Tapestry of Health: Weaving Wellness into Your Life Through the New Science of Integrative Medicine Daniel A. Monti, MD and Anthony J. Bazzan, MD artfully synthesizes the complex world of healthy living into a set of clear principles in guiding you to feel your best. This requires a healthcare approach that integrates all aspects of your well-being, including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social. Doctors Monti and Bazzan lay out how to gain and maintain long-term vitality by integrating practices from restorative medicine and nutritional science. They believe the parts cannot be well unless the whole is well. As clinical […]
When I was a teenager, my mom and I made atchara together. Atchara is a sweet-and-sour pickle made from green, unripe papayas and other vegetables. Eaten with grilled pork or fried fish, it’s considered the national dish of the Philippines (see our family recipe below). We also used to make our own pickled cucumbers—both the sweet kind and the salty kind. And because there were almost no German delis at the time, my mother fermented her own sauerkraut and grinding and stuffing her own sausages. Fermentation—the process of converting sugars into ethanol—has a long history. Because fermentation preserves food, people […]
The years after the age of 60 for women can bring about a renewed sense of self and the opportunity to focus more deeply on health and longevity. The post-menopausal years can be a time of vibrant health if women continue to prioritize their nutritional and fitness goals, staying informed about the evolving needs of their bodies. Physical activity, with a focus on strength, flexibility, and balance in addition to meeting changing nutrient needs are critical areas to consider. If you haven’t caught up yet on our women’s health series, be sure to read our Foodtrients® pieces about women in […]
Did you know that many mushrooms — some that you can find in the grocery store and others that come in medicinal/capsule form — can support your health in many ways? Mushrooms are often used for their well-known benefits to the immune system or for their anti-cancer effects but there’s emerging research about the power they hold for reducing risk or being part of the treatment plan for chronic diseases like cardiovascular problems, blood sugar balance, liver protection, brain health, and even as a treatment for allergies. Learn more about the incredible power that mushrooms have and how you might […]
In a world where more bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant and the population struggles with new, emerging viruses, individuals and researchers are looking to naturally occurring antimicrobial plants and extracts for insights into new ways to fight these dangerous bugs. While there are many situations where conventional antibiotics and medicine are necessary, there are also some ways to include essential oils as a complement or natural alternative. Research is still emerging on the effectiveness of essential oils for fighting bacteria, fungi, and viruses, so we’re highlighting our top 10 antiviral and antibacterial essential oils right here for you. As with […]
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications offer quick relief for mild to moderate pain, from headaches and menstrual cramps to muscle aches, joint, and back pain. While OTC medications may seem harmless because they’re so available, many may come with potential side effects that warrant caution and could have an impact on your health. Understanding these side effects can help you have better conversations with your medical care team as you decide together how and why you’re using pain relievers and considerations to keep in mind while doing so. Today, we’re breaking down what you need to know from a FoodTrients® perspective […]
Aging—not cancer or heart disease—is the underlying cause of most human death and suffering. Scientists work diligently to combat individual diseases, but we never ask: Is aging itself necessary? In Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old, computational biologist and gifted science writer Andrew Steele reveals an exciting effort by scientists to develop treatments for aging that could offer an astonishing extension to our lifespan and a vastly improved quality of life in our later years. In his new book, Steele charts the impressive progress scientists have made in recent years to secure biological immortality for humans […]
Controlling your weight isn’t about not eating. . . it’s about eating the right kinds of foods. Studies show us which foods people eat when they have successfully lost weight and kept it off long-term. It’s probably no surprise that these foods are rich in nutrients, low in calories, and high in fiber and water. If your goal is reaching or maintaining a healthy weight for your body, there is a lot you can do. Aside from meeting your physical activity needs, getting enough sleep and controlling your stress, here are the top 50 FoodTrients foods to help support your […]
A recent article titled, “Vitamin D regulates microbiome-dependent cancer immunity,” published April 25, 2024, in the journal Science, reported that vitamin D supports the growth of the intestinal bacterium Bacteroides fragilis in mice, which improved immunity to cancer. Bacteroides fragilis is also part of the human microbiome. It has been observed that the composition of the gut microbiome in people with cancer who respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies differs from that of nonresponsive patients. Less Tumor Growth in Mice Among numerous findings revealed by the current research, mice that were bred to have greater vitamin D availability showed improved […]
Ever wonder if all those too-good-to-be-true-sounding claims about apple cider vinegar (ACV) are true? Let’s break down the research! ACV is created from ripe, high-sugar apples that have undergone a fermentation process to convert the sugar to alcohol and then to acetic acid. Many of the health benefits of ACV are linked to the “mother” — a combination of yeast, probiotics, and enzymes created during the fermentation process. The “mother” is the cloud-like glob in the bottom of the bottle of many ACV bottles on the market. ACV has long been considered a cure-all in some traditional medicine circles, but […]










