• Health

    Fermented Foods: From Tradition to Trend

    Where delicious meets nutritious. Long before fermented foods became a wellness trend, they were simply part of life in my family’s kitchen. When I was a teenager in the Philippines, my mother and I made atchara together—a sweet-and-sour relish traditionally made with green, unripe papaya and colorful vegetables. We would grate the papaya into long, thin strips, add carrots and other vegetables for color and crunch, and prepare a tangy mixture with vinegar, ginger, garlic, and a little sweetness. I can still remember working beside her in the kitchen.  We made sweet and salty pickled cucumbers, too. And because German […]
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June 12, 2018
Published by FoodTrients

Can We Change Our Minds About Psychedelics?

New York Times bestselling author Michael Pollan was in Pasadena last week to discuss his latest book, How To Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Sponsored by Vroman’s bookstore, Pollan spoke to a full house at All Saints Church. His talk was moderated by author Michael Haskell Smith. Pollan, named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2010, is the author of seven previous books, including Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all New […]
June 12, 2018
Published by FoodTrients

Depressed? Here’s What To Do Now

If you need help finding a therapist or someone to talk to about depression, these resources can help: If you are feeling depressed… Seek help. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (suicidepreventionlifeline.org). Let those closest to you know. Point them to more information to help them better understand what you are going through. Get enough sleep. When you’re stressed, your body needs additional rest. Insomnia is often a symptom of depression, so talk to your health provider about natural sleep remedies. Take a time-out. In addition to a treatment plan, do what relaxes you, whether it’s yoga, […]
June 12, 2018
Published by FoodTrients

5 Health-Boosting Benefits of Amino Acids

The term amino acid might sound a bit strange, but the definition is straightforward: Strands of these molecules form the building blocks of protein. When you digest protein, your body breaks it down into individual amino acids and then reconstitutes them as needed. Amino acid supplements are most often associated with bodybuilders. After all, muscle consists of protein, and amino acids do help build muscle, and not just in young men. But individual amino acids also serve a variety of health-promoting roles in the body. For example, they can influence mood, reduce stress and boost immunity. As a consequence, shoppers […]
June 5, 2018
Published by FoodTrients

Tips for Slimming Down & Staying Healthy

By Jessie Shafer, RD Rather than relying on willpower alone, improve the healthfulness of your dwelling space, starting with your kitchen and living room. Slim meal strategies If you keep a produce bowl on your kitchen counter, research shows you’ll weigh an average of 13 pounds less than people who don’t. Brian Wansink, professor and director of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, shares this tip and more in his book Slim by Design (HarperCollins, 2013). He also recommends downsizing your plates. By using a smaller plate, you’ll serve yourself 22 percent less food and still get full. Another tip: Keep serving […]
June 5, 2018
Published by Life Extension

The Power of Calcium

Of all of the minerals required by your body, its need for calcium is the greatest. Interestingly, calcium is the fifth most abundant mineral in the human body and in the earth’s crust. Calcium, an electrolyte, is best known for its role in bone health, but it’s also necessary for circulation, nerve transmission, hormonal secretion and muscle function. For these processes, only a small amount of calcium is needed, and it’s obtained from your body’s largest reservoir: bone. You Really Do Need Calcium for Your Bones Calcium is a major component of bones and teeth. A deficiency can result in osteopenia […]
May 22, 2018
Published by Life Extension

Coffee May Actually Help Prevent Arrhythmia

Contrary to common belief, coffee does not increase abnormal heart rhythms known as arrhythmias but, rather, helps prevent them, according to a review published in the April 2018 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical Electrophysiology. “There is a public perception, often based on anecdotal experience, that caffeine is a common acute trigger for heart rhythm problems,” stated lead author Peter Kistler, MBBS, PhD, of Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia. “Our extensive review of the medical literature suggests this is not the case.” One cup of coffee contains an average of 95 milligrams of caffeine. […]
May 22, 2018
Published by FoodTrients

7 Things to Know Before Starting Ketogenic Diet

The Ketogenic Diet, more commonly referred to as Keto, is quickly gaining popularity among the health and wellness community. The Keto Diet involves a dramatic reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates while simultaneously increasing the amount of dietary fat a person consumes. This combination shifts the body’s metabolism away from burning carbohydrates and sugar for it main source of energy and instead uses fat for fuel. Once this stage has been reached, a person is in “Ketosis,” due to the ketones produced by the liver, hence the “Keto” diet.  If you are thinking of trying the Keto diet for yourself, […]
May 22, 2018
Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO

Calendula: The Secret Life of Marigolds

You may see it listed on labels as calendula but better recognize its common name: marigold. These decorative yellow and orange annual flowers are native to Asia and southern Europe. They have a history of medicinal use and calendula is the common name found in supplement form.  The main active components that may be health promoting in calendula are antioxidant triterpenoids and flavonoids. In a lab setting, calendula has shown antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral effects. This extract can lower blood pressure as well as blood sugar. It is sedative and aids in wound healing when applied topically. Preparations […]
May 22, 2018
Published by Life Extension

Pro-Veggie Diets Prevent Heart Attacks

There’s an endless debate about eating meat, especially when it relates to the risk of heart disease. Some people advocate a meat-based diet, while others avoid it at all costs. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle. A pro-veggie diet, in which plants make up 70% or more of the meals, may be the answer. A recent study showed that it dramatically reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Pro-Veggie Diet Reduces Heart Attack and Stroke Risk by 20% In the study, researchers from the American Heart Association analyzed the diet of 451,256 Europeans. They also collected information on height, […]
May 15, 2018
Published by Dr. Mark Rosenberg

Bring On the ‘Good’ Bacteria

Doctors often need to give patients advice on their diets. I have talked with countless patients who are confused about the huge amount of information on what will keep you healthy, what will keep you thin, and what will keep you young. Furthermore, the latest news about healthy eating often changes from year to year and even month to month. To make life easier for my patients, I follow the latest research in nutrition and healthy eating. One food that consistently makes headlines has actually been around for hundreds of years. I am talking about kefir, the cultured milk beverage. […]