Bitter and pungent-tasting foods are largely absent from the Standard American Diet (SAD diet)—a way of eating characterized by refined grains, sugar (in all of its refined and processed forms), high intake of factory farm red meats, processed meats (think bacon, sausage, hot dogs, deli meats) and unhealthy fats, like vegetable oils (e.g., canola oil, […]
Braised Napa Cabbage with Sesame Oil
While I am NOT a fan of the common cabbage, I love Napa cabbage, which does not smell or taste “cabbage-y”. Its cylindrical-shaped head of tightly packed leaves are longer, softer, mild-tasting and almost sweet when cooked. Napa cabbage is also budget-friendly ($1.29 / pound where I shop), filling and delicious. Bonus: it’s listed as […]
Relationships…and Your Health
— Happy Lunar New Year! The bittersweet plant, also known as climbing nightshade, pops up along a certain stretch of the country road that I walk. The tangle of vines, from which bright red berries hang, is beautiful…and often ends up on our fireplace mantle as a decorative element. Bittersweet symbolizes truth, honesty and, energetically, […]
Cleanse Salad
Mixing flavors and textures can turn a simple salad into a satisfying and nourishing meal. Why is this salad so satisfying? Because the flavors are balanced, in harmony and the textures are diverse, from tender leafy greens, to tiny bursts of pomegranate seed sweetness. This nutrient-dense salad comes together in a delicious way: a nice […]
Autumn Harvest Salad
Americans tend to think of “salad” as a “diet food” or an obligatory “healthy food” you eat to lose weight. More often than not, salads resemble dessert, especially when you add candied nuts, dried cranberries (or any kind of dried fruit), cheese, croutons and creamy, sugar-infused dressings or fruity vinaigrettes. If you eat your salad […]
Quick & Easy Broiled Sardines
One of my all-time favorite Sicilian dishes is Bucatini con le Sarde (bucatini, being a fat, long, hollow pasta, with sardines, currants and pine nuts….mmm!). While I don’t eat wheat- or gluten-based foods these days (including, sadly, bucatini), I still love and appreciate the deliciousness of sardines. These small, oily fish are a concentrated source […]
Simple Immune-Boosting Salad
Simple salads featuring fresh, organic ingredients, can elevate the seemingly mundane into something truly delicious, satisfying and nourishing. My salad got an unexpected flavor boost from two ingredients that I bought at the farmers’ market: radishes and Chinese chives. Chinese chives (jiu cai), also known as garlic chives, have flat broad leaves (see photo) and […]
Better Breast Health: Eat These 3 Foods
The Big 3 | Eat More Eating more of the following foods is key to supporting your breast health. 1. Organic Leafy Greens Leafy greens are a rich source of vitamins, like mood-balancing folate; hard-to-get minerals, like magnesium; and high in fiber and phytonutrients. Lettuce greens, from mesclun and Bibb, to red leaf and butter […]
Protect Your Breasts: Limit / Avoid the Big 3
There are many steps toward breast health that you can take, including moving your body daily; sleeping 7 to 9 hours every night; using non-toxic personal care and household products; doing a breast self-exam and/or having your gynecologist do it at your annual visit. However, I am going to focus on what you can avoid […]
Understanding Estrogen: How It Affects Breast Health
Estrogen is the hormone that gives women their curves—hips and breasts. In the right amount, estrogen enables a woman to focus (no brain fog!) and contributes to balanced mood (no mood swings!), a timely (and pain-free) menstrual cycle and a healthy libido. Estrogen also positively affects the brain, skin, bones, liver and heart. Progesterone keeps […]