Could you be low in essential vitamins and minerals? Learn how to spot nutrient shortfalls in your diet based on chronic symptoms. Symptom: Symmetric low-back pain. Possible deficiency: Vitamin D. Sun exposure generates less vitamin D in darker-skinned people and the elderly. Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency, too. What to eat: Salmon, egg yolks, vitamin D-fortified milk, and vitamin D-enhanced mushrooms. Supplement with: 6,000 IU vitamin D3 daily for eight weeks for deficiency, then 1,500−2,000 IU daily to maintain levels. Symptom: Swollen and/or bleeding gums. Possible deficiency: Vitamin C. About 6 percent of U.S. adults are […]
Antioxidants are one of the 8 age-defying benefits we look for in the foods we highlight in my cookbooks and on FoodTrients. My goal is to create delicious dishes packed with the nutrients that help us look and feel younger, and antioxidants are an important part of many of my recipes. So what exactly are antioxidants? Virtually every fruit and vegetable contains antioxidants, and antioxidants are powerful phytonutrients that help our bodies fight free radicals. Free radicals damage the body’s cells and are a major contributor to loss of cognitive function and the diseases of aging. When we eat antioxidant-rich […]
Willow bark has an important place in medicine and in human history. Known by many names– pussy willow, purple willow, black willow, it is traditionally used to reduce pain and fever and was the original source of salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) from which the drug was created in the 1800’s. The medicinal use of willow bark dates to 400 BC when people were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation in the body. Since then it has been used in many cultures for these purposes. Willow bark contains many benefits to the […]
Surprise mom with a beautiful breakfast! Three amazing dishes that can be served for breakfast or brunch that she will absolutely love! For those of us who grew up in Southeast Asia, big, savory breakfasts were the norm. A popular breakfast staple was smoked fish with scrambled eggs and tomato salad. Fried rice, fried eggs, sausages called longaniza (a bit like Spanish chorizo), and rice porridge with fish or meatballs were also regularly on the menu in most homes, but not in mine. My father, who was a physician and very health-conscious, always ate plain oatmeal, and he insisted we eat it, […]
Most nutritionists agree there is no one dietary pattern that’s ideal for everyone. In addition to your unique combination of genes, medical history, cultural and family background, taste preferences and daily living patterns, you apply your own set of values to your eating approach. Some people may focus on preventing or managing disease, others on protecting the environment, some on managing weight, others on enjoying what they eat and so on. Prioritizing what matters to you can help determine your eating style. The six dietary patterns discussed here have dominated headlines over the past few years. We’ve tapped nutrition experts […]
What if you could be fitter now than you were in your twenties? And what if you could achieve it while feeling more comfortable and confident in your body than ever before? On the eve of their 48th birthdays, authors Samantha Brennan and Tracy Isaacs set out to achieve a daunting feat: to become the fittest they’d ever been in their lives by the age of 50. To chart their progress, they created their blog Fit is a Feminist Issue, dedicated entirely to the unique challenges, questions, and issues they would face as women seeking fitness after the age 40. […]
You may have noticed food trend hibiscus popping up on local restaurant menus in the past couple of years. From hot and cold tea and infused beverages to being added to salads and even quesadillas and desserts, this beautiful purple edible flower also promises some interesting health benefits. You’ll commonly encounter hibiscus in warmer climates as it is native to Central and West Africa, India and Southeast Asia and the West Indies. Medicinally, hibiscus is used for: cardiovascular disease high blood pressure high cholesterol diabetes anxiety loss of appetite colds and upper respiratory tract infection urinary tract infections (UTIs) kidney […]
With all the stress we juggle—packed schedules, deadlines, work, family responsibilities, and everything in between—we could all use a little pick-me-up sometimes. It’s easy to reach for coffee or even a glass of wine, but both come with drawbacks that can mess with mood, energy, and mental clarity. When I need a little extra support to power through a busy day, calm my mind, or even get better sleep, I turn to something I trust: herbal tonics. These natural remedies have been used for centuries to restore balance, and they’ve become my go-to for staying energized and centered. Tonics Are […]
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 […]
On September 13 at 3:00 p.m., a benefit and Foodtrients tasting event for Bright Halls Foundation was held at the City Club Ballroom in Alphaland Makati City. Grace O (Ouano), the creator of FoodTrients, was honored to be invited back to her home city of Manila by the Bright Halls Children’s Foundation to launch her Age Beautifully Cookbook in the Philippines. Her cookbook, published by Skyhorse Publishing, is dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes. The cookbook is the winner of numerous awards including Gourmand’s International “Best in the World” Award for Innovation, the Independent Publishers Gold Award, and IPA’s Better […]