A study reported on March 13, 2017 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found a lower risk of early postpartum blues among women who received the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan, and an extract of blueberries. The condition peaks on the fifth day after giving birth and is a risk factor for long term postpartum depression. Levels of a compound known as monoamine oxidase A become elevated in the brain during postpartum blues, resulting in increased breakdown of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, which can be deficient in depressed states. While tyrosine is a precursor to norepinephrine and dopamine, […]
My recipe for Exotic Fruit Salad, which is featured in my new cookbook – The Age Beautifully Cookbook — is a protein-packed, vitamin-filled way to grab a healthy snack or start your morning. You can add spices, such as nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice (about ⅛ tsp. each), and nuts. Instead of exotic fruits you can use grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and/or bananas. The Omega-3 fatty acids in the flaxseeds are great for your arteries and heart. Oats and fiber are both known to reduce cholesterol. The exotic fruits in this recipe are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, which helps […]
You have probably heard about “heart healthy” foods. So many whole foods are considered supportive of the cardiovascular system for a number of reasons ranging from fiber content to omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant compounds. Because February is National Heart Month , we wanted to focus on foods that are good for your heart. Here is the ultimate FoodTrients list of the Top 50 foods we love for your heart. Mix and match these healthy whole foods to include them in your diet daily to support your heart. 1. Almonds Packed with healthful plant sterols, fiber, and heart-healthy fats, almonds may […]
To stay healthy, I eat moringa leaves almost every day. I put them on salads, in soups, casseroles, stir-fries, and other dishes. I also just eat the leaves sometimes. Many of my friends take moringa supplements because they know that moringa is a powerful immune booster. While few Americans have ever heard of the moringa oleifera plant, in Africa and Asia it’s a life-saver. It needs very little water to grow and its leaves offer a full complement of protein, minerals, and nutrients to both humans and cattle. When Africans cook with moringa, they throw the tiny leaves into soups […]
For over 4,000 years, Ayurvedic healers have turned to turmeric—a bright orange root
There are dozens of diets that promise better nutrition and rapid weight loss. But the simplest way to improve your health is to make like Kermit & go green. Pistachios They take a little effort to crack open, but pistachios are worth it, as they contain the important brain nutrient vitamin B6 and 18 percent of your daily requirement of thiamine (vitamin B1). Try adding chopped pistachios to chocolate desserts—brownies, ice cream or tarts for color, crunch, flavor and nutrients. Use in a recipe: Warm Pistachio, Chicken, and Hearts of Palm Salad Pumpkin seeds Full of zinc, antioxidant phytonutrients and protein, […]
You’ve likely heard of Juniper as a trendy additive in foods, often used as a culinary condiment or a flavor component in gin and bitter cocktail preparations. You will also find it as an extract and oil used as a flavoring agent in a variety of foods and beverages. Aside from these culinary uses, juniper is also used medicinally, especially as a diuretic and anti-diabetic agent and there are some really important considerations to know about when considering juniper used for these conditions. Juniper, officially Juniperus communis, is used therapeutically in oral form in capsules, tinctures or oils for a variety […]
Modern medications can be necessary and life-saving – many illnesses demand their use. But what happens when our reliance on powerful pharmaceuticals blinds us to their risks? Painful side effects and dependency are common, and adverse drug reactions are America’s fourth leading cause of death. In MIND OVER MEDS: Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better – and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own, by bestselling author Dr. Andrew Weil alerts readers to the problem of overmedication, and outlines when medicine is necessary, and when it is not. Dr. Weil examines how we came to […]
Destination Yantai, China – Gourmand Cookbook Awards! The FoodTrients team is heading to Yantai, China on May 25 for the Gourmand Cookbook Awards and a tour of the foods and sites in China. Grace O’s The Age Beautifully Cookbook and The Age GRACEfully Cookbook will be presented to publishers from Asia and around the world to help spread the word of wellness and longevity with FoodTrients. The Age Beautifully cookbook won the U.S. award for Innovation, and now goes on to compete for Best in the World. The beautiful seaside city of Yantai is one of the most popular tourist […]
You may have seen the medicinal plant, mullein, growing along the side of the road, noticed it’s beautiful flowers and never known that it is, in fact, one of the oldest known medicinal plants. However, parts of this flowering plant have been used in traditional and folk medicine in many cultures for centuries for a variety of lung problems, gastrointestinal troubles, inflammation, skin conditions and migraines. Mullein, officially Verbascum thapsus L. or Verbascum densiflorum, has been used medicinally since ancient times and its popularity has once again been increasing commercially for the past few years. The part of mullein used […]