More than just flavor enhancers, many common spices do a lot more for your health than you probably think . In fact, a recent study showed a specific spice blend actually lowered triglycerides — a risk factor for heart disease. The results were published in the journal Nutrition Today. Below, we’ll explore the study and its potential implications. Spice Blend Lowers Triglyceride Levels by 31% Researchers from Penn State wanted to investigate the role of spices on heart health. They also reviewed previous studies showing the cardiac benefits of garlic and cinnamon. For the study, they recruited six overweight men between the ages of 30 to […]
Valentine’s Day brings warmth and joy to the often gloomy month of February. And let’s be honest—what’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate? As a child, I cherished the rare occasions when my parents treated me to American-made chocolates as a special reward, making each bite even more delightful. Later in life, my husband won my heart with roses and decadent chocolates on this romantic holiday. It’s no surprise that chocolate has become synonymous with love! The great news is that chocolate is an honest-to-goodness FoodTrient! Dark chocolate is loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and even some fiber. Sugar, butter, milk and admittedly other […]
I make a point to read a lot of research findings on many common foods and nutritional products that will boost heart health. But, many people don’t know that your heart health is directly linked to your brain health. As such, I came across the findings of a recent study that showed that a common food already found to boost heart health a few years ago is now being credited for improving brain health – specifically memory. Let me tell you about it. The Heart Doctor’s Rx for Good Brain Health It’s generally accepted amongst doctors and medical researchers that […]
It’s often alleged that Colorado sees 300 days of sunshine every year. While some will nitpick that number, we all know there is a splendid amount of sunshine in our beloved Centennial State. But there’s a steep price to pay for all of that sunshine, including skin cancer and skin aging. The UVA and UVB rays are to blame, as they can cause the formation of free radicals, a term used to describe damaged cells that can be problematic. “Sun is good,” said Judy Spindler, a nutrition health coach at Natural Grocers. “We need it for hormones and to feel well, but it […]
If you’re like me, you love your coffee. It gets you going in the morning, picks you up from a late afternoon slump and gives you that all needed early evening boost at the gym later. But, along with the rejuvenating effect of coffee, as a dermatologist, there’s an even more important reason I love coffee… Your Daily Joe Could Help Prevent This Deadly Cancer If you’re a coffee drinker, you probably don’t need another reason to keep drinking it. But, in the last few years, health researchers have reported many good reasons to drink coffee. They include: Antioxidant power. You may […]
The Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025, marking the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The Snake is known for wisdom, transformation, and intuition—making this a year to embrace new beginnings and focus on health, balance, and nourishment. The Lunar New Year has always been a special holiday for me. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I was immersed in the traditions passed down from my family—my father was three-quarters Chinese, and my mother was half Chinese. Our celebrations were filled with symbolic customs, especially through food. At FoodTrients®, we love celebrating the Lunar New Year with […]
Here in Southern California we’re enjoying a break from relatively cold weather. But in reality, we have
Protein is very important for strong muscles and bones. Lean protein helps achieve weight loss. I love meat—it has riboflavin, vitamin B12, tyrosine, and the FoodTrient zinc—but I enjoy it in moderation, which protects against cardiovascular disease. I also am careful about eating cured meats, which can aggravate joints and promote gout. Whenever possible, I use grass-fed beef over corn-fed beef because cows were created to eat grass, not corn. The meat from animals that graze grass—cows, lambs, or even buffalo—contains more of the good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids and less of the bad-for-you omega-6s. And I make sure I buy […]
The intrepid FoodTrients team braved Southern California freeway traffic, severe parking shortages and wearing out the soles of our walking shoes to explore and evaluate the nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit space at this year’s Natural Products Expo West. This is the largest natural products trade show in the world and this year’s event broke records—more than 2700 exhibitors and over 71,000 registered attendees—up 7% over last year and double just two years ago. As in previous years, it always amazes us to see the level of passion, creativity and innovation at the show. Overview We observed overall […]
The role of vitamin C in the body may be even greater than previously believed. New research has found that vitamin C helps convert mouse embryonic stem cells growing in the laboratory into heart muscle cells. Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized cells that are derived from the very early stages of fetal development. These cells can convert into any type of cell in the body through a process termed differentiation. Researchers hope that the ability to transform these cells into viable heart cells in the laboratory can lead to effective treatments for heart failure—the inability of the heart to pump […]