Grace O blog Archives - Page 32 of 37

August 6, 2014

Published by Grace O

Juicing Is a Perfect Blend for Immune Health

My husband drinks fruit and vegetable juices first thing in the morning, before he eats any solid food. He feels this is a good and gentle way to get his digestive system started on a daily basis. The blender or juicer does all the chewing for him so that his body can quickly begin absorbing all the nutrients from the produce. I insist on using organic fruits and vegetables for his juices and make sure everything is washed carefully before it’s blended up. A super-strong blender preserves the fiber from the fruits and vegetables, whereas a juicer separates out […]

July 2, 2014

Published by Grace O

Seafood Is a Recipe for Building Bones

Bone-building protein is in abundant supply in meats and dairy products, such as yogurt and cream. Seafood also has plenty of protein per square inch. Seafood chowder with cream and potatoes is very good for bone health. Beans are an excellent vegetarian source of protein. A lentil and kale salad is a significant source of both protein and calcium. You can even combine all of the above nutrients into a bone-building recipe or two. Try making a seafood gumbo with beans, collard greens, and miso paste. Or create a fruit salad of kiwi fruit, figs, apricots, and bananas to spoon […]

June 11, 2014

Published by Grace O

Moringa Adds Spark to Artichoke Appetizer

Potassium is also integral to skeletal health. It enhances nerve and muscle function while reducing the risk of osteoporosis, stroke, and kidney stones. This FoodTrient also keeps blood pressure low and maintains hydration. It can be found in significant amounts in bananas, figs, bitter melon, kiwi fruit, prunes, lima beans, acorn squash, moringa leaves, potatoes, and spinach. My simple Moringa Dip combines moringa leaves, olive oil mayonnaise, and sweet pickle relish. For an extra potassium punch, add steamed spinach. You can also make a potassium-rich vegetable soup with lima beans, acorn squash, and potatoes starting with a veggie stock. After […]

May 28, 2014

Published by Grace O

Atchara Pickle Is Great Digestive Aid

When I was a teenager, my mom and I would make atchara together. Atchara is a sweet-and-sour pickle made with green, unripe papayas and other vegetables. My mom would make florets out of a few carrots because they added beauty and color to the pickle. Eaten with grilled pork or fried fish, it’s considered a national dish of the Philippines. In America, I eat it with BBQ, grilled meat, and smoked fish. Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps break down proteins. This is why I sometimes use green papaya as a meat tenderizer. (There is less papain in ripe […]

May 13, 2014

Published by Grace O

Mangosteen Drink Is a Good Mood Lifter

It’s possible to adjust your mood by adjusting your diet. Certain FoodTrients—like choline, omega-3 fatty acids, and tryptophan (in poultry)—promote healthy neurotransmitters in the brain, allowing calming signals to get through more effectively. Many vitamins and minerals—especially B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc—are used up when we’re under stress and should be replenished ASAP. To contribute to a good mood, we should be eating whole grains, poultry, eggs, citrus, berries, and dark green veggies. Putting the right foods into our bodies is only half the battle. We also need to avoid foods that take down […]

April 29, 2014

Published by Grace O

Mama Mia! That’s a Delicious Pizza

Pizza is a favorite food for most of us, but it’s even better when topped with delicious, age-defying toppings. My Kale Cashew Pesto is so full of anti-aging ingredients, I don’t have room to list them all here. (See the full recipe below.) Pesto is a versatile spread that works on pasta, in sandwiches, in soups, and on this delicious Pesto Whole Grain Pizza with Artichokes (recipe below, where it works well in place of tomato sauce.)

April 22, 2014

Published by Grace O

We’re Going Nuts For This Food!

I travel a lot and am continually on the move. I never want to get so hungry that I am tempted to grab just anything, so I always stash a supply of nuts in my purse or briefcase. You really can’t go wrong with a snack of nuts. Yes, they are high in fat and calories, but nuts have healthful fats and are nutrient dense. That means they are loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Just one ounce of nuts delivers many important nutrients and the fat, protein and fiber they contain provide a feeling of satiety.

April 15, 2014

Published by Grace O

Spice Up Your Food and Your Health

Our culture is finally starting to view the food that we eat as a potential medicine chest. Every day, scientists are discovering more and more that certain herbs, spices, and leaves offer curative powers that can help us overcome disease. These spices originated in India, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Indian cuisine often relies on 10–20 spices in just one recipe.

April 10, 2014

Published by Grace O

Baobab: Superfood from the Tree of Life

When I first started looking for a U.S. source for baobab four years ago, the market was quite limited, but I was sent several bags of Baobest’s Organic Baobab Powder so I could create recipes for my Age Beautifully Cookbook. The more I looked into the benefits of baobab, the more excited I was to create recipes with the powder. My Baobab Butter Bars are one of my favorites, and I serve them often at parties and events. Today there are more than a dozen companies selling baobab powder on Amazon. The fruit looks almost like a velvet-covered yam dangling […]