January 30, 2023

Discover the Many-Splendored Foods of Malta

Do you know where Malta is? Many people probably don’t. You’ve heard of The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart and there’s a good chance you’ve met a fluffy, white Maltese dog. But one of the best things I discovered in my visit to Malta is the cuisine. Malta consists of a small archipelago of islands in the Mediterranean about 50 miles south of Sicily, approximately 200 miles north of Libya, and 175 miles east of Tunisia. It’s been inhabited for thousands of years by various conquerors passing through including Phoenicians, Carthaginians (both from the eastern Mediterranean), Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, […]
January 30, 2023

Medical Tests For People Over 50

It’s a New Year, and many of my patients are coming in for their annual check-ups. Maybe you’re scheduled to visit your doctor for your annual physical as well. I always like to remind my patients of the old Ben Franklin adage – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Nothing could be truer where your health is concerned. Prevention, however, comes in many forms, from making sure you get the optimal nutrition, rest, and exercise to being proactive and getting the right medical tests to screen for any possible issues. If you’re over the age of […]
January 30, 2023

Centenarians Abound in Isolated Nicoya

This is the last of our 5-part series on life in the “Blue Zones,” where people live longer, healthy lives. Each part looks into the diets and lifestyles of the areas where longevity is a normal part of aging better. Who doesn’t want to know their secrets? Nicoya is an 80-mile peninsula located in the northeastern part of Costa Rica. This isolated area has a high population of centenarians and has been classified as a “Blue Zone” — a geographical region that has a significantly higher proportion of long-lived individuals compared to averages around the world. Nutrition plays a significant […]
January 30, 2023

Chinese Tea-Infused Rice with Duck Breast

I love the trick of infusing rice or noodles with tea. It really amps up the nutrient value of any dish while adding a nice bit of flavor. Pu-erh tea is fermented, making it even healthier than regular green tea. Traditionally this dish is made with glutinous rice, but I changed it to brown rice for the health benefits. Feel free to use turkey or chicken breast in place of the duck breast. You can find Thai basil at Asian markets and some supermarkets. This comfort food meal pairs well with my California Hempseed Salad with Strawberries and Kale. Benefits: […]
January 30, 2023

Want to Detox? Try These Top 10 Cleansing Foods!

I love to cook and entertain, especially during the holidays, but this holiday season challenged us all to celebrate differently with Zoom parties, staying at home, and social distancing. For me, baking is a great way to de-stress, and because I believe in indulging friends and family with delicious food, drink and desserts, this year I made my mother’s recipe for fruitcake and my own recipe for biscotti and had them delivered. After a couple of months of holiday meals and baking up a storm, I am ready to start 2022 with a “clean” slate. That calls for some detoxing. […]
January 3, 2023

Entertain with Happy, Healthy, Holiday Dishes

I love to open up my home and invite friends and family over for celebrations. And the holiday season provides irresistible opportunities to throw great parties that people will remember. My first priority is always my guests, and I ensure that they are well fed, entertained, and delighted. Good food is vital to any party. Hungry guests are not happy guests, so I have a wide variety of food available for the duration of the party. During the holidays, a time when people tend to overeat and overindulge, I offer some healthful party fare in addition to seasonal favorites. Give […]
January 3, 2023

Greek Island Ikaria Is a Longevity Hot Spot

This is the fourth part in our 5-part on life in the “Blue Zones,” where people live longer, healthy lives. Each part will look into the diets and lifestyles of the areas where longevity is a normal part of aging better. Who doesn’t want to know their secrets? Ikaria is a beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Sea and is home to residents living eight-to-10 years longer than the average American (and with significantly less health complications). It is one of five “Blue Zones” in the world — a geographical region that is a longevity hot spot. A study done in 2013 […]
December 28, 2022

Holiday Entrees Serve Up New Traditions

I love turkey as much as the next person, but sometimes when I’m entertaining I want to show off my cooking chops. We all get into that culinary holiday rut of turkey, ham and beef roasts. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those! But there are other entrees that are delicious, unique and could become your new holiday tradition. These are featured in my book, The Age Beautifully Cookbook. Roasted Pork Shoulder Pork shoulder is pretty tough, so I like to start this dish the night before and let it cook slowly overnight. This method will tenderize any tough cut of […]
December 28, 2022

11 Good Reasons To Practice Mindfulness

As a certified holistic wellness coach, there’s very little I haven’t tried in the field of health and wellness practices. With personal certifications in yoga, reiki, Hawaiian healing and meditation, there’s so much I can say I’ve gained from each one, but meditation is truly the practice that has taught me the most. The legend, Davidji, who trained and certified me to teach meditation says, “meditation is the act of watching the progressive fluctuations of the mind.” This description most accurately depicts mindfulness meditation; A form of meditation where one practices being conscious and aware of something. So, what about […]