2073 results found for: GUT HEALTH

What To Eat At Any Age to Fend Off Alzheimer’s

Put down the fork. Step away from the buffet table. UC Davis nutrition expert Liz Applegate wants us to think about exactly what we’re shoveling down our throats. Not just to lose weight but to protect our brains. “Brain food is real and it really does matter,” said Applegate, an author, professor and director of sports nutrition at UC Davis. She’s an advocate of the MIND diet, a combination of two long-studied diets that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. We talked with her recently about so-called “brain foods,” their impact on […]

Pumpkins and Squash Have Souper Powers

Pumpkins and Squash Have Souper Powers. You may only associate pumpkins with Halloween, but fresh pumpkins are available from October through February. They contain large amounts of potassium (33 percent more than a medium banana) and beta carotene without a boat-load of calories—49 per cup mashed. The high amounts of potassium in pumpkins works with sodium to balance the amount of water in the body. A diet high in potassium helps keep blood pressure at a healthy level and assists with the prevention of strokes. Pumpkins contain more than 2400 mcg of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important […]

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Rosemary Apple Dessert Bars

Rosemary Apple Dessert Bars Cookies and pies abound during the winter holidays so why not mix things up with naturally sweet apple bars as a unique alternative? The crumbly top offers a familiar texture while the presence of rosemary and lemon blended with apples provides a flavor profile your guests won’t be expecting. Use a tart, firm apple like Fuji or Granny Smith. Cut these bars up and gift them in a festive tin or on a plate wrapped with a bow to celebrate time together with family and friends in a healthier way and without another trip to the […]

The Superstar Benefits of Quinoa & Kale

I like to frequently use an ancient Socrates quote to my patients when I try to drive home the importance of eating the right foods to both preserve and heal their health.  The saying, roughly, goes, “Let your food be your medicine” and with these 2 nutritional powerhouses, that I’m going to tell you about here, old Socrates couldn’t be closer to the truth.  These 2 simple foods are quinoa – an ancient super-grain – and the beautiful kale plant.  They not only taste great but I’m going to tell you how they can actually save your life. The Amazing Health Benefits […]

Jujubes Are Small ‘Apples’ With Big Benefits

  The Chinese have been growing and eating jujubes for over 4,000 years. Jujube, or Chinese date, trees are shrub-like with thorny branches. The fruits are shaped like small apples that are green when unripe and turn brownish red. As they ripen and age they wrinkle and shrink to the size of a large date. The flesh of the fruit is most like an apple when it’s unripe. As it ripens it becomes soft and spongy. Asians generally steep slices of jujubes in hot water and make a jujube tea. Sometimes they reduce the tea on the stove and add […]

How To Get Fit for Fall Eating Season

The fall and winter seasons, combined with the upcoming holidays, mean the re-emergence of those comforting classic dishes: Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and a plethora of pastries. Many of the typical comfort foods are filled with calories and fat, plus the potential to overeat these dishes during the colder seasons is always tempting; but if you’re smart about it, you don’t have to deprive yourself, said Karen Bright, adult and youth nutrition outreach instructor for the WVU Extension Service. “The biggest thing people have problems with that I’ve noticed is portion size,” she said. “During the holidays and colder […]

The New Science of the Body’s Immune System

  CLEANLINESS IS BAD. Most of the cells in your body are not yours. Given half a chance your body will try to kill you. A terminal cancer patient rises from the grave. A medical marvel defies HIV. Two women with autoimmunity discover their own bodies have turned against them. In An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives, New York Times writer Matt Richtel uniquely entwines these intimate stories with science’s centuries-long quest to unlock the mysteries of sickness and health, and illuminates the immune system as never before. The immune […]

A Brain-Specific Magnesium Relieves Stress

Chronic stress can be worsened by low levels of magnesium. A new form of magnesium has been shown to produce a brain-calming effect. In a 2022 report, the American Psychological Association noted that 73 percent of U.S. adults say they feel “overwhelmed by the number of crises facing the world right now.”1 Chronic stress has been linked to:2,3 Anxiety and depression Cardiovascular disease Obesity Menstrual problems Sexual dysfunction Gastrointestinal problems Hair and skin conditions People suffering from stress-related symptoms, depression, or anxiety often have low blood levels of magnesium.4 In a follow-up analysis of a clinical study, it was found that approximately 44 percent of participants screened for stress were magnesium deficient.5 Preclinical studies found […]

Chicken Fajitas Add Festive Flair To Meals

Chicken Fajitas Fajitas are a perfect party or family food because they can be assembled by your diners and the ingredients can be kept hot for an hour or two in a chafing dish. I use three different colors of bell pepper for eye appeal, but you can use only one. You can use other vegetables, such as mushrooms, scallions, zucchini, or even kale, cut long and thin. The cayenne pepper adds a little heat, which you can adjust to your preference. Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein. It also has detoxifying selenium as well as lysine, which […]

Harvest Fall Vegetables for Delish Dishes

The change in season is such a wonderful time, even in temperate Southern California. Yes, the days can be hot, but the sun sets earlier and though it may still reach 80-plus degrees at 2:00 pm, evenings are cool, and thoughts turn to comforting, fallish foods, including vegetables. Most fall vegetables are available in winter, too, and most vegetables, for that matter, are available year-round thanks to farmers in Mexico and Central America. The key is that typically fall vegetables are at their peak this time of year, so take advantage of them at their best. Here are some vegetables […]