Age GracefullyThe First Taste of Fall: Apples & Pears
There’s always a moment when I realize fall has arrived. Here in Southern California, it isn’t necessarily because the temperature has dropped or the leaves have started changing. Sometimes, it’s simply walking through the market and seeing beautiful displays of crisp apples and ripe pears. To me, apples and pears are some of the first tastes of fall. I love them because they’re delicious just as they are, but they’re also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Slice them into a salad, pair them with nuts and cheese, cook them alongside a savory meal, or bake them with cinnamon and warm […]READ MORE
September 12, 2017
Published by Grace O
Chinese cuisine has long been recognized as one of the great world cuisines, up there with French and Italian. But much of the familiar Chinese food in the U.S. consists of many fried dishes that are often loaded with salt, sugar and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Tasty, yes. Superfoods? Hardly. The truth is, traditional Chinese cooking is based on many healthful ingredients that are certainly considered to be ‘superfoods.’ When I was in China recently, the FoodTrients team and I were delighted to sample a number of Chinese dishes from Yantai (in the picturesque agricultural and coastal area of the Shandong […]
August 15, 2017
Published by Grace O
When I was in China recently, I discovered a well-kept beauty secret of the elite – Jade Rollers. Jade rollers as beauty aids have been around since the 7th Century in China, but they are relatively new to the U.S. market. If you’ve stayed up too late, had a little too much to drink, or just had a stressful week, that can take a toll on your face. After long flights and time differences, I found myself struggling to get back on California time, and my face was puffy from losing sleep. When I tried my new jade roller, it […]
July 24, 2017
Published by Grace O
The dairy aisle used to be so simple—whole milk, low fat milk, non-fat milk, half and half, cream and maybe goat’s milk if it was a health food store. With the growing number of people with lactose intolerance, or those following a vegan diet, the consumption of plant-based ‘milks’ has been expanding by about 11 percent each year since 1999. Consumption of cow’s milk has declined by 25 percent since 1975, according to Cooking Light Magazine. Cow’s milk was for decades considered an almost perfect food with 8g protein, 460 mg potassium (13% of the RDA), 35% of the RDA […]
July 4, 2017
Published by Grace O
Strawberries are loaded with antioxidants, which help defend cell structures in the body and protect the body’s organs. Strawberries are second only to plums as the richest fruit in phenols and antioxidants, and are especially high in cancer- and heart disease-fighting flavonoids, quercetin, catechin, and kaempferol. Strawberries can offer enhanced protection against crippling inflammation-related diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Strawberries have shown an ability to inhibit tumor growth and to slow the progress of tumors as they begin to develop, according to a study using rats with esophageal cancer. In a study done by the Institute of Biochemistry in Ancona, Italy, researchers found that when […]
June 26, 2017
Published by Grace O
For those of us who grew up in Southeast Asia, big, savory breakfasts were the norm. A popular breakfast staple was smoked fish with scrambled eggs and tomato salad. Fried rice, fried eggs, sausages called longaniza (a bit like Spanish chorizo), and rice porridge with fish or meatballs were also regularly on the menu in most homes, but not in mine. My father, who was a physician and very health-conscious, always ate plain oatmeal, and he insisted we eat it, too, without berries, bananas or raisins. We reluctantly complied, but today I am grateful for all of my father’s health […]
May 29, 2017
Published by Grace O
Our Stone Age (Paleolithic) ancestors subsisted on whatever they could catch, gather, pluck or hunt. Animals that they caught for food were naturally grass fed, lean and high in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and cancer-fighting selenium, yet low in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. Much of today’s “factory farmed” animals for food are fed grain and pumped with antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones, all of which can be toxic in certain amounts. Eating wild game is a delicious experience. Meats like venison, elk, bison, wild boar, rabbit and ostrich are highly flavorful, lean and full of FoodTrients. Here are just […]
May 22, 2017
Published by Grace O
Fish and shellfish are great immune-boosting foods, so be sure to include lots of them during flu season and throughout the year when they are in season. Oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams contain significant amounts of the trace element, selenium, which is protective against cancer and helps white blood cells produce cytokines, proteins that help clear the body of flu viruses. Wild salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting the lungs from respiratory infections. Crab provides the selenium in this dish while garlic brings a host of impressive health benefits to […]
May 9, 2017
Published by Grace O
Protein is very important for strong muscles and bones. Lean protein helps achieve weight loss. I love meat—it has riboflavin, vitamin B12, tyrosine, and the FoodTrient zinc—but I enjoy it in moderation, which protects against cardiovascular disease. I also am careful about eating cured meats, which can aggravate joints and promote gout. Whenever possible, I use grass-fed beef over corn-fed beef because cows were created to eat grass, not corn. The meat from animals that graze grass—cows, lambs, or even buffalo—contains more of the good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids and less of the bad-for-you omega-6s. And I make sure I buy […]
May 2, 2017
Published by Grace O
To stay healthy, I eat moringa leaves almost every day. I put them on salads, in soups, casseroles, stir-fries, and other dishes. I also just eat the leaves sometimes. Many of my friends take moringa supplements because they know that moringa is a powerful immune booster. While few Americans have ever heard of the moringa oleifera plant, in Africa and Asia it’s a life-saver. It needs very little water to grow and its leaves offer a full complement of protein, minerals, and nutrients to both humans and cattle. When Africans cook with moringa, they throw the tiny leaves into soups […]
May 1, 2017
Published by Grace O
Serving and enjoying hot tea is a daily ritual in many countries. Most Brits wouldn’t dream of skipping their 4 p.m. cuppa. Good for them, because black tea contains the FoodTrient catechins, as well as flavonoids, theaflavins, and magnesium. These antioxidants help reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attack by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. They protect against certain cancers, help prevent dental cavities, and enhance weight loss by stimulating metabolism. The compounds in black tea also improve blood flow (by strengthening blood-vessel walls), lower blood pressure, and promote artery health while reducing the risk of blood clots. The caffeine in black […]
April 17, 2017
Published by Grace O
If it’s March, it must be time for Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA. Billed rightfully as, “the the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products event.” Along with the FoodTrients team, I once again took to the miles of aisles and the more than a million square feet of exhibit space at the Anaheim Convention Center to find the most significant trends. This year’s show was the biggest in the 37-year history of the Natural Products Expo—estimates of 82,000 to 85,000 attendees (vs. 77,000 last year) and 3,100 exhibitors, including 500 newcomers. As overwhelming as these numbers can […]
January 31, 2017
Published by Grace O
Update: May 27, 2017 The Age Beautifully Cookbook brings home “The Best in the World” award by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards! The Gourmand International Cookbook Awards have been called the “Oscars” of the food world, and we are pleased to announce that Grace O’s The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World earlier this year won the National Award in the INNOVATIVE category for this year’s competition and now has been awarded, “The Best in the World” by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2017! The Age Beautifully Cookbook was also awarded Gold in the Specialty Cookbook category […]
January 10, 2017
Published by Grace O
Check out these top 5 anti-aging foods that can make you look and feel more vibrant today as FoodTrients discusses why you should incorporate them into your diet. PINK GRAPEFRUIT – A Superfood and Anti-Aging Hero Grapefruit is a go-to fruit for me, and I love to put pink grapefruit in my Spinach and Grapefruit Salad (featured in The Age GRACEfully Cookbook). All citrus contains antioxidants, fiber and anti-aging compounds like vitamin C but pink grapefruit has some special benefits to offer. Antioxidant (Ao) spermidine has shown positive results in some animal studies for longevity and in support of healthy […]