June 6, 2021

Cinnamon Could Stop Parkinson’s In Its Tracks

An article appearing recently in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology indicates that cinnamon could one day be used by Parkinson’s disease patients to prevent the disease from progressing. Saurabh Khasnavis and Kalipada Pahan, PhD, of Rush University Medical Center studied the effects of the spice in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. They found that when cinnamon is metabolized into sodium benzoate in the blood and brain, the loss of beneficial proteins known as Parkin and DJ-1 is halted, while neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is reduced in Parkinson’s, are protected. Motor function, which can be significantly impaired by the disease, was […]
May 11, 2021

Flavors of Spain Will Spice Up Your Health

Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we take a look at the flavors of Spain as part of our new series on the world of foods, herbs and spices that help create some of the distinctive dishes we have featured, and the age-defying benefits they deliver. Due to its location, Spain has a variety of cultural influences from Greece, Northern Europe, Italy, and Northern Africa, which are responsible for introducing foods such as olives, wine, meat pie, stews, and honey to Spain’s cuisine. Fish and other seafood are considered […]
May 11, 2021

German Spices Are Different and Diverse

Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we introduce another in our series on the world of herbs, spices and ingredients that help create some of the distinctive dishes we have featured and the age-defying benefits they deliver. The cuisine in Germany is different than any other culture yet shares roots with many given the diversity of the region. Broken up into a number of regional cuisines based on topography and history, food preservation such as fermentation, salting, smoking, and pickling is popular in Germany. A traditionally meat-heavy culture, herbs and […]
May 11, 2021

EWG Releases Dirty Dozen 2021 Pesticide Guide

Collard and mustard greens join kale among the most pesticide-contaminated fresh produce on the Environmental Working Group’s 2021 Dirty Dozen™ list. For the first time, bell peppers and hot peppers have made the list. The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen™ together make up EWG’s annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, which analyzes Department of Agriculture test data to identify which fresh fruits and vegetables are most and least contaminated with pesticide residues. “Whether organic or conventionally grown, fruits and vegetables are critical components of a healthy diet,” said EWG toxicologist Thomas Galligan, Ph.D. “We urge consumers who are […]
May 6, 2021

Meet the Savory Spices of Russia & Eastern Europe

Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we introduce another in our series on the world of herbs, spices and ingredients that help create some of the distinctive dishes we have featured and the age-defying benefits they deliver. You’ll find Russian cuisine influencing parts of Eastern Europe, and vice versa, as savory flavors like cabbage, beets, caraway, dill and sorrel migrate as borders have changed and people have moved and spread throughout the area over time. Russian cuisine influence can be seen in Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, and into the Baltic […]
April 26, 2021

Meet the Age-Defying Spices of Sardinia, Italy

Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we take a look at the flavors of Sardinia, Italy as part of our new series on the world of foods, herbs and spices that help create some of distinctive dishes we have featured, and the age-defying benefits they deliver. An island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is known as a ‘blue zone’; a community which is home to some of the oldest living people in the world. Lifestyle factors like physical activity and social support as well as diet […]
April 13, 2021

Raw Food Recipes That Taste Good Too!

If you’ve thought about becoming a raw foodist, you might be interested in knowing more about how raw foods are prepared and what constitutes a raw food diet.   Basically the principle behind eating raw foods is that uncooked and unprocessed foods are healthier for you than foods that are cooked or dead. Although there are many schools of thought around what is the healthiest diet, raw foodists are totally convinced that eating raw food reduces the risk of cancer and other deadly diseases.   Research supports the notion that a plant-based diet, among other health benefits, lowers cholesterol and helps in glucose level […]
April 13, 2021

Spices of the World: Ikaria, Greece

Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we introduce a new series on the world of herbs, spices and ingredients that help create some of distinctive dishes we have featured and the age-defying benefits they deliver. Ikaria is a beautiful Greek island located in the Aegean Sea and is known as a ‘blue zone’ due to many residents living well into their 90s. Cases of dementia almost non-existent. Often relying on only what can be grown at home, Ikarians consume diets high in fruits and vegetables, drink goat milk and […]
March 30, 2021

Herb and Goat Cheese Crustless Quiches

Thyme’s vibrant flavor enhances mild goat cheese and eggs and aromatically complements parsley’s steady flavor.  Make these easy, egg-based bites up to three days in advance, and store in the fridge for a quick power breakfast on busy days. Ingredients 1 shallot 1 cup packed and shredded baby spinach or kale ½ cup lightly packed, minced fresh parsley 2 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves 8 eggs ½ cup crumbled goat cheese ½ cup low-fat (1 percent) cottage cheese ⅓ cup cornmeal ½ tsp. salt Procedure Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and grease a standard muffin tin with cooking spray. Chop shallot, […]