The gluten-free diet has been widely adopted by people that don’t have celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Why? Well, in many cases there is a good reason to try it out, but there are also many misperceptions that lead people down the wrong path. Can eating gluten-free really make you lose weight? Are all of the processed gluten-free foods healthy, and, are they healthier because they don’t have gluten? Why are gluten-free items located in the “health food” section of my grocery store? There’s certainly a lot to discuss, so let’s look at these questions and more. I can still […]
Would you stay on a calorie/carbohydrate-controlled diet if I told you it would add decades of youthful living to your life? Not only would you live longer, but you’d live in good health without the typical diseases and conditions of aging. Or would you say, to heck with it, I don’t care if I live to 100, I want to have my cake and eat it too? I bet if I took a survey of my patients and my readers, most of them would opt for the latter. They’d want to eat their cake and enjoy it for as long […]
You can have all the strategies in the world to reach your health and fitness goals, but without two key elements, attaining those goals will be difficult, if not impossible. The missing pieces of the puzzle? Inspiration and motivation. The two words get used interchangeably and although they’re connected, the two are different. “Inspiration is the match that lights you up, while motivation is the fuel that keeps the flame going,” says Amy Charland, wellness coach with the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Take, for instance, Charly Laura Rok (left), 51, a publicist in New York City. […]
If it’s early March, you’ll find the FoodTrients team trolling the endless aisles of the Anaheim Convention Center near Disneyland for the latest in the world of food, beauty products and health and wellness. This is the 39th year for this annual event showcasing over 3600 exhibitors, of which 600 were there for the first time. These consist of manufacturers, marketers, and entrepreneurs of all stripes from companies as large as General Mills to a local couple perfecting organic peanut butter. They are all vying for the attention of 86,000 attendees, making Natural Products Expo West the world’s largest natural, […]
A study reported on January 9, 2019 in the journal Nutrients revealed a protective role for supplementation with vitamin C, a well known antioxidant, in mice exposed to D-galactose, a sugar that occurs in some foods which has been shown to induce brain aging via the accumulation of oxidative stress. One hundred-eight mice were divided to receive subcutaneous D-galactose or no D-galactose for 10 weeks. Beginning in the seventh week, half of the animals in each group were given a high oral dose of vitamin C for four weeks. While mice that received D-galactose experienced a reduction in cognitive function and decreased neurogenesis in […]
Imagine waking up feeling refreshed, strong, and vibrant, with your hormones in balance and your body nourished, stable, and supported on both the emotional and physical levels. For the millions who are grappling with rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, type one diabetes, and numerous other autoimmune conditions, this vision seems so distant from the daily reality that it seems an impossibility. In spite of increasing knowledge and awareness, the causes and effects of autoimmune conditions are often misunderstood, and the connection between inner well-being and physical health is not fully explored. As an acupuncturist and herbalist with over […]
Swap traditional pumpkin pie for these pumpkin bars with a gluten-free crust. They’ll be a hit throughout the fall and winter holidays. Ingredients FOR THE CRUST 1¼ cups gluten-free rolled oats ½ cup pecan pieces ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice ¼ tsp. fine salt 5 ounces medjool dates, pitted and chopped (about ¾ cup) 3 Tbs. coconut oil, room temperature 1 Tbs. maple syrup ½ tsp. grated orange zest FOR THE FILLING ½ cup maple syrup 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée ⅓ cup whole-milk plain yogurt 2 eggs (beaten) 1¾ tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1½ tsp. vanilla extract ¼ t […]
It’s the perfect time of year for these gluten-free apple cider cupcakes, which are a treat full of nostalgic fall flavors that will have you reminiscing of your favorite harvest memories. They are a hit with kids and adults and, believe me, nobody would ever know they are gluten free. Ingredients: 1 (15-ounce) bag gluten-free yellow cake mix (TRY: Glutino or King Arthur)* ¼ cup butter (melted) 2 eggs 1 Tbs. ground cinnamon ⅔ cup real apple cider (not from concentrate) CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ⅓ cup real apple cider 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, room […]
If eyes are the windows to the soul (and an excellent indicator of overall health) there’s good reason to make sure they’re looking vibrant and healthy this season. And with abundant holiday stressors—plus potentially scant shut-eye—it’s even more important than ever to care for your peepers. Luckily, DIY tricks and natural ingredients can smooth out lines, calm puffiness and tackle the dreaded dark circles, according to Sunny Subramanian, coauthor of The Compassionate Chick’s Guide to DIY Beauty (Robert Rose, 2016). Take a peek. PUFFINESS, REDNESS The Cause: There is a range of reasons you may experience unsightly red or swollen areas around the […]
Look in the mirror ten years from now, and the reflection will appear different than it does today. But a variety of factors can shape exactly how that face staring back at you looks in a decade … or two … or three. Although there certainly is a science to how and why we age, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling common signs of the aging process. Even so, lifestyle, supplement and natural beauty practices really can support healthy aging. According to a study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, poor habits like too much sun exposure and smoking […]