December 5, 2023

Trust Your Gut: The Mind-Gut Connection

The mind-gut connection: What is it and how did it evolve? Chances are, at some point in your life, you’ve noticed the connection between your brain and your gut. If you’ve ever felt queasy as you walked into an uncomfortable situation or based a life decision on a “gut feeling,” then you know that sometime our bodies react faster than our minds. Digestion and emotion have long been treated separately in medicine and science, like dots far apart on a map. Despite the phrase “gut feeling” that implicitly connects the belly and the brain, the reality is that gut physiology, […]
September 10, 2023

What Foods Can Help Improve Your Mind?

What foods can you eat to improve your mind? Watch the video to find out. Learn more about brain-boosting foods in these articles: MIND Diet Could Help Prevent Dementia Diet for the Mind Fights Memory Loss     Buy our new cookbook, Anti-Aging Dishes From Around the World, to find Mind-enhancing recipes like Brain-Boosting Berbere African Spice Mix Maple Herb Roasted Tofu Moroccan Brownie Bites Marrakesh Spice Mix Blueberry Upside Down Cake Egg Salad with Turmeric  
December 28, 2022

11 Good Reasons To Practice Mindfulness

As a certified holistic wellness coach, there’s very little I haven’t tried in the field of health and wellness practices. With personal certifications in yoga, reiki, Hawaiian healing and meditation, there’s so much I can say I’ve gained from each one, but meditation is truly the practice that has taught me the most. The legend, Davidji, who trained and certified me to teach meditation says, “meditation is the act of watching the progressive fluctuations of the mind.” This description most accurately depicts mindfulness meditation; A form of meditation where one practices being conscious and aware of something. So, what about […]
July 30, 2022

What is a FoodTrient?

The inspiration for my empowering FoodTrients program—this website, the cookbook, my board of advisors—really came from my father.  He was a physician and he had a way of looking at food as though it could heal us.  He understood the value of the vitamins and minerals found in fresh foods and how those elements could influence our health.  Foods like organic fruits and vegetables, wild fish, and humanely raised animals have so many good things in it: antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory agents, fiber, and anti-bacterial compounds.  I needed to come up with a term to encompass the […]
June 7, 2022

Dark Chocolate Mousse

It’s hard to imagine, but this vegan version of chocolate mousse offers the same satisfaction as its richer, less healthy sibling. Contributed by my colleague Dr. Lynn Blair, it has all of the same creaminess, the satiny, melt-in-your-mouth pleasure, and the full, no-holds-barred taste you expect from a dense and rich chocolate mousse. And if that’s not enough, just add plenty of great health benefits. Soy contains isoflavones, which help preserve bone density, lower your risk of certain cancers, and may alleviate menopausal symptoms. Dark chocolate has catechins, which are neuroprotective, and theobromine, which improves blood flow and lowers blood […]
May 31, 2022

Brain-Boosting Berbere African Spice Blend

Berebere spice mix has been used in Africa in one form or another for many years. It originated in Ethiopia and/or Eritrea. It most commonly contains a mild to hot mix of chili peppers, coriander, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, cardamom, nutmeg and cloves. More authentic blends will include korarima, an Ethiopian cardamom instead of the Indian variety, along with nigella seeds and ajwain, another type of seed. I use this robust spice mix to flavor stir-fries, soups and stews. It packs some (but not too much) heat. Benefits: Fenugreek has choline which may support healthy brain function and memory. Chilies and […]
May 31, 2022

Marrakesh Spice Mix

This sweet and savory blend from Morocco gives an exotic flavor to lamb, poultry and vegetables like carrots and cauliflower. Benefits: Cloves and cinnamon both have antiseptic properties. Cumin contains safranal, an antioxidant that may have some antidepressant properties. Ground spices like these contain small amounts of minerals like manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron for an additional nutrition boost. Yields about ½ cup   Ingredients 2 Tbs. ground cinnamon 2 Tbs. ground cumin 2 Tbs. ground coriander seed 1 tsp. ground cayenne pepper 1 tsp. ground cloves   Directions Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar […]
May 30, 2022

Age Beautifully with FoodTrients

As I’ve been telling my story these past few years about how I developed an anti-aging cookbook based on the food-is-medicine principle called FoodTrients, I’ve expanded my method for creating delicious, comforting recipes designed to keep you young, healthy and beautiful. It’s a lot easier than I imagined, and it’s the focus of The AGE BEAUTIFULLY COOKBOOK: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World. The recipes are mainly quick and easy to make, and will introduce readers to age-defying foods and flavors from around the world, with a focus on beauty that emanates from the inside. As I […]
January 26, 2022

Maple Herb Roasted Tofu

If you think tofu always lacks flavor, you have to give this sweet, savory, and herbaceous soy-based holiday entree a try. A simple blend of oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and tamari or soy sauce combine to create a flavorful entree that’s wholly worthy of a coveted spot on your holiday table. The added aroma from fresh, wintry herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage is just a bonus. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will love this comforting and festive main dish! The tofu provides plant-based protein for strength while the vinegar and tamari promote gut health. Rosemary boosts brain power. […]