December 16, 2022

7 Steps to the Perfect Gluten-Free Pie Crust

If you’re anything like me, finding the perfect gluten-free pie crust recipe has not been an easy task. Gluten-free baking and pies, as I’ve written before, require a lot of experimentation! It’s not just about replacing gluten-free for regular flour. We all know that great pie crust requires that perfect combination of flaky and moist, but I personally have baked many a pie where the crust is either too hard or crumbles instantly! And it just leaves you so unsatisfied. Well, after lots of searching, buying, trying, tweaking, and fixing, here is my 7 step process for coming up with […]
December 4, 2022

Our NAUGHTY and NICE Holiday Food List

The winter holidays are a time for eating delicious food and spending time with friends and family. Studies show that a small weight gain is common during this festive time. No one food or beverage is good or bad, but some have more healthier properties than others. See the 5 winter holiday foods to indulge in this year and the 5 to reduce your consumption of to optimize happy and healthy festivities this year. Don’t forget other ways of taking care of yourself this busy season; fitness, sleep and stress management play a role in enjoying the holiday season as well! […]
December 4, 2022

This Spice Blend Can Help Your Heart Health

More than just flavor enhancers, many common spices do a lot more for your health than you probably think . In fact, a recent study showed a specific spice blend actually lowered triglycerides — a risk factor for heart disease. The results were published in the journal Nutrition Today. Below, we’ll explore the study and its potential implications. Spice Blend Lowers Triglyceride Levels by 31% Researchers from Penn State wanted to investigate the role of spices on heart health. They also reviewed previous studies showing the cardiac benefits of garlic and cinnamon. For the study, they recruited six overweight men between the ages of 30 to […]
December 4, 2022

Quinoa Well Tolerated for Celiac Patients

Adding quinoa to the gluten-free diet of patients with celiac disease is well-tolerated, and does not exacerbate the condition, according to new research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. Victor F. Zevallos, from the Department of Gastroenterology, King’s College London, United Kingdom, evaluated the in-vivo effects of consuming quinoa in adult celiac patients. Quinoa, a highly nutritious grain, is traditionally recommended as part of a gluten-free diet. However, in-vitro data suggests that quinoa storage proteins can stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses in celiac patients. Celiac disease is an immune-based reaction to dietary gluten (storage protein for wheat, […]
November 22, 2022

Spice Up Holiday Table with Unique Recipes

Even if your Thanksgiving and holiday dinners might still be a bit smaller and quieter, that’s no reason your turkey dinner can’t be exciting and loaded with a world of new flavors. If you’re a little adventuresome and yearn to deviate a bit from the old standby holiday recipes, we’ve got some great turkey tips loaded with a world of new flavors. Here are recipes for a spiced-up turkey and some tasty and unique dishes to fill up your holiday table. Turkey is typically the American centerpiece of holiday meals, but we have variations that are just as delicious and […]
November 22, 2022

How To Avoid Turkey Day Weight Gain

We love Thanksgiving because it’s a chance to celebrate all that we’re thankful for in our life with family  and friends. Yet, we also dread it because Thanksgiving favorites are always in abundance and lead to weight gain! To avoid this slippery slope, all you need to do is prepare your favorites in a healthier way.  And if you’re going out for dinner, we have some tips for you to bypass diet disaster there, too. Here’s how. Tips To Avoid Turkey Day Weight Gain Disaster Did you know that the typical Thanksgiving Day dinner can contain as much as 4,000 […]
November 22, 2022

6 Tips for Celebrating a Green Thanksgiving

Turkey: Fifty years ago, Americans did not eat the over engineered bird that we consume today. We dine on heritage turkeys. Firmer, richer, juicier, and more flavorful–for these birds, gravy serves no purpose. Find your turkey at www.orangicprairie.com Use their convenient drop down menu to choose your state and view their selection of turkey farms. Pick your bird after browsing photos and prices. Be sure to start your turkey search well ahead of time. A heritage turkey will cost more, but resources are saved when you’re not cooking the turkey overnight or soaking it in brine. Knowing your bird wasn’t […]
November 21, 2022

How Elderberry Helps Relieve Flu Symptoms

Elderberry juice has long been used to help relieve flu symptoms, however, its mechanisms in influenza had not been identified. However, the March 2019 issue of the Journal of Functional Foods published the findings of researchers at the University of Sydney of a mechanism by which elderberries combat influenza Dr Golnoosh Torabian and colleagues administered elderberry juice serum and the elderberry compound cyanidin 3-glucoside to cultured cells prior to, during and after they had been infected with the influenza virus. The researchers observed a direct antiviral effect in association with both elderberry juice and its active compound. “What our study has shown is […]
November 21, 2022

5 Day-To-Day Ways To Trim Holiday Fat All Year Long

We see holidays as an excuse to eat bad things. First up is Easter with all chocolate eggs and marshmallow bunnies associated with that. July 4th: hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad. Halloween: need I even mention it? Thanksgiving: an excuse to completely gorge yourself of your own body’s weight full of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Christmas/Hanukkah: meat, casseroles and cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire week. Valentine’s Day: chocolate hearts, chocolate bath salts, chocolate teddy bears, chocolate roses, chocolate fountains, chocolate husbands… So how do we overcome the massive amounts of junk food at our […]
November 7, 2022

Is Your Diet Making You Feel Depressed?

There is growing research showing a significant correlation of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, with certain nutritional deficiencies. Typically, these disorders are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, or are emotionally rooted and are treated with medications and/or psychotherapy. Nutritional therapy can play a key role in the duration and severity of these conditions, improve the effectiveness of medications and correct the underlying cause. The more common nutrients people are deficient in: • B vitamins — These nutrients play a critical role in the function of your brain and nervous system. The two B vitamins that appear […]
October 25, 2022

Top 50 Foods You Need for Bone Health

Bone health is an under-appreciated aspect of beauty, longevity and living a vibrant life. Often, adults aren’t tested for bone density until they’re at an older age when the state of our bones should be top of mind early on. Bone loss including osteoporosis affects men and women and leads to fractures and other health problems. Foods that contain certain minerals including calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K have proven critical for optimizing bone health long-term which is why these foods top the list of 50 foods critical for bone health. This is an important focus starting…now! 1.    […]
October 25, 2022

What Foods and Vitamins Help Your Eyes?

Eyesight is a critical sense to protect, especially as a person ages. Macular degeneration, cataracts and other age-related deterioration of the eyes are real concerns. You may have heard suggestions such as “eat more carrots to improve your eyesight” or seen supplements targeted towards eye health. Does diet make a difference and are supplements indicated?  Read on to learn more about foods and supplements for healthy aging of the eyes. The vitamin with the largest body of research in support of eyesight is vitamin A; likely the reason you’ve been told to eat your carrots as a child. Orange vegetables […]
October 22, 2022

Halloween Trick and No Treat?

You didn’t really think I’d support eating the sweets did you? Nope, not even for one of the ‘sweetest’ holidays of the year. You have to stay persistent at being consistent. Now, don’t get me wrong! I think I have the worst sweet tooth out there. So advising you to not eat sweets is like asking me not to breathe? Or telling me not to shave my head! (It wouldn’t be pretty) Once again (can you hear the broken record?) it’s all about moderation and allowance. You are surely not going to eat an entire basket of treats like you […]