HealthYour Gut Loves Variety—Why Whole Grains Belong on Your Plate
Last week, we explored the simple challenge of eating 30 different plant foods each week to support a healthy gut microbiome. The wonderful thing about this challenge is that it doesn’t have to be complicated—every fruit, vegetable, herb, spice, bean, nut, seed, and whole grain counts. This week, I’d like to shine a spotlight on one of my favorite food groups for gut health: whole grains. When I visit my local farmers market during the summer, I’m always inspired by the colorful produce that fills every stand. Fresh kale, sweet peppers, mushrooms, herbs, and crisp vegetables remind me that the […]READ MORE
October 25, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
Bone health is an under-appreciated aspect of beauty, longevity and living a vibrant life. Often, adults aren’t tested for bone density until they’re at an older age when the state of our bones should be top of mind early on. Bone loss including osteoporosis affects men and women and leads to fractures and other health problems. Foods that contain certain minerals including calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K have proven critical for optimizing bone health long-term which is why these foods top the list of 50 foods critical for bone health. This is an important focus starting…now! 1. […]
September 23, 2025
Published by FoodTrients
Happiness is not about wishful thinking, good luck, or avoiding negative thoughts. In fact, the only path to true happiness requires seeing challenges as opportunities and discovering emotional strength during times of struggle. In other words, it’s about resilience. Resilience is a quality most of us want to possess. The big issue is that no one knows how to access it in their day-to-day life. We understand that it’s important, that it’s crucial even, but it seems like an ephemeral thing that you either have or you don’t. How we actually attain the skills to become resilient has been left […]
August 12, 2025
Published by Grace O
Let’s just start by saying that in summer, just about ALL fruits and vegetables are at their peak. With all the rain we had in California last winter, the quality of the local produce is more spectacular than usual. The summer months are the best time of year for enjoying produce prepared in the simplest methods. These fruits and vegetables are not only refreshing and delicious during hot summer days but also often have high water content, which can help keep you hydrated. Remember to choose fresh, locally sourced produce whenever possible for the best flavor and nutritional value. Tomato […]
August 12, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
It may seem counterintuitive that eating certain foods can support weight loss but studies have shown a link between some types of foods and better weight management. For example, high fiber foods including whole grains, fruit, vegetables and nuts have been associated with lower body mass index (BMI) in large human studies. A feeling of fullness and concentrated nutrients in these foods may be part of the connection to a reduced BMI, smaller waist circumference and reduced risk of being overweight. It should be noted that simply increasing the amount of any of these foods listed below will not in […]
July 7, 2025
Published by Dr. Mark Rosenberg
Now that you’re older, are you having a hard time tolerating summer heat? Especially when the humidity is high? Well, a new study shows that supplementing with a certain vitamin may be what you need to feel better in summer heat. Folic Acid Helps Older People Tolerate Summer Heat When you were a kid you could probably handle summer heat pretty well. You stayed out playing all day with your friends without a second thought. But, after age 50, you may have noticed that you don’t tolerate summer heat, especially high humidity, the way you used to. In addition, summer […]
July 7, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
Liver disease is more common than you may realize and has many negative health effects to be aware of. In the United States, about 4.5 million adults live with chronic liver disease including hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Having high blood pressure, uncontrolled blood sugar, a high body mass index (BMI), and excessive alcohol intake can all increase your risk but the good news is — there’s a lot you can do to support your liver, too. Herbs and foods that support or protect the liver do so mainly by […]
July 6, 2025
Published by Life Extension
Most of us are aware that protein is the building block for muscles. However, not everyone is aware that protein is made up of various amino acids, all of which have special functions in the body. Adding to the confusion, there are also many types of protein to chose from (whey, egg, brown rice, pea, soy, hemp, etc.) – all of which have different amino acid profiles. There are 21 standard amino acids, of which nine are considered essential in humans. Essential amino acids can’t be made by the body like other amino acids are, so you need to get […]
May 30, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
Summer is a great time for gardening and boosting anti-inflammatory foods that you grow on your own. Get strategic about which plants you want in your garden this year by including some beautiful aromatic culinary herbs. The top 10 medicinal herbs below can help you add more flavor to your cooking and also offer many health benefits. Some of the top health benefits you can gain by using more herbs include: reduce salt in your cooking while still including lots of flavor blood pressure control benefits (herbs are often high in potassium) boost potent antioxidants that can help calm inflammation […]
May 30, 2025
Published by FoodTrients
Looking for books on essential oils and aromatherapy? Completely updated, the best book on the topic available anywhere has just gotten better. The new edition of The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy contains more than 800 easy-to-follow recipes for essential oil treatments from author Valerie Ann Worwood, a consultant and international expert on the clinical uses of essential oils. Explore the multitude of benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy. In her clear and positive voice, Worwood provides tools to address a variety of health issues, including specific advice for children, women, men, and seniors. This aromatherapy book also […]
May 16, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
Natural Pain Relief: What to Try Before OTC Medications. When it comes to managing pain, many people instinctively reach for over-the-counter (OTC) medications or even pharmaceuticals. However, several natural remedies can provide effective relief for different types of pain – think back pain, headaches, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. These approaches are gentle on the body and can provide other benefits to the body as well. They can be used to prevent inflammation and pain from occurring in the first place and set you up for healthy, balancing habits that enhance your life. This is the FoodTrients® guide to natural […]
May 15, 2025
Published by Angela Pettera
“Few things on earth are as misunderstood as women, food, and hormones,” writes Sara Gottfried, MD, the director of precision medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and the clinical assistant professor of integrative medicine and nutritional sciences at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Gottfried is also the author of Women, Food, and Hormones: A Four-Week Plan to Achieve Hormonal Balance, Lose Weight, and Feel Like Yourself Again. She has a deeply personal interest in her subject: “I come to this topic as a doctor and scientist, but also as a case study […]
May 12, 2025
Published by FoodTrients
Forget everything you think you know about your body and food and discover the new science of how the body heals itself. Learn how to identify the strategies and the dosages for using food to transform your resilience and health in Eat to Beat Disease: The Body’s Five Defense Systems & the Foods That Could Save Your Life by William Li, M.D. We have radically underestimated our body’s power to transform and restore our health. Pioneering physician scientist, Dr. Li, empowers readers by showing them the evidence behind over 200 health-boosting foods that can starve cancer, reduce your risk of […]
May 12, 2025
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
Interested in how essential oils could enhance your life? Whether you’re a seasoned essential oil user or a novice, these health-promoting aromas have gained a lot of recognition as people turn to them to treat a variety of ailments, mental health and sleep concerns, and to replace fragrances and conventional home and body care products. Essential oils are produced by steam distillation or cold pressing to capture the aromatic (“volatile”) compounds in plants that give them their characteristic scent. They can be used for aromatherapy by inhaling the scents with a diffuser or by applying directly to the skin. Because […]