Age Gracefully30 Plants a Week: A Simple Longevity Habit
Forget the latest superfood craze. Nutrition experts say one of the simplest ways to support a healthy gut—and potentially a longer, healthier life—is by eating a wider variety of plant foods every week. When people think about longevity, they often picture expensive supplements, restrictive diets, or the latest “miracle” superfood. But researchers studying the gut microbiome are pointing to something much simpler: variety. Instead of focusing on one “perfect” food, scientists have found that people who eat a greater diversity of plant foods tend to have more diverse gut bacteria—a hallmark of a healthier microbiome. Since gut health has been […]READ MORE
October 11, 2022
Published by Grace O
Beans are a wonderful, vegan source of protein. They are full of fiber—good for lowering cholesterol and pulling heavy metals out of the body—and lysine, an amino acid that repairs tissue. When made in a pressure cooker, beans provide a quick, easy homemade lunch or dinner. For even faster preparation, canned beans can be rinsed and used. Even if you are not a vegetarian, for those of us trying to eat more meatless meals, beans offer a delicious and satisfying alternative. Here are a few vegetarian and vegan recipes I’ve created that offer a variety of international flavors. Cuban Black […]
September 25, 2022
Published by Grace O
Do you want to spice up your life while making meals that help you look and feel younger? Get ready for a delicious dish that can do just that – my Turkey with Molé Sauce, which is featured in my cookbook – The Age Beautifully Cookbook. I created an easy ways to help you make your own favorite recipes anti-aging. I’ve been researching spice mixes so I can boost the benefits in all of my recipes and yours. Where to begin? I started by identifying all the spices in my kitchen cabinet that are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories: turmeric, mustard, […]
September 25, 2022
Published by Grace O
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
Published by Grace O
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
Published by Grace O
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 1, 2022
Published by Grace O
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 30, 2022
Published by Grace O
The inspiration for my empowering FoodTrients program—this website, the cookbook, my board of advisors—really came from my father. He was a physician and he had a way of looking at food as though it could heal us. He understood the value of the vitamins and minerals found in fresh foods and how those elements could influence our health. Foods like organic fruits and vegetables, wild fish, and humanely raised animals have so many good things in it: antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory agents, fiber, and anti-bacterial compounds. I needed to come up with a term to encompass the […]
July 6, 2022
Published by Grace O
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
Published by Grace O
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
Published by Grace O
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 4, 2022
Published by Grace O
For those of us who grew up in Southeast Asia, mangoes are as common there as apples are here in North America—they are everywhere and in just about everything. My mom encouraged me to eat mangoes every day and I was happy to oblige. They are delicious with a wonderful, tropical scent and a flavor that’s a cross between pineapple and a luscious, ripe peach. The juicy flesh has a smooth, silky texture. Originally cultivated at the foot of the Himalayas 4,000 years ago, mangoes are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Right now is the beginning […]
May 4, 2022
Published by Grace O
In my casual observation, there are two kinds of breakfasts: sweet and savory. Sometimes I crave one, sometimes the other. Certain culinary traditions do one or the other better—the French with their strong, highly sweetened coffee served with buttery croissants and a generous pot of strawberry jam fall into the sweet category. In Japan, expect fish and pickled vegetables for breakfast. In New York City, you’ll find the best bagels and lox, while no trip to New Orleans is complete without a plate of fresh beignets dusted with powdered sugar. In an earlier blog, I described shakshuka, a spicy tomato, […]
March 29, 2022
Published by Grace O
Lamb is a nutritious and delectable protein and one that I like to serve on special occasions or when I just want a change from beef, poultry or pork. But consumption of lamb in the U.S. has plummeted over the last 50 years. In the 1960s, Americans consumed on average 4.5 lbs. per year. Today, it’s about 0.7lbs. Why, when lamb is so delicious? There are a couple of theories that help explain the decline. First, soldiers during WWII were fed a lot of canned lamb and mutton, so when they returned home, they wanted no more of the meat […]