I don’t know about you, but I am wild about saffron. Saffron is a golden red spice from the stigmas of a small purple crocus native to the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and Iran where it was first cultivated during the Bronze Age. Each flower produces just three stigmas (or threads) and must be harvested by hand then dried. It takes 14,000 of the tiny stigmas to yield one ounce of the spice which retails for $500. Saffron has not only been used to flavor and tint foods, but it’s been used to dye fabrics and as a perfume. The flavor […]
This is the fourth part in our 5-part on life in the “Blue Zones,” where people live longer, healthy lives. Each part will look into the diets and lifestyles of the areas where longevity is a normal part of aging better. Who doesn’t want to know their secrets? Ikaria is a beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Sea and is home to residents living eight-to-10 years longer than the average American (and with significantly less health complications). It is one of five “Blue Zones” in the world — a geographical region that is a longevity hot spot. A study done in 2013 […]
Do you know where Malta is? Many people probably don’t. You’ve heard of The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart and there’s a good chance you’ve met a fluffy, white Maltese dog. But one of the best things I discovered in my visit to Malta is the cuisine. Malta consists of a small archipelago of islands in the Mediterranean about 50 miles south of Sicily, approximately 200 miles north of Libya, and 175 miles east of Tunisia. It’s been inhabited for thousands of years by various conquerors passing through including Phoenicians, Carthaginians (both from the eastern Mediterranean), Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, […]
Shrimp and Grapefruit Salad Pink grapefruit and shrimp come together nicely in this salad thanks to a rich, tangy buttermilk dressing. You can use white grapefruit, but you will lose some of the health benefits of pink grapefruit. Pink grapefruit is full of healthful compounds—anthocyanins, flavanoids, lycopene, polyphenols, quercetin, sulfur compounds, and vitamin C—that provide loads of antioxidant power for promoting artery and heart health and protecting against sun damage and skin aging. The shrimp offer heart-healthy Omega-3s and selenium and zinc, both of which help maintain a robust immune system. Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lb. tiger shrimp 1 Tbs. […]
Feeling frisky and ready for romance? Well, I have a few good suggestions for foods that are not only good for you but also tasty treats that will enhance any night (or day) of romance. In my observation, there are several categories of foods that qualify as “romantic,” or enhance a romantic moment. First, and obviously, are the ones that resemble parts of the anatomy associated with sex and love like bananas, asparagus, and avocados (think about it). Or moist, voluptuous foods like oysters and figs. Then there are the foods that provide so much nutrition and feeling of well-being […]
Human studies show that elderberry, zinc, and vitamin C, taken in the early stages of a cold or flu, can activate the body’s immune functions and shorten the duration. Colds and flu can make anyone miserable. They pose a particular risk to older adults, who have reduced immune responses.1,2 Human studies show that three nutrients, taken in the early stages of a cold or flu, can activate immune functions to change the course of the illness.3-6 These nutrients can reduce duration and severity, making people feel better faster and decreasing the danger to older adults. Protection Against Colds and Flu Over one billion colds occur in the U.S. each year,7 typically lasting about seven days.8 Up to 20% of Americans contract the flu each […]
At the grocery store, there are aisles and aisles full of oils. How do you know which is best to use? Which ones are the healthiest? A variety of oils are popular in different parts of the world and, depending on whether you are sautéing or making a marinade, it is good to know what works best for your meals and is best for your health as well. Here’s the FoodTrients® breakdown for the best, healthiest oil to choose and when. Health Benefits of Oils Oils and dietary fats are essential to the function of all cells and to be […]
Make room on your beauty counter for ceramides. A clinical study has found that oral intake has been linked to reduced signs of aging—including wrinkles that are less deep, fewer fine lines and more moist, youthful skin. You’ve probably already heard of ceramides for skin in moisturizers—these lipids are naturally occurring in skin, but levels decline with age. Adding ceramides as part of an anti-aging routine has been a go-to for years; only more recently have the benefits of an oral ceramide come to light. Oral Ceramides Help Keep Skin Looking Youthful Ceramides in both topical and oral formulas come from grains, and help […]
(This is the first in our series on the nine benefits at the core of FoodTrients® and all of our recipes. We’ll explore each of these incredible anti-aging nutrients and how they help fight the diseases of aging.) Inflammation has been linked to many chronic health conditions from autoimmune disease, cancer, heart disease and diabetes, when it occurs at high levels in the body over a period of time. Defining what it is, when it’s helpful, when it’s not, and what to do about it is critical if you’re focused on optimizing your health. As we explore each FoodTrient and […]
After a very challenging winter (at least here in Southern California where we actually had blizzards that left ten feet of snow in the local San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains), we are so ready for spring! In most of the country, you can get most any vegetable any time of the year, because we import many items from places like Mexico and Central America. But beginning in March and April, spring vegetables are ready for action and local produce becomes readily available at markets—farmers and super. Here are a variety of spring vegetables that are especially sweet and delicious […]










