January 29, 2024

It’s Citrus Season and the Squeeze Is On!

Here in Southern California, just about every yard and neighborhood has citrus trees heavy with fruit. I have a number of fruit trees myself and always marvel at how plentiful and tasty the oranges, lemons and limes are this time of year. Just about any variety of citrus is at its best in the winter months, but there are some new and unusual varieties that are pretty spectacular. Along with great taste, all citrus are high in vitamins A and C and fiber, while naturally low in calories. Grapefruit Red grapefruit varieties such as Flame, Ruby, Rio Red and Star […]
December 19, 2023

Pomegranates Add Pizzazz to the Holidays

When pomegranates arrive on produce shelves, they remind me that fall is here and the holidays are upon us. Pomegranates are in season during fall and winter, and they deserve a place on every holiday table because of their beautiful color and cranberry-like flavor. In my AGE GRACEFULLY COOKBOOK, I have a recipe for Pomegranate Iced Tea that utilizes the juice of this amazing fruit along with its beautiful red seeds. It’s a festive drink for any occasion. In my AGE BEAUTIFULLY COOKBOOK, I have a delicious recipe for Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds, and if you love Brussels sprouts like I do, […]
July 5, 2022

Superfoods: The Raw Power of Strawberries

It’s common knowledge that certain berries are nutrition powerhouses, but when it comes to fighting a vast array of diseases and health problems, few berries stack up to the strawberry in terms of sheer health potency. From combating inflammation and controlling diabetes, to protecting cognitive function and improving heart health, strawberries can bolster your body’s health in countless ways. An in vitro cell study using an extract from strawberry leaves on leukemia cells found significant cancer-killing activity, while freezing-dried strawberries slowed the growth of two varieties of cervical cancer cells grown in culture. Strawberries’ Story Strawberries are one of the […]
May 4, 2022

Mangoes: All Hail the ‘King of Fruits’!

For those of us who grew up in Southeast Asia, mangoes are as common there as apples are here in North America—they are everywhere and in just about everything. My mom encouraged me to eat mangoes every day and I was happy to oblige. They are delicious with a wonderful, tropical scent and a flavor that’s a cross between pineapple and a luscious, ripe peach. The juicy flesh has a smooth, silky texture. Originally cultivated at the foot of the Himalayas 4,000 years ago, mangoes are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Right now is the beginning […]
August 1, 2021

FoodTrients Energy Bars

You can easily make your own granola bars with your most favorite ingredients in the comfort of your home. These simple bars are sweet from dates and offer plenty of texture and crunch, not to mention heart-healthy omega-3s, from a variety of nuts. Be sure to use the variety you enjoy the most! Almond butter helps the mixture stick together while coconut flakes add depth of flavor and more texture to the mixture. These are perfect before or after workouts or for a snack at school or work. Feel free to roll these into balls instead of bars if desired. […]
September 10, 2019

5 Stress-reducing Summer Smoothies

It’s hard not to get excited about a well-made smoothie, especially at a time of year when just looking outside is enough to make you sweat. Just when you thought the entire brilliant concept of smoothies simply couldn’t get any better—it did. Starting with these recipes. Check ’em out. Not only are these ultra-refreshing blends enough to make us drool, but they also contain stress-fighting ingredients to breathe new life into a downer of a day. We repeat: Stress-fighting. Need we say more? 1. Vanilla Chamomile Smoothie What you’ll need: 1 cup spinach 2 bananas 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 inch ginger, finely shredded or […]
July 23, 2019

Fruit Juices Could Increase Diabetes Risk

Fruit can be an excellent snack, but are you eating it the right way? Yes, there actually is a “right way” to eat fruit
February 19, 2019

Sip or Sup(plement) – There’s a Tea for All Seasons

You’ll find leaf teas in the beverage aisle, but tea may appear in the supplements section, too. What makes tea qualified to be in the supplement category? Here are the facts. Just like fruits and vegetables, teas from the Camellia sinensis plant are loaded with micronutrients—so much so that some teas are sold in the supplements aisle as well as on the beverage shelf. Tea is an optimal health drink, says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, nutrition professor and senior scientist in Tufts University’s Antioxidants Research Laboratory, because it has no calories and offers abundant polyphenols, plant compounds such as catechins that […]
June 4, 2018

What Foods Help You Live Longer?

The most beautiful people I know are not model perfect. They are people who wear a gorgeous smile along with their glowing skin, bright eyes, healthy body and positive energy. They look good because they feel good, and they know the foods that can help them look and feel younger. But eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing the foods you love or giving up satisfying, great-tasting meals. My new book, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, is filled with delicious foods that also deliver the benefits of health, well-being and longevity. It’s not a diet program or a meal plan, but a way […]