Sorrel is a fascinating herb to add to your food repertoire. It’s slightly tart, tangy, and slightly lemony flavor is appreciated all around the world and is cultivated for a number of uses. Although primarily grown for use in food, sorrel also has a vast array of health benefits. There are a number of varieties of sorrel that grow in different regions of the world, and while many of them have slightly different characteristics and associated health benefits, they are generally the same. Some of sorrel’s benefits include: Improves eyesight Slows the aging process Reduces skin infections Strengthens immune system Improves digestion Increases […]
The idea for this guacamole recipe came from a very talented Mexican chef who owns an upscale restaurant in Santa Barbara. The pomegranate seeds add a spectacular, tart crunch to this otherwise mild dip. I serve this dip with blue corn chips, which add a splash of color and are higher in antioxidants than yellow chips. BENEFITS: Avocados are full of monounsaturated fats, which help protect the skin from the aging effects of the sun. The anthocyanins in pomegranates have anti-inflammatory effects and have been linked to helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and cancer. Blue corn chips provide […]
I like to prepare this condiment in different ways: chunky when scattering over my Mexican Lettuce Wraps, and smooth as a dip for my Flaxseed Tortillas. In addition to all of the age-defying and healthy benefits of tomatoes, the indoles (sulfur compounds) in onions help neutralize carcinogens. Cilantro is a good source of vitamin K, which helps keep your bones strong. BENEFITS: Tomatoes contain lycopene, which lowers cancer risk and aids cognitive function. The indoles (sulfur compounds) in onions help neutralize carcinogens. Cilantro is a good source of vitamin K, which helps keep your bones strong. Yields 2 cups Ingredients […]
For such a delicate-looking and innocuous herb, cilantro, which is the leaves of the coriander plant, is a little bit controversial. People seem to either love it or hate it. Cilantro looks like flat leaf parsley, but it has a tangy, almost citrusy flavor. Long used in Asian, Indian, Caribbean and Latin American cooking, cilantro gives a bright taste to salads, salsas, meat, chicken and fish. I think it’s the secret ingredient to summer dishes, though you can find it fresh in supermarkets all year round. Given the chance, even the most skeptical can acquire a taste for cilantro. But […]
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 […]
More than 90 percent of Americans fall short of meeting estimated average requirements for at least one vitamin or mineral. A big part of the problem? A diet heavy in nutrient-poor, refined and highly processed foods. Another culprit: modern farming techniques, particularly the practice of planting vegetable and fruit varieties that increase yields but result in less nutrition per bite. Getting the nutrients you need not only helps you avoid deficiency-related conditions, but also may increase your energy levels, keep your immune system in top shape and ward off chronic diseases. So eat as healthfully as you can, and use […]
Americans have a history of obsession with fads designed to help us live forever. But to what end? Death, notes author Barbara Ehrenreich in her new book, Natural Causes, still awaits us all. In this lively cultural history of our attempts to control our fate, she details the extreme lengths we will go to keep from dying. A razor-sharp polemic which offers an entirely new understanding of our bodies, ourselves, and our place in the universe, Natural Causes describes how we over-prepare and worry way too much about what is inevitable. One by one, Ehrenreich topples the shibboleths that guide […]
When most people think of inflammation, they think about swollen joints and arthritis. That said, limiting the amount of inflammation in your body might not be on your radar screen at all, especially if you don’t have joint problems. But inflammation is way more than arthritis, and reducing the amount of inflammation your body encounters should be on everyone’s radar. When any unwanted invader (such as a virus or bacteria) enters your body, inflammation is the body’s first line of defense. White blood cells are soldiers in the inflammation army, and they protect your body when it’s attacked. This is […]
A study involving close to half a million men and women found an association between increased coffee intake and a decline in mortality during a decade of follow-up regardless of the presence of genetic variations that impact caffeine metabolism. The findings were published on July 2, 2018 in JAMA Internal Medicine. The current investigation included 498,134 participants in the UK BioBank population-based study. Questionnaires completed between 2006 and 2010 provided data concerning diet, including coffee consumption. Biologic samples were analyzed for genetic variations that indicate slow or fast caffeine metabolism. Subjects were followed for an average of 10 years, during which […]
Drinking water is essential. It balances body fluids. Your body is composed of about 60 percent water and performs vital functions such as protecting your organs and tissues, regulating your body temperature and carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells—essentially it keeps your body running like a well-oiled machine. It keeps skin looking healthy. Water moisturizes your skin and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss (think free anti-aging cream). In addition, it can keep your skin fresh and smooth. It boosts the immune system. Those who guzzle water are at a lower risk of getting sick. This crystal-clear concoction […]