Ok, I admit it, I’ve been known to defy the speed limit. And I’ve paid a hefty price for it on occasion. But when there is no one on the 8-lane highway, it just feels so invigorating to zip through town all speedy in my red Farrari like I rule the road. Ok, fine, no red Farrari, but Read the rest of this entry »

Ah, the beloved onion. What’s not to love? Besides adding good flavor to food, it makes people laugh. It makes people cry. It makes people able to understand each other. And it makes people healthy. All interesting things, but for our salubrious purposes, let’s focus on the last one. Read the rest of this entry »

You may be able to cheat at poker when you play with your friends, but when you go to the poker playing mecca, you can be sure nobody in Vegas will let you pull the wool over their eyes. Don’t get the wool pulled over yours either. When it comes to food, manufacturers know that more people will buy their product if it claims to “lower cholesterol” or “boost immunity.” But many of these companies are cheating, and few people know the rulebook well enough to blow the whistle.

When you see a statement on the front of a carton of yogurt that says “helps builds strong bones,” it is called a structure/function claim. Read the rest of this entry »

Vegetarianism receives much acclaim for fostering numerous health benefits, as it should. In nearly every country where the majority of people consume a plant based diet, rates of heart disease and other related illnesses are significantly lower. However, if the mere thought of eliminating meat from your diet makes your muscles shudder and scream steak, don’t be disheartened. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets are healthful if they are thoughtfully considered. Many of the health benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle are attainable without sacrificing your mom’s famous Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Read the rest of this entry »

I could play Polyanna and pretend to like January: you know, snow angels and Martin Luther King Monday off. But when it comes down to it, I just plain don’t love the month for reasons including, but not limited to: 1) Brrr. 2) Dark when I go to work. Dark when I come home from work. 3) The likelihood of getting the sick bug exponentially increases during this time. Speaking of which…

Did you ever wonder why Mom gave you ginger ale to settle your queasy stomach when you were a sick little kid-o? Well, other than the fact that she is, in fact, pure genius, she probably gave it to you because ginger is proven to reduce nausea. Read the rest of this entry »

If apples are good for me, then apple crisp, pie, or cobbler certainly must exude the same health benefits right? After all, apples make up the base, and rolled oats comprise the topping (albeit a minute fraction). Clearly that means it is a nutrition powerhouse dessert.

If this sounds like your rationalization when you want to eat a “sinfully” delicious food, try again. Most of us LOVE it when our favorite indulgences seem to carry health benefits. Any new articles on the “heart healthy effects of wine” and “chocolate as a health food” sell like hotcakes. But really, let’s be honest. Read the rest of this entry »

We all have our fun, some more than others. Here’s a great way to assist your liver with detoxification on those mornings when, for whatever reason… your liver might need a little extra oomph.

The artichoke is a member of the thistle family, which, similar to the well-known herb Milk Thistle, is fantastic for aiding the liver in detoxification. Artichokes improve liver function, thereby helping to lower blood cholesterol and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries caused by calcium build-up). Eating artichokes Read the rest of this entry »

If the very sight of PEMDA drags you back to Algebra kicking and screaming, “No! I will not excuse your dear Aunt Sally!” you are in luck. When it comes to your health, reaching and maintaining your ideal weight has only 2 steps, and while the order of operation to achieve Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t you just love the books that say ‘Follow these 3 steps and you’ll be successful in life and business!’ Or how about ‘Do a, b, and c, and you’ll have the body of your dreams!’ Who actually buys into those formulaic prescriptions for success anyways?  When it comes to people who prioritize a healthy lifestyle, however, there are definite trends. So, for a nutritious variation on the famous Stephen Covey theme:  7 (of the many) habits of highly nutritious eaters.

1) They eat fresh and snack well
Nutritious eaters know that consuming the recommended 9 servings of fruits and vegetables in 3 square meals every day is a difficult feat. So they maximize Read the rest of this entry »

Sorbet may be the old standby ‘palate cleanser,’ but it’s time to upgrade and put the tannins to the taste buds. Trust me, this one will really pop your cork…literally.

Even children know that certain beverages pair well with particular foods. Oreos are great with milk, but not so much with tomato juice; oatmeal doesn’t exactly work with Dr. Pepper either. Same goes for wine. Conventionally, red wine pairs well with Read the rest of this entry »