September 25, 2022

Shake It Up with Awesome Avocado Recipes

It’s summer and avocados are at their best. Who doesn’t love this buttery-rich fruit that’s full of nutrients and good fats? I’m just happy to take a ripe avocado and spread it on whole grain toast, but the chef in me can’t resist coming up with new ideas for avocados, too. Here are some facts about avocados that make them one of the healthiest foods you can eat: They’re high in monounsaturated fat, specifically oleic acid, an omega-9 fat that can help lower cholesterol. The monounsaturated fat in avocados is also associated with reduced risk of cancer and diabetes. Avocados […]
August 30, 2022

Argan Oil Is Loaded with Beautiful Benefits

One of the hottest trends for skin and hair care products, argan oil, has a little secret – this powerful anti-aging oil goes way beyond beauty when it comes to being healthy, effective and useful. Argan oil is from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), which grows almost exclusively in Morocco.  You’ve probably seen a variety of skin and hair products that contain argan oil, because it’s known for its effective moisturizing properties. There’s been research that suggests the fatty acids in argan oil support healthy, hydrated skin, reduce hair damage and contribute to glossiness. What’s surprising about […]
August 30, 2022

Eleven Great Reasons to Love Cilantro

For such a delicate-looking and innocuous herb, cilantro, which is the leaves of the coriander plant, is a little bit controversial. People seem to either love it or hate it. Cilantro looks like flat leaf parsley, but it has a tangy, almost citrusy flavor. Long used in Asian, Indian, Caribbean and Latin American cooking, cilantro gives a bright taste to salads, salsas, meat, chicken and fish. I think it’s the secret ingredient to summer dishes, though you can find it fresh in supermarkets all year round. Given the chance, even the most skeptical can acquire a taste for cilantro. But […]
August 30, 2022

Make a Meal Out of These Meaty Appetizers

I know some people who would be happy eating an entire meal of appetizers. Grazing on a half-dozen small plates can be very satisfying. After all, that’s the whole point of tapas, which are Spanish finger foods to nibble on in a bar while enjoying an icy pitcher of sangria. Most appetizers we’ve come to know in the U.S. started out somewhere else in the world. Even in the 1950s, which was not the most sophisticated decade for food, sweet ‘n sour Swedish meatballs, baba ghanoush (roasted eggplant dip from the Mideast) and rumaki (bacon-wrapped chicken liver and water chestnut) […]
August 1, 2022

Gummy Vitamins: Not Just for Kids Anymore

Even though I follow my FoodTrients program for its anti-aging benefits, I know that vitamin supplements are an important part of aging gracefully. I take 20-plus vitamins and supplements a day, most of which are in capsule form. But for me, they’re not so easy to swallow. I need to drink them with water. Some friends of mine hide their pills in a piece of banana or a spoonful of apple sauce for easy downing. By the end of the day, I’m tired of pills getting stuck in my throat or drinking so much water! It’s tempting to skip some […]
July 6, 2022

Mediterranean Superfoods Are Health Heroes

You have probably heard of the Mediterranean Diet. Besides conjuring visions of sipping chilled prosecco overlooking a sparkling sea, this way of cooking and eating is a heavily plant-based diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, fish, lean meats (in moderation) and monounsaturated oils, such as olive oil. It’s a true farm-to-table diet that relies on locally produced/caught/raised foods. In a number of studies, people who live around the Mediterranean in Southern Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece, as well as countries such as Croatia, Israel and Morocco, and live a mostly agrarian life tend to have lower incidences […]
May 30, 2022

Amazing Gooseberries

I just love berries! Not only are they sweet and delicious, but they are loaded with healthful antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber. Soon we’ll be heading into prime berry season. Strawberries are already here, and June marks the prime time for blueberries, raspberries and boysenberries, and other berries. There are scores of recipes and serving ideas for them. But there is another berry that’s available starting now in late spring that’s a little different and a nutritional powerhouse — Indian gooseberries, also known as amla fruit. The fruit is about the size of blueberries and looks sort of […]
May 30, 2022

Age Beautifully with FoodTrients

As I’ve been telling my story these past few years about how I developed an anti-aging cookbook based on the food-is-medicine principle called FoodTrients, I’ve expanded my method for creating delicious, comforting recipes designed to keep you young, healthy and beautiful. It’s a lot easier than I imagined, and it’s the focus of The AGE BEAUTIFULLY COOKBOOK: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World. The recipes are mainly quick and easy to make, and will introduce readers to age-defying foods and flavors from around the world, with a focus on beauty that emanates from the inside. As I […]
May 25, 2022

11 Foods to Boost Your Energy & Workout

If you’ve been following a regular workout regime, you deserve applause. I try to walk and swim as often as I can. Whether you run a few times a week, hike on the weekends or go to the gym, regular exercise is one of the most reliable ways to live a healthier life. Whatever kind of workout you practice, there are foods that can help you make the most of any exercise routine. Even though there are performance-enhancing supplements, eating the right foods is the most reliable way to build muscle and recover efficiently from workouts. Some of my favorite […]