Most Americans are probably familiar with chia pets—clay pots shaped like animals that you fill with chia seeds and water. The chia seeds sprout and grow green “fur” on the clay pot. Few people who own those chia pets, however, realize that chia seeds are not only edible—sprouted or not—but they’re also wonderful for your health. The ancient Aztecs of Mexico began eating unsprouted chia seeds over 500 years ago. In the Mayan language, “chia” means “strength.” The tiny seeds come in white or black varieties and are native to Mexico and Guatemala. Today, Mexicans drink chia frescas: chia seeds stirred […]
Your mother was right when she insisted you eat all your vegetables at dinnertime before moving on to dessert. Virtually every fruit and vegetable contains antioxidants. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans are so good for our bodies, because they contain a host of antioxidants that can be broken down into multiple categories. I thought it would be helpful to highlight a few of those subcategories here. Lycopene – found in tomatoes, lycopene is more bioavailable when cooked, which is why so many nutritionists recommend tomato paste or tomato sauce. Polyphenols -There are thousands of phenolic compounds in food including: […]
‘FoodTrients’ cookbook blends nutritional science and good taste LOS ANGELES – December 6, 2011 – A new cookbook takes a revolutionary approach to food, combining nutritional science and good taste in recipes designed to promote longevity, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. FoodTrients: Age-Defying Recipes for a Sustainable Life offers a collection of enticing and nourishing recipes based on “foodtrients” — 26 powerful nutrients that promote health, wellness and longevity. “Wholesome foods have nutrients, which I call FoodTrients®, that our bodies need,” says FoodTrients founder Grace Ouano (Grace O). “FoodTrients offer various benefits, from anti-inflammatory properties […]
I often have a discussion with my patients about the health of their colon. Why? Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed
Like many of my patients you may want to do your best for the health of your heart (and the rest of you) and yet may be confused about which foods are the best.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – James Revier, of San Jose, Calif., had no idea his heartburn was anything more than a nuisance until six years ago, when a piece of beef became logged in his esophagus and sent him to the emergency room. The on-call internist removed the meat and suggested Revier see a gastroenterologist for the lingering redness. It’s a good thing he did. Revier had developed Barrett’s esophagus, a condition caused by prolonged acid reflux. Over time, it produces cellular changes which can lead to adenocarcinoma, a type of esophageal cancer. “I’d had acid reflux for 15 years but […]
A good night’s sleep is one of the foundations of well-being. If you are battling an illness, sleep is your body’s time to repair and strengthen its defenses. If you are healthy, getting enough quality sleep helps to keep you feeling good and gives you the energy you need to tackle all the responsibilities of your busy life. One of the simplest tricks for improving sleep is modifying your diet. It couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is learn what foods help you sleep and what foods keep you from getting the rest you need. Foods […]
Researchers at the University of Iowa have found a positive effect for ursolic acid, found in apple peel, on preventing weight gain in mice. The findings were reported online on June 20, 2012 in the journal PLoS ONE. Associate professor of internal medicine Christopher Adams, MD, PhD and his colleagues fed mice a high fat diet and gave half of the animals ursolic acid for six weeks. Although the mice that received ursolic acid consumed more food than those that did not receive the compound, they gained less weight by the end of the treatment period. They also had greater skeletal […]
Several of my patients have rheumatoid arthritis. Most of them also have a little extra poundage than I would like them to have. Many of them feel that it’s been their aching joints that have kept them from exercising more and so they have gained weight. However, looking back at their records, in many cases their overweight preceded the onset of their RA by a few years. It had always been my suspicion that, like other diseases, their obesity had somehow contributed to the development of their condition. Now, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have backed up my suspicions. I’d […]
One of the concerning issues faced by people over-age 50 is the gradual loss of muscle mass that starts to speed up past this age. The big medical term for this muscle mass loss is sarcopenia and it only gets worse if you don’t take measures to fight it. One of these measures is a naturally occurring acid that I’d like to tell you about. Causes of Muscle Loss Did you know that people over the age of 30 begin to lose muscle mass? They can lose between 3% and 5% per decade. It speeds up after age 50 and people can lose between […]