May 10, 2023

Miraculous Mushrooms Are a Food Powerhouse

Most of the people I know have very strong feelings about mushrooms—they either love them or hate them. One of the beauties of mushrooms is that they usually take on the flavor of whatever they are cooked with. If it’s garlic and olive oil, that’s what they taste like. If they’re in a spicy Asian stir fry, they take on those flavors. One thing is certain — mushrooms are healthy little powerhouses of immunity boosters, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Rich in B vitamins such as riboflavin, folate, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and niacin, they are also the only vegan, non-fortified dietary […]
March 23, 2021

Annatto Seeds Pack a Powerful Punch of Vitamins

Many people have never heard of annatto, also called achiote. The closest most of us in North America have
March 9, 2021

Staying Well: Winter Superfoods Come To the Rescue

Here in Southern California we’re enjoying a break from relatively cold weather. But in reality, we have 
July 4, 2017

4 Super Reasons to Eat Strawberries

Strawberries are loaded with antioxidants, which help defend cell structures in the body and protect the body’s organs. Strawberries are second only to plums as the richest fruit in phenols and antioxidants, and are especially high in cancer- and heart disease-fighting flavonoids, quercetin, catechin, and kaempferol. Strawberries can offer enhanced protection against crippling inflammation-related diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Strawberries have shown an ability to inhibit tumor growth and to slow the progress of tumors as they begin to develop, according to a study using rats with esophageal cancer. In a study done by the Institute of Biochemistry in Ancona, Italy, researchers found that when […]
July 5, 2016

Grace O’s Recipes Have To Pass Test

By Grace O After I’ve added nutrient-dense, anti-aging ingredients, it’s time to test and re-test the recipe until it has the perfect balance of flavors, textures, and colors. I think it’s important for food to look good, have an interesting texture, whether smooth or crunchy or a combination thereof, and be balanced in acidity and spice. I like to have a mix of recipes that, when served together in one meal, tingle all of the taste categories: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (an earthy flavor). Then each recipe is tested by my FoodTrients team and has received a nutritionist’s […]
May 25, 2016

Creating Recipes Is Like Therapy for Grace O

For me, it is never a chore or a bore to create recipes. In fact, it’s a kind of therapy for me, and it’s also a way to continue to learn about food and how our diets contribute to wellness. I start with classic dishes, many of which I learned how to make from my mother, and I amp up their nutrient value with anti-aging super foods, some of them quite exotic but easy to obtain. I research new ingredients constantly, always learning about antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables from all over the world. I have a list of my favorite […]
September 17, 2015

Foods That Build Better Bones and Teeth

We all want strong bones and teeth. As we age, we tend to grow wary of developing osteoporosis. Exercise, especially weight and resistance training, certainly helps strengthen our bones. Our diet can be a boon to bone health as well. Certain FoodTrients—such as isoflavones and potassium—can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Eating foods rich in these FoodTrients and in calcium and protein can go a long way toward developing a beautiful skeleton. Calcium promotes bone growth, proper nerve signaling, helps our blood to clot, and regulates blood pressure. It can be found in abundance in dairy products, […]
May 26, 2015

6 Perfect Reasons To Eat Pineapple

I was sitting in my friend’s lush, tropical-style garden recently, admiring her beautiful collection of flowering bromeliads. These are very exotic looking plants with spiky leaves and red, pink or golden elongated flowers reaching out from the middle. They are native to the tropics of Central and South America and West Africa. In a colorfully glazed pot there was a miniature ornamental pineapple. I remembered that pineapples are also bromeliads and this got me thinking about how much I enjoy pineapple and the wonderful things pineapples do for your health. Pineapples are second only to bananas as Americans’ favorite tropical […]
April 29, 2015

Try These Cancer-Preventing Foods

Cancer is responsible for 1 out of every 4 deaths in the U.S.A. One of the best cancer-prevention tools for health is eating the right foods, but finding the motivation to eat right sometimes alludes us until we, or someone we love, is faced with a deadly disease. Garlic, produces sulfur compounds and allicin. Sulfur compounds detoxify the body and help prevent cancer. Allicin thins the blood and reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer. It’s best to eat garlic after it has been crushed so that these cancer-fighting compounds can form. Dried garlic or roasted garlic doesn’t […]