Age GracefullyPasture Prime: The Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef
I love good-quality beef, particularly grass-fed beef. In fact, when I think of typical American food, I think of steaks, hamburgers, roast beef and more. In the Philippines, where diets consist mostly of fish, pork and chicken, I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where we had access to beef. As a child, hamburgers and steaks were among my favorite foods. As I got older, I began to limit how much and how often I ate beef. Today, I restrict my meat eating to grass-fed, organic beef. Besides being delicious and versatile, beef is a powerhouse of […]READ MORE
July 30, 2024
Published by Grace O
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 […]
Do you like it?
July 14, 2024
Published by Grace O
When I was in Italy not long ago, the tomatoes were so incredibly fresh and sweet, that I looked forward to finding tomatoes like that at home in Los Angeles. Now that it’s summer, it’s the perfect time to look for tomatoes at local farmers markets to see what’s organic, fresh and in season. I am always drawn to the variety of tomatoes that are available in the summer. The flavor is nothing like those pale, sad things you see in the supermarket in February. During the summer I’m inspired to use tomatoes in just about everything from appetizers and […]
Do you like it?
July 14, 2024
Published by Grace O
When pollen is flying through the air on a summer breeze, foods that reduce allergy symptoms can be a lifesaver. I immediately head to my kitchen to make my Apple Barley Salad. Eating specific compounds—such as the FoodTrients omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, gingerol, oleuropein, and quercitin, as well as probiotics—go a long way toward reducing the swelling of nasal passages and the production of antihistamines. The old adage about an apple a day is really true for allergy sufferers. Apples contain quercitin, which supports the immune system, reduces inflammation, and may reduce allergic sensitivity. Quercitin is found not only in […]
Do you like it?
July 2, 2024
Published by Grace O
When it comes to a small but mighty summer fruit, it’s hard to beat blueberries. Is there anything more simple and delicious? You can eat them plain by the handful or add them to smoothies, yogurt, whole-grain cereals, pancakes, desserts, you name it. Growing up in the Philippines, we had blueberries, but they were a rare treat, so I appreciate the abundance of fresh berries available here in California. Native to North America and now cultivated widely in Chile and New Zealand as well, blueberries are an undisputed “superfood.” They are high on any list of foods that do so […]
Do you like it?
July 2, 2024
Published by Grace O
Antioxidants are one of our body’s best weapons when it comes to aging, because they fight aging at a cellular level and help keep cells from “rusting.” Antioxidants slow down aging because they reduce the amount of oxidative stress, which is the result of cells doing what they should do– creating energy, detoxifying the body, digesting food, breathing, thinking, or exercising. This work can generate byproducts like free radicals, which are unstable molecules that start oxidation. You need some free radicals to stimulate important physiological processes, such as helping the immune system function correctly and stimulating cellular pathways. However, when […]
Do you like it?
June 17, 2024
Published by Grace O
When mangosteens are in season, from May to September, I can’t wait to get my hands on some to eat fresh and in my delicious chutney. I know that these exotic treats, sometimes called purple mangosteen, will soon be gone. These beautiful little fruits are about the size of a baseball. Dark purple in color, they have a tough outer shell. The top is crowned with small green leaves and the bottom is stamped with a flowerlike shape. They almost look manufactured, but this is how God makes them. You have to carefully cut a line around the tough outer pericarp—the […]
Do you like it?
June 17, 2024
Published by Grace O
I’ve written about Mediterranean cuisine and the Mediterranean diet before. But it’s worth writing about again because it’s so delicious and so good for you! Cardiologists recommend a Mediterranean diet with its healthy fats, lean proteins and whole grains for weight control and a healthy heart. If there is one word that most defines the cuisines of the Mediterranean, it’s VEGETABLES! Sure, there’s plenty of meat, chicken, seafood and fruit, but the basis is an abundance of vegetables and creative ways to enjoy them. When describing a Mediterranean diet, we’re talking about the cuisines of Southern Europe—France, Spain, Italy, Greece, […]
Do you like it?
June 1, 2024
Published by Grace O
Even if you don’t consider yourself an athlete or body-builder—as I certainly do not—you should be concerned with muscle health. Skeletal muscles are the tissues that enable your body to move, whether it’s gardening, a stroll in the park or a triathlon. Smooth or visceral muscles are the ones that line the stomach, intestines and blood vessels. And keep in mind that the all-important heart is made up of specialized cardiac muscle that must work continuously without a break our whole lives. In total, muscles account for about half your body weight. That’s a lot of mass to keep healthy […]
Do you like it?
June 1, 2024
Published by Grace O
Gut health refers to the overall wellness of your digestive system, particularly the balance and function of the microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. Did you know that your digestive system is a whole plant/animal kingdom of its own? The GI tract is a complex system responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste from the body. It’s inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiota or gut microbiome. Chew on this: There are more microbes in your digestive system than there are cells in your body! It’s estimated that […]
Do you like it?
May 20, 2024
Published by Grace O
One of our FoodTrients® team members, Amy Sawelson Landes, recently spent a week in Mexico City. You wouldn’t necessarily think of Mexico as a place to find foods that add to your health and quality of life, but you’d be wrong! Most of us think of Mexican food as those combo platters oozing with cheese, rice, beans, and fried taco shells. Delicious, yes, but not as a steady diet and certainly not what we aim for at FoodTrients. Mexico City is a huge cosmopolitan metropolis. You can find almost any cuisine there. Mexico City residents seem to be especially fond […]
Do you like it?
May 20, 2024
Published by Grace O
Cultivating grains is what changed our Neolithic ancestors from hunter-gatherers to an agrarian society about 10,000 years ago. In the grass family of plants, grains are a part of the human diet all over the world, providing complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. I’ve put together a list of grains, some of which you may have heard of and some that may be completely new to you. Among them are ancient grains that people are rediscovering and incorporating into meals in creative and tasty ways. Characteristically, these grains are unrefined, have a firmer texture and more flavor than highly processed […]
Do you like it?
May 7, 2024
Published by Grace O
You may have decided that quinoa is ‘soooo 2016.’ Yes, it’s a healthful grain from Peru that was all the rage a few years ago, and rightfully so. It’s versatile, nutritious and contains twice the protein of white rice, and it’s gluten free. If you really want to be on the cutting edge when it comes to grains, try fonio. It’s an ancient grain that’s been cultivated in West Africa for thousands of years. The plant itself is extremely drought-tolerant and sustainable. With grains the color and texture of fine sand, it’s known as ‘The Seed of the Universe, the […]
Do you like it?
May 7, 2024
Published by Grace O
Okinawa is in the southern-most prefecture of Japan, straddling the East China and the Philippine Seas. With its white, tropical beaches and turquoise waters, it’s not what you usually imagine when you think of Japan. Besides being known as the location of a U.S. Army base, Okinawa is one of the five ‘Blue Zones’ described by journalist, author and National Geographic fellow, Dan Buettner. These are five populations throughout the world with unusually high numbers of individuals who live happier, healthier lives, often to one hundred and beyond. In a nutshell, what these societies have in common is they: 1. […]
Do you like it?