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
March 15, 2022
Published by Grace O
Here in Los Angeles, with our access to plentiful produce and a pervasive interest in healthy eating, we have a long history of plant-based cuisine. In 1885, a newspaper called The Daily Alta California reported on a popular vegetarian brunch item, “Quartered alligator pears with the pulp spread on slices of grilled bread and seasoned with salt and pepper.” Today we know this delicacy as avocado toast! When Upton Sinclair published The Jungle in 1906, it highlighted the exploitation of workers and unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry in Chicago. The novel inspired a minor craze for vegetarian restaurants […]
March 6, 2022
Published by Grace O
One of the hottest topics to come out of the world of food and nutrition was the broad introduction of plant-based meats, specifically patties that mimic beef burgers. Two companies, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, are at the forefront of providing meat substitutes that really taste like ground beef. The question from a FoodTrients standpoint is: are these products more healthful than beef patties? Do they have what it takes to benefit your well-being? Who’s the Target Audience? First thing to know about these plant-based meat substitutes is that veggie burgers have been around for decades. Remember Boca® Burger and […]
January 1, 2022
Published by Grace O
For several years, the FoodTrients team attended the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Annual World Congress in Las Vegas. And every year we found ourselves even more excited about the scientific and medical evidence presented there around food, fasting, and nutrients, and how we can live longer, healthier lives. On the opening day of that conference, an entire track of lectures on fasting followed the keynote address from Dr. Valter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California (USC) and author of The Longevity Diet, based on his ground-breaking research on a “fasting mimicking” diet. Dr. […]
January 1, 2022
Published by Grace O
During the holidays I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen with my cooking team. I’ll be throwing parties, creating food as gifts, and discovering healthy ways to eat my family’s traditional holiday recipes. I’ll share some of my newest and most fun party-food recipes with you. You’ll be able to get more of these recipes in my cookbook, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook. Appetizers are excellent party food. Anything that guests can eat while standing up is a good idea. Cheese trays are very popular these days for good reason. Cheese has many health benefits. Whether it’s a […]
September 27, 2021
Published by Grace O
Most people’s experience with miso is the yellowish paste that settles at the bottom of a bowl of soup that’s at the start of a Japanese meal.It’s salty and
August 6, 2021
Published by Grace O
An aioli is a French dipping sauce, a garlicky mayonnaise, that works wonderfully well whether you’re dipping French fries, steamed artichoke leaves, or shrimp. It can be spread on sandwiches or used as a thick salad dressing. It’s also quite versatile, able to take on a wide variety of spices to create an array of global dips and spreads. Here is my basic aioli recipe and quite a few global variations on the French theme. Basic French Aioli I use mayonnaise as my aioli base because it’s faster and easier than emulsifying the egg yolks with oil myself. Hellmann’s (a.k.a. […]
May 10, 2021
Published by Grace O
Fermented foods are the new “it” food today, even though fermentation is a centuries-old process that was around long before refrigeration. Over time, with all of the modern convenience foods available to us, home-made fermented foods lost their appeal. But today’s rebirth of fermented foods makes good sense – they are powerfully good for us. In addition to the benefits of the food itself– for example, milk, soy beans or cabbage—the fermentation process creates lactobacillus that feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which in turn creates a natural balance of intestinal flora improving digestion, immune function, and absorption of […]
April 12, 2021
Published by Grace O
Cool weather has finally come to Southern California. The nights and early mornings can be quite chilly so what could be better than a warm drink? There’s something very comforting about settling in with a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea when it’s cool (or cold) outside. Did you know that both beverages offer a number of age-defying benefits? Plus the warm, steamy liquid is soothing if you have a cold because it can help open up nasal passages. Coffee and tea drinks are one of those indulgences that are good for you in so many ways! Let’s count […]
March 29, 2021
Published by Grace O
Pork has had to overcome a bit of a bad reputation. Remember the insult, ‘fat as a pig’? The fact is today’s pork has been bred to have 16 percent less fat and 27 percent less saturated fat than 30 years ago. Many cuts of pork, such as tenderloin, have less fat and calories than skinless chicken breasts. Pork is a source of high-quality lean protein and is an excellent source of important nutrients including thiamin, selenium, niacin, vitamin B-6 and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of zinc, riboflavin and potassium. Unprocessed pork is naturally low in sodium and […]
March 16, 2021
Published by Grace O
Medical technology has always fascinated me, and I love to explore new healing modalities, especially if
March 9, 2021
Published by Grace O
Here in Southern California we’re enjoying a break from relatively cold weather. But in reality, we have
March 1, 2021
Published by Grace O
I met chef Mike Elmachtoub when someone recommended his catering company to me. I called Urban Crunch Meal Prep & Catering and ordered some pistachio-crusted salmon and filet mignon for my staff. The food was well received, so I began to order more and more from Urban Crunch. Chef and owner Mike and I got to talking about his upbringing in Lebanon and how his father owned multiple restaurants all over the world. Mike knew he wanted to be in the restaurant business himself, so he studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. (He’s lived in the U.S. […]
February 19, 2021
Published by Grace O
Chinese New Year is a very important holiday for me. Although I was born and raised in Southeast Asia, my father