DISEASE PREVENTION
FoodTrients with disease-preventing characteristics are those that reduce risk factors for common degenerative and age-related diseases like heart trouble, high cholesterol, and cancer.
Recipes that include disease-preventing ingredients are below.
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March 9, 2025
Pickle juice makes a nice poaching liquid, but I’ve found that pickling spices without the vinegar are even better for poaching fish, especially salmon. You can make your own spice mix or you can buy prepackaged pickling salts. I top this poached salmon with my Pecan and Sundried Tomato Tapenade and my Mock Sour Cream. It can be served hot or cold. BENEFITS: Salmon is an excellent source of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which can also help improve cognition. Omega-3s beautify your skin by reducing inflammation and enhancing the skin’s ability to retain moisture. SERVES 4 Ingredients 3 cups water […]
March 5, 2025
Kale-Cashew Pesto Cashews are a sweet nut that helps to balance the sharpness of kale. I use Tuscan kale, which is mild and tender. It’s also called lactinato kale, black kale, or cavolo nero. This pesto is wonderful tossed with pasta, quinoa, roasted potatoes, or even spread on sandwiches. This recipe is from The Age Beautifully Cookbook, and it’s loaded with antioxidants, which prevent and repair oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals. Cashews themselves contribute to this antioxidant power, as they are rich in vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative stress while supporting […]
February 18, 2025
Chocolatey, rich mousse is a perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day or any time of the year, really. Heart-healthy compounds abound in cocoa, so a lightened-up, vegan version of this classic recipe will benefit you and the ones you share it with. Many mousse recipes use chocolate chips for flavor, but this one features pure baking cocoa for an antioxidant punch and tangy bitterness to balance the sweetness of the syrup. Using vanilla almond or soy milk as well as vanilla extract offers depth in flavor aside from pure chocolate. Be sure to garnish with fresh strawberries or cherries for texture, […]
February 4, 2025
These squares are like lemon bars but made with antioxidant-rich baobab. Baobab is an African fruit that has a powdery texture. You can buy it from Amazon or you can use fresh lemon juice (3 Tbs.) or lemon zest (1 Tbs.) instead of the baobab powder. Feel free to substitute gluten-free flour for the wheat-based flour. BENEFITS: Baobab is a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that appears to guard against heart disease and stroke and also protects the skin from the aging effects of ultraviolet rays. It contains fiber, which helps with detoxification and gut health. Yields 12 […]
November 5, 2024
Prune and Walnut Bars Prunes and walnuts are both exceedingly high in antioxidant power. Both are listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) scale with over 10,000 units. Eating a ¼-cup serving of prunes, or about four prunes, provide you with 12% of the daily value for fiber, 32% of the daily value for vitamin K and 9% of the daily value for potassium. A hundred grams of prunes (about ½ cup) provides at least 9% of your daily needs for the B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. Walnuts have heart-healthy omega-3 […]
November 5, 2024
Roasted Veggie Panzanella Salad A twist on the traditional panzanella salad using fall vegetables and homemade whole-grain croutons. This is the perfect salad for adding to your fall harvest table! The sweet potatoes have immune-boosting carotenoids. The Brussels sprouts have disease-preventing sulfur compounds. Ingredients For the roasted vegetables: 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes 8 Brussels sprouts, halved, ends trimmed and outer leaves removed 4-6 smashed garlic cloves 2 Tbs. olive oil Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste For the croutons: Small loaf of whole grain bread, cut into 1 inch cubes 2 Tbs. […]
October 31, 2024
Savory Pumpkin-Rosemary Bread This recipe is a more savory version and uses gluten-free almond flour and tapioca flour instead of wheat flour. This savory bread pairs well with a creamy spread and herbs like parsley or tarragon for a unique flavor and many health benefits. Benefits Savory Pumpkin-Rosemary Bread offers numerous health benefits, with its primary ingredient, pumpkin, playing a significant role. Pumpkin is packed with potassium, which not only helps regulate blood pressure but also supports muscle function and strength. The high fiber content in pumpkin promotes gut health by improving digestion and regularity. Additionally, pumpkin is rich in […]
October 23, 2024
South Asian Chaat Salad This flavorful salad was inspired by a type of chaat or savory snack served across India, and features puffed quinoa and lentils for extra plant-based protein and fiber. A satisfying serving of 2 ½ cups contains 14 g of protein. Benefits The green lentils in this recipe provide a hearty source of plant-based protein and fiber, supporting digestive health and helping to maintain steady blood sugar levels. The mix of colorful vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes delivers a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, helping reduce your risk of chronic diseases and calming […]
October 23, 2024
Roasted parsnips deliver perfect flavor and fiber. Nothing brings out the natural sweetness and earthiness of parsnips like roasting. Looking very much like a creamy white carrot, parsnips also share with carrots that frigid temperatures during growing and harvest make them sweeter; they go especially well with pork, chicken, and other fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, pears, and spinach. Benefits This dish is not only a flavorful side dish but also provides a range of health benefits. Parsnips are high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and supports digestive health by promoting elimination. […]
October 8, 2024
American Steakhouse Potatoes with Caramelized Onions This recipe is a nod to the classic American custom of eating steaks with baked potatoes. But here you eat less protein and forgo the calorie-rich butter and sour cream that usually dresses them. My Caramelized Onions top this dish. Benefits Potatoes contain vitamin B6, potassium, and fiber for gut health. The protein in steak helps build and repair muscles, hair, nails, skin, bone, and cartilage. Mushrooms contain selenium, which helps protect the heart and regulate blood clotting. Serves 2–4 Ingredients 2 large Russet potatoes, skin on 1 lb. sirloin steak tips, in small, […]
October 8, 2024
Green Tea Noodles with Edamame Green tea, with its powerful theaflavins, is a strong antioxidant with vigorous anti-inflammatory properties, a heart-healthy addition to anyone’s diet. Green tea is wonderful to drink on its own, but it also can be incorporated into recipes. I use an old Asian trick for mixing more green tea into your diet with my Green Tea Noodles with Edamame. It’s an easy and budget-friendly recipe. Just boil soba, udon, or ramen noodles in green tea instead of water. Green tea has far more age-fighting power than water. If you want to eat these noodles cold, rinse […]
August 15, 2024
My anti-inflammatory Tandoori Spice Blend from India helps create this wonderfully flavorful chicken dish. If not following a gluten-free or ketogenic/low-carb diet, serve this dish with rice or naan bread and my Blue Zone Apple-Sage Cauliflower or my Simply Curry Cabbage Slaw. Benefits Chicken has protein for building strong muscles, vitamin B12 for helping the body create energy on a cellular level, and niacin, which plays a role in repairing DNA. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that may lower cancer risk, aid cognitive function, and promote prostate health. Serves 4 Ingredients 8 Tbs. Tandoori Spice Blend, divided 1 whole chicken […]
August 13, 2024
Curries made with turmeric and coconut milk are amazingly heart-healthy. Add some ginger and garlic and your heart and arteries will thank you even more. This dish will help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke because of all of its anti-inflammatory compounds. If you can’t find fresh moringa leaves, you can use green tea powder. To make this a vegan entree, substitute tofu or soybeans for the chicken. Vegan or not, this dish is delicious served over white or brown rice. BENEFITS Curry powder contains curcumin, an anti-inflammatory as powerful as a prescription drug. The fiber in the […]