar are used to make a marinade […]

May 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Apple Cider Vinegar: Nature’s Magic Potion

When I attended the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA., I came across a number of exhibitors sampling beverages containing apple cider vinegar. Organic apple cider vinegar is recognized as a healthful ingredient, and it’s amazingly versatile in cooking and as a natural health and beauty aid. I always have a bottle on hand. Most vinegar starts out as fermented grapes, but it can be made from any number of fruits, even honey. It’s good for you because it is infused with minerals, vitamins and amino acids, plus it helps fight bacteria and aids digestions as well as other healthful […]

April 7, 2025

Published by Grace O

FoodTrients: 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 […]

April 7, 2025

Published by Grace O

Annatto Seeds Pack a Powerful Punch of Vitamins

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 […]