October 3, 2016

Reduce Heart Attacks By Eating Dinner Earlier

Q: Our family tends to eat dinner later in the evening, but a friend who knows our habits told me she heard this increases the chances for a heart attack. Is she right or did she misunderstand something? Theresa Schulte, of O’Fallon A: Eating a major meal within two hours of bedtime could indeed have far worse consequences than a midnight run for the Rolaids, according to a new study recently released at the world’s largest heart conference. Blood pressure usually drops by at least 10 percent when a person goes to sleep, allowing the body to rest. But this […]
September 27, 2016

It’s Not a Felon To Love Bitter Melon

Even though I can stop into Asian or Latino markets on any corner in Los Angeles and find fresh bitter melon or soursop, I know that most people across the country aren’t so lucky. For them, I recommend visiting melissas.com, an exotic produce company which will ship fresh and sometimes dried produce anywhere in the U.S. Melissa’s is also the largest distributor of specialty produce in the country. Bitter melon, which resembles a wrinkly, light-green cucumber, is something of an acquired taste. Soaking it in salted water to remove the bitterness is the first step in getting people to fall […]
September 22, 2016

Don’t Stress! Ashwagandha Is Here

Ashwagandha, a traditional Ayurvedic herb that is used for conditions ranging from arthritis and anxiety to liver disease and sleep issues, is trending strongly in the natural products market these days. I saw several foods and drinks with ashwagandha along with lots of new supplements at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim. Rebbl has a delicious Ashwagandha Chai drink that I love! The drinks are available at Whole Foods here in Southern California, but Rebbl has a Where To Buy map on their website. FoodTrients contributing writer and nutritionist Ginger Hultin interviewed one of the leading scientist who researched the […]
September 20, 2016

More Omega-3s in Organic Milk and Meat

Organic milk and meat pack about 50 percent more omega-3s than conventional milk and meat, according to a new study published in British Journal of Nutrition. In the biggest study of its kind, researchers from the U.K.’s Newcastle University systematically analyzed an international collection of 196 papers about milk and 67 papers about meat and found big differences in terms of nutritional components, especially in the fatty acid department. Why the difference? Researchers linked them to the cows’ outdoor grazing and low concentrate feeding, the diet prescribed by organic standards. Chris Seal, Professor of Food and Human Nutrition at Newcastle […]
September 4, 2016

Mediterranean Diet May Help Maintain Brain Health

Elderly people who follow a Mediterranean-style diet may benefit from better brain health and a lower risk for cognitive impairment later in life, according to a new US study. “It suggests that a healthy dietary pattern and specific dietary components have impact on biomarkers of brain pathology,” senior researcher Rosebud Roberts of the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Rochester, Minnesota, told Reuters Health by email. A Mediterranean-style diet includes fish, lean meat, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. The diet has been linked to better heart and bone health. Roberts and colleagues analyzed data from […]
August 8, 2016

The Ten “Super” Foods for a Well-stocked Kitchen

What is a “superfood”? Most doctors and nutritionists will say that there is no scientific definition of “superfood,” that it is a marketing buzzword applied to foods that are good for you. Functional medicine specialist Dr. Marsha Nunley, founder of H.E.A.L. Medical, agrees but says: “While it is true that there is no legal or medical specification for a ‘superfood,’ it is without question that there are foods that are high in healthful nutrients and adding them to your diet may reduce your risk of chronic disease and improve your overall health and well-being.” Superfoods are packed with combinations of […]
August 1, 2016

What Foods Can Help Us Detox Our Bodies?

We can overwhelm our liver and its ability to pull toxins out of our body; yeast and parasites can inhabit our bowels; and secondhand smoke and air pollution can affect our lungs. So, about once every few months, or whenever I’m not feeling well, I go on a detoxification regimen. I like to cleanse my whole system through herb-spiked liquids, healing foods, and nutritional supplements. Pure water may be the ultimate detoxifying flush for kidneys, liver, lungs, and bowels, but green tea is also excellent.  Here is a list of my top 10 favorite detoxing foods: Artichokes Daikon radish Chia […]
July 24, 2016

EWG Reveals 16,000 Foods That May Contain BPA

WASHINGTON––For consumers who want to avoid bisphenol A, EWG today unveiled an easily searchable database of more than 16,000 food and beverage items that may come in cans, bottles or jars containing the hormone-disrupting chemical, better known as BPA. The list was compiled from a little-known food industry inventory and is now available at EWG’s Food Scores database. BPA acts like estrogen in the body and is especially dangerous for pregnant women and children in critical stages of development. Independent scientific studies link it to cancer, infertility, diabetes, obesity and brain, nerve and heart disorders, and it’s just been listed […]
July 24, 2016

Fiber and Vitamin A May Prevent Peanut Allergies

The key to pumping up the immune system to prevent allergies could be as easy as eating a bowl of bran and dried apricots, researchers in Australia suggest after a recent study. Researchers at Monash University found in experiments with mice that increasing levels of dietary fiber and vitamin A may prevent or reduce allergies to things such as peanuts. The study suggests the immune system’s interaction with bacteria in the gut prevents allergic reactions, the researchers report, and that boosting gut bacteria using either prebiotics in the form of dietary changes or probiotics to encourage beneficial bacterial development could […]
July 18, 2016

4 Fantastic Superfoods to Embrace

By Jenna Blumenfeld These ingredients have been cropping up in unexpected places lately—and they’re packed with nutrients. Here’s how to take advantage of them in your diet. Dandelion. That scourge on your lawn is actually a nutrient-dense powerhouse. Just one cup of raw dandelion greens delivers high levels of vitamins A, C and K. Innovative brands are even incorporating bitter dandelion root into tea for liver and digestive support. Just don’t forage for dandelion greens if you live in an urban or suburban place—opt instead for pesticide-free organic varieties. Check out  Traditional Medicinals Organic EveryDay Detox Dandelion Hibiscus. This beautiful, […]
July 8, 2016

What Are Processed Foods Anyway?

We hear the term “processed foods” all of the time. “Don’t eat processed foods; eat whole foods” is what is commonly touted by nutritionists, fitness experts, and wellness coaches, including me. But, what are processed foods anyway? Technically, any food that has been changed from its natural state is a processed food. Read on for some critical distinctions you may not have considered that will help you pick the healthiest options for you and your family. Minimally Processed Foods Even fresh foods are processed. Let’s take lettuce, for example. There are two categories of lettuce: head lettuce and leaf lettuce. […]