July 14, 2024

Meloniscious! How To Pick (and Eat) Perfect Melons

Today’s melons are way beyond your standard cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons (though they are delicious this time of year). Exploring the produce section, I came across some newer variety melons I hadn’t seen before. Luckily, they were sampling.  Here are some varieties that you might want to sample for yourself: Sugar Kiss – Round with netted skin and light salmon-colored flesh. The texture is soft, juicy and sweet like candy. Golden Kiss– This is a very flavorful Charentais variety. You can spot it by the netted skin and distinctive green ribs. The flesh is firm and a deep orange color with […]
July 14, 2024

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 14, 2024

Do You Need to Take Supplements?

This month FoodTrients writer and nutritionist Ginger Hultin begins her four-part series on vitamins. Part 1 explores the pros and cons of taking supplements. If you have questions about supplements, we’ve got answers to this complex and sometimes confusing topic. The world of supplements is regulated in unique ways that can very much affect your health and pocketbook, too. Some companies offer health promises about supplement products that sound enticing but understanding what’s evidence-based and what isn’t can be a huge challenge. FoodTrients® is here to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the supplement world, if any […]
July 14, 2024

Enjoy the Dandy, Delicious Benefits of Dandelion Greens

Long the scourge of suburban lawns, dandelions are actually one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. Here’s the low-down on the not so lowly dandelion: They can control blood sugar. Dandelion greens can lower blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Diuretic effects. The high potassium content of dandelion greens means they work as a diuretic, helping to reduce water retention. Lower blood pressure. The diuretic effect of dandelions can help treat high blood pressure. While not as powerful as a prescription medication, it can still contribute to lowering blood pressure. Lower inflammation. Dandelion greens […]
July 14, 2024

Top 10 Medicinal Herbs Growing in your Garden

Summer is a great time for gardening and boosting anti-inflammatory foods that you grow on your own. Get strategic about which plants you want in your garden this year by including some beautiful aromatic culinary herbs. The top 10 medicinal herbs below can help you add more flavor to your cooking and also offer many health benefits. Some of the top health benefits you can gain by using more herbs include: reduce salt in your cooking while still including lots of flavor blood pressure control benefits (herbs are often high in potassium) boost potent antioxidants that can help calm inflammation […]
July 11, 2024

A Guide to Choosing Produce: The Dirty Dozen & the Clean 15

Do you shop by the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and ‘Clean Fifteen’? These lists that emerge each year raise pressing questions about what’s really in our carts and on our plates and how it may be affecting our health. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the organization that releases a report each year, offering guidance about which types of produce are most likely to be contaminated with pesticides and which have the lowest rates during testing. This group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. These lists categorize fruits and vegetables based on the level of […]
July 3, 2024

Senolytics Hold Promise for Delaying Old-Age Decline

New studies confirm how senescent cells accelerate old-age decline. Prestigious journals reveal marked regenerative improvements when senolytics are used to reduce the senescent cell burden. Published research conducted at the Mayo Clinic and other prestigious institutions is revolutionizing medicine. The impact of these findings is the potential to delay and reverse the adverse effects of aging. A major factor in old-age decline is the accumulation of senescent cells that: Impede Organ Function Create Chronic Inflammation Emit Protein-Destroying Enzymes Shorten Healthy Lifespan Compounds that circumvent this aging mechanism are called senolytics. “Seno” refers to old cells that secrete toxic chemicals. “Lytic” refers to their destruction. Senolytic compounds selectively destroy these old (senescent) cells. Several landmark studies on senolytic therapy have recently been published. They demonstrate that senolytics not only contribute to healthy […]
July 2, 2024

Foods That Can Help You Feel Full and Lose Weight

It may seem counterintuitive that eating certain foods can support weight loss but studies have shown a link between some types of foods and better weight management. For example, high fiber foods including whole grains, fruit, vegetables and nuts have been associated with lower body mass index (BMI) in large human studies. A feeling of fullness and concentrated nutrients in these foods may be part of the connection to a reduced BMI, smaller waist circumference and reduced risk of being overweight. It should be noted that simply increasing the amount of any of these foods listed below will not in […]
July 2, 2024

These Are the 10 Top Herbs To Support Your Liver

Liver disease is more common than you may realize and has many negative health effects to be aware of. In the United States, about 4.5 million adults live with chronic liver disease including hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Having high blood pressure, uncontrolled blood sugar, a high body mass index (BMI), and excessive alcohol intake can all increase your risk but the good news is — there’s a lot you can do to support your liver, too. Herbs and foods that support or protect the liver do so mainly by […]