IMMUNITY BOOSTER
Immunity boosters are those foods which support the body's resistance to infection and strengthen immune vigilance and response.
Recipes that include immune-boosting ingredients are below.
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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 […]
January 12, 2025
This recipe is from my latest cookbook, Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World. Oregon is a fabulous place to forage for mushrooms. There, varieties such as chanterelles, hedgehog, matsutake, lobster, morel, black truffle, white truffle, and milky cap grow under Douglas fir, pine, oak, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, aspen, willow, and birch trees. If you can get your hands on any of these exotic mushrooms, especially morels and/or chanterelles, use them in this soup. Vegetable broth and the secret ingredient rolled oats—not steel-cut or instant—blend together to create vegan creaminess in this light, healthy soup that’s low in calories and fat, […]
November 16, 2024
Stuffed Turkey Rolls I pack these turkey cutlets with my Savory Stuffing, roll them up, and secure them with kitchen twine. The finished rolls are sliced and fanned out on a plate to make a beautiful presentation. Because I marinate the turkey before cooking, it’s juicy and flavorful. The selenium in turkey can increase your resistance to infection. The red wine (I use a Pinot Noir) adds a bit of resveratrol to the selenium’s antioxidant power. SERVES 6 Ingredients ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbs. lemon juice (about ½ lemon) 2 Tbs. red wine Sea […]
November 16, 2024
GARLIC CRAB ROYALE When served in martini glasses, these crab cocktails make elegant appetizers for dinner parties. I use Alaskan king crab legs, but you can use grilled shrimp instead. Semi-ripe mangoes are more tart than fully ripe mangoes and hold their shape better. Depending on your taste for spicy food and drink, adjust the amount of hot sauce and jalapenos, or omit them. These cocktails are delicious alongside my Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds and tortilla chips. HEALTH BENEFITS: Crab and other shellfish contain selenium, an antioxidant that increases resistance to infection. The mango, lime, and hot sauce deliver plenty […]
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
Anyone can make pumpkin bread. How about butternut squash bread or better yet, honeynut squash (butternut’s smaller, sweeter cousin) bread? It’s easy to make your own squash puree but you can also use canned if you can find it. The puree gets folded into an easy batter spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and a bit of orange juice. The resulting bread turns out moist and tender, with the sweet, spicy taste of fall. Benefits Butternut squash is packed with beta-carotene and fiber, offering a variety of health benefits. The high fiber content not only helps to regulate digestion […]
October 31, 2024
Let’s be honest—nobody really needs another bread recipe. We’re constantly trying to cut back on carbs and empty calories. But what if we could make bread better by infusing it with the nutrient-rich benefits of FoodTrients®? By incorporating wholesome ingredients like wheat germ, nuts, and whole wheat flour, you can transform bread into a nourishing treat. This recipe is not only adaptable—allowing you to customize it to your taste—but it also embraces the flavors of the season while offering more wholesome nutrition than seductive breads loaded with sugar and saturated fat. Ingredients Makes one 9-inch x 5-inch loaf 1 cup […]
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 17, 2024
Crock pots are an amazing tool! Prep everything in the morning; turn on the pot and your meal (or soup or bone broth) will be ready by dinnertime. This recipe is the ultimate hands-off meal-prep tool to relieve stress while eating healthfully. Benefits Chicken contains protein and collagen for strength and beauty, vitamin B12 to support cellular energy in the body, and selenium for supporting the body’s natural detoxification systems. Onions contain an immune-supporting phytochemical, quercetin. There’s nothing better for soothing the digestive system than bone broth so be sure to sip on this delicious recipe if you’re working on […]
October 8, 2024
The feta cheese in the salad provides protein and calcium. Hint: if you can buy the feta in bulk from a Greek, Persian, or other Middle Eastern deli, do it! Packaged feta will do, but feta from the deli case tastes better. Pine nuts are a good source of B vitamins, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and manganese. You can buy pine nuts pre-toasted. Leafy green arugula and extra virgin olive oil provide anti-inflammatory properties as do the berries. The salty feta and the sweet berries play beautifully together! Serves 4 Ingredients 1 cup Greek feta cheese, cubed ½ cup extra […]
August 14, 2024
Caramelized onions are wonderful with just about any beef dish. They can go on top of burgers, into beef stroganoff, or used for French onion soup. These onions can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for about a week. I add them to my American Steakhouse Potatoes. Benefits Onions are good at supporting the immune system. Yields about ¾ cup Ingredients 1 sweet onion (Maui or Vidalia), sliced into thin rings 2 Tbs. butter ¼ tsp. Himalayan salt Freshly ground black pepper to taste Scant ¼ cup Sherry wine (I prefer Harvey’s Bristol Cream) Procedure Preheat the […]
July 2, 2024
Summertime Grilled Chicken This Mexican-inspired dish just screams dellicious! The chicken is marinated in my Honey-Lime Dressing, grilled, and paired with my refreshing Strawberry-Avocado Relish for an immunity boost, a dose of antioxidants, and detoxifying support. Serve it with corn on the cob or tortillas. SERVES 2 Ingredients 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 recipe Honey-Lime Dressing 1 recipe Strawberry-Avocado Relish Procedure 1. Marinate the chicken breasts in the Honey-Lime Dressing in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. The easiest way to ensure that the marinade coats the chicken evenly is to put both in a resealable plastic […]
May 7, 2024
Beet and Potato Salad This recipe is my take on the Russian version of potato salad. The wonderful deep-purple color of beets signifies the presence of helpful betalains, which are phytonutrients that support your body’s detoxification systems. Beets are also a great source of folate and fiber. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin-C. Serve 6 Ingredients 6 medium red beets, skin on 8 quartered small white potatoes 1⁄4 lb. diced carrots 1⁄4 lb. diced string beans 1 cup white wine vinegar 1⁄4 cup sugar 2 tsp. kosher salt 1⁄4 tsp. white pepper 1 seeded, peeled, and […]