Collard and mustard greens join kale among the most pesticide-contaminated fresh produce on the Environmental Working Group’s 2021 Dirty Dozen™ list. For the first time, bell peppers and hot peppers have made the list. The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen™ together make up EWG’s annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, which analyzes Department of Agriculture test data to identify which fresh fruits and vegetables are most and least contaminated with pesticide residues. “Whether organic or conventionally grown, fruits and vegetables are critical components of a healthy diet,” said EWG toxicologist Thomas Galligan, Ph.D. “We urge consumers who are […]
This recipe combines heart-healthy seafood and wild rice to create a wholesome, flavorful, and filling one-dish meal. The Omega-3s in the seafood and wild rice smooth and soften the skin. The fiber from the rice is detoxifying. For a variation, try adding chicken and sausage to your favorite seafood. SERVES 2 Ingredients 1 cup wild rice or a combination of wild and brown rice 4 cups water 2 cups chicken broth 4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup chopped onion 2 bay leaves ¼ cup chopped carrot ¼ cup chopped celery ¼ cup chopped broccoli ¼ cup chopped red bell […]
Looking for a workout boost? Trying to manage your weight? While protein powders have many benefits, not all protein sources are the same. When pondering what type of protein source is right for you, there are a number of considerations: Are you looking to protein to boost muscle recovery or to manage weight? If it’s the former and you eat meat, whey protein is probably the right one for you. If you’re eating protein to cut pounds, consider a slower-digesting option, such as pea protein or casein. Next, decide if you like the idea of plant protein sources over those […]
By Lisa Truesday A trip to the library changed Luann Alemao’s life—and the small city of Cedar Falls, Iowa—forever. While browsing the new-book shelf a few years ago, Alemao found The Blue Zones (National Geographic, 2012) by Dan Buettner, a New York Times best seller showcasing five locations in the world with the highest percentage of people living well into their 100s. Alemao, a former Family and Consumer Sciences educator, remembers feeling more than a little amazed. “I thought, wow, this is everything I used to teach, like food and nutrition, marriage and family and consumer education, plus all the […]
If you’ve thought about becoming a raw foodist, you might be interested in knowing more about how raw foods are prepared and what constitutes a raw food diet. Basically the principle behind eating raw foods is that uncooked and unprocessed foods are healthier for you than foods that are cooked or dead. Although there are many schools of thought around what is the healthiest diet, raw foodists are totally convinced that eating raw food reduces the risk of cancer and other deadly diseases. Research supports the notion that a plant-based diet, among other health benefits, lowers cholesterol and helps in glucose level […]
Over the past year, FoodTrients has been exploring foods and flavors from around the globe. This week, we introduce a new series on the world of herbs, spices and ingredients that help create some of distinctive dishes we have featured and the age-defying benefits they deliver. Ikaria is a beautiful Greek island located in the Aegean Sea and is known as a ‘blue zone’ due to many residents living well into their 90s. Cases of dementia almost non-existent. Often relying on only what can be grown at home, Ikarians consume diets high in fruits and vegetables, drink goat milk and […]
Cool weather has finally come to Southern California. The nights and early mornings can be quite chilly so what could be better than a warm drink? There’s something very comforting about settling in with a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea when it’s cool (or cold) outside. Did you know that both beverages offer a number of age-defying benefits? Plus the warm, steamy liquid is soothing if you have a cold because it can help open up nasal passages. Coffee and tea drinks are one of those indulgences that are good for you in so many ways! Let’s count […]
Pork has had to overcome a bit of a bad reputation. Remember the insult, ‘fat as a pig’? The fact is today’s pork has been bred to have 16 percent less fat and 27 percent less saturated fat than 30 years ago. Many cuts of pork, such as tenderloin, have less fat and calories than skinless chicken breasts. Pork is a source of high-quality lean protein and is an excellent source of important nutrients including thiamin, selenium, niacin, vitamin B-6 and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of zinc, riboflavin and potassium. Unprocessed pork is naturally low in sodium and […]
Medical technology has always fascinated me, and I love to explore new healing modalities, especially if
Did you know fat cells can survive in your body for 10 years? And that fat cells can retain artificial chemicals that act like excessive estrogen in your body? Here, in clear and straight-forward terms, Anthony G. Jay, Ph.D., reveals in Estrogeneration: How Estrogenics Are Making You Fat, Sick, and Infertile, how you can definitively avoid estrogenic exposures. Estrogenics are things that bind or “stick” to estrogen receptors in your body. Are flax and soy “health” foods? Are vinyl crib mattresses giving off “estrogenic emissions?” What about sunscreens and soaps? Red 40 food coloring? Grains? These are just some of […]

