aging gracefully Archives - Page 10 of 36

November 17, 2023

Published by Grace O

A Passion for Power-Packed Persimmons

They arrive in a corner of the produce section each fall. Or maybe they adorn your neighbor’s tree like small, orange lanterns. Beautiful, smooth, flame-skinned persimmons. I have 10 persimmon trees on my farm near San Diego and look forward to harvesting and eating them every year. What to do with them? Actually, persimmons are quite versatile in every course and meal occasion. Sometimes you’ll see them on the menus of high-end restaurants paired with poultry, chutneys, desserts and salads for seasonal specialties. Their vibrant color and nutritional benefits are a festive kick-off to the holiday season. Persimmons were […]

November 16, 2023

Published by Grace O

Have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a carb-loaded, over-eating frenzy. You can make satisfying, healthy, anti-aging food choices for this holiday that will leave you feeling thankful for indulging. Take turkey, for example. I cook at least four turkeys each Thanksgiving because I usually have about 30 people over for dinner. Turkey contains tryptophan, which produces niacin, giving us energy. Tryptophan also builds the hormone serotonin, which helps ensure healthy neurotransmitters in our brain. Turkey also contains the FoodTrient selenium, a detoxifying antioxidant. You don’t have to drown your turkey in fatty gravy. It can be deliciously sauced using healthier ingredients. […]

November 6, 2023

Published by Grace O

Pumpkins and Squash Have Souper Powers

Pumpkins and Squash Have Souper Powers. You may only associate pumpkins with Halloween, but fresh pumpkins are available from October through February. They contain large amounts of potassium (33 percent more than a medium banana) and beta carotene without a boat-load of calories—49 per cup mashed. The high amounts of potassium in pumpkins works with sodium to balance the amount of water in the body. A diet high in potassium helps keep blood pressure at a healthy level and assists with the prevention of strokes. Pumpkins contain more than 2400 mcg of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important […]

October 24, 2023

Published by Grace O

Jujubes Are Small ‘Apples’ With Big Benefits

The Chinese have been growing and eating jujubes for over 4,000 years. Jujube, or Chinese date, trees are shrub-like with thorny branches. The fruits are shaped like small apples that are green when unripe and turn brownish red. As they ripen and age they wrinkle and shrink to the size of a large date. The flesh of the fruit is most like an apple when it’s unripe. As it ripens it becomes soft and spongy. Asians generally steep slices of jujubes in hot water and make a jujube tea. Sometimes they reduce the tea on the stove and add […]

September 24, 2023

Published by Grace O

Savory and Satisfying Dishes with Mushrooms

Most people either love or hate mushrooms. But hear me out: the beauty of mushrooms is that they take on the flavor of whatever they’re cooked with. They become Asian cooked in a soy or teriyaki-style sauce. They’re Italian sauteed in olive oil, garlic and fresh basil. Sprinkle middle Eastern spices on them such as zaatar or sumac and they become Moroccan or Lebanese. For those who want to cut down on eating meat, a portobello mushroom grilled and placed in a hamburger bun is very satisfying. Mushrooms provide that ‘fifth taste’ (joining sweet, salty, sour and bitter), umami, which […]

September 11, 2023

Published by Grace O

Summertime and It’s International Salad Time

As the summer heats up, I’m less inclined to cook hot meals. Plus, go to any supermarket and it’s clear that produce is in full bloom. Colorful fruits and vegetables inspire me to whip up delicious and healthful salads. When you go to Italy in the summer, you can’t believe how luscious the produce is. That’s because much of it is local or grown not far from where it’s consumed. Our own grocery stores are stocking much more local produce. Check out all the delicious produce at your nearby farmers market. A few weeks ago, I wrote about international dressings […]

September 11, 2023

Published by Grace O

Top 10 Foods for Healthy Blood Sugar

I’m sure you’ve had this experience. You eat healthy most of the day, but at about three o’clock in the afternoon you crave something sweet. Or salty/crunchy. You indulge and feel great for a short time, and then you’re more tired and hungry than ever. What’s happening is that the simple carbs in these snacks spike the level of the sugar in your blood and trigger a surge of insulin, which the body manufactures to metabolize sugars. These extreme swings in blood sugar levels will not only play havoc with your energy and moods, but can present serious challenges to […]

August 30, 2023

Published by Grace O

Try One-bowl Meals from Around the World

The growing trend of one-bowl meals just keeps going. I enjoy creating a blend of flavors, spices and textures in my bowl recipes and find them to be delicious, satisfying meals. The legend of the Buddha carrying a bowl with him on his journeys and accepting food as donations to be eaten at the end of the day is the origin of the Asian-inspired “Buddha Bowl.” If the Enlightened One had lived in Morocco, a Buddha Bowl would probably have contained couscous and the spice blend, zaatar. Or if he travelled throughout Peru, at the end of the day his […]

July 31, 2023

Published by Grace O

Toss Summer Salads with Anti-Inflammatories

We’ve talked a lot about anti-inflammatory foods in this space before. However, it’s so important to anti-aging and your overall health, it bears repeating. And since it’s the apex of summer, I want to share with you some salad recipes that are high in anti-inflammatory foods and are at the peak of their deliciousness this time of year. Anti-inflammatory foods are those that have properties known to reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps protect the body against injury or infection. However, chronic inflammation can contribute to various health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, […]