A few years ago I read a really great book that helped change my perspective on food. It’s called “In Defense of Food,” by Michael Pollan, and it takes a new look at the fundamental assumptions that many Americans make (without even realizing it) about our diets.

According to Pollan’s book, many Americans are suffering from health problems (ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes to heart disease, cancer and stroke) that are caused or made worse by the “Western diet” – full of fat, meat, salt, sugar and processed foods.

Read the full post on Health lessons from Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food”.

By Dr. Joe

February fourth was world cancer day. Since 1971 when then President Nixon declared war on cancer we have seen that despite the spending of billions of dollars, not much headway has been made in reducing the cancer mortality rate. To make real headway we need to turn to genuinely preventing cancer.

If a pill was invented that could reduce your chances of getting cancer by 1/3 there is a fairly strong likelihood you would want to take it.  Good news then.

Read the full post on Can Preventing Cancer Really Be This Simple?.

By Stacy Goldberg

Tempeh, made from fermented soybeans, provides not only protein, but also
dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals like riboflavin and
manganese which are essential for cellular metabolism. In addition, tempeh
holds up well for kabobs on the grill and makes this dish a delicious hit!

Ingredients:
1 package tempeh, cut into 1” cubes
2 cups water
¼ cup tamari
2 green bell peppers, cut into 1” squares
1 large sweet onion, quartered
12 button mushrooms, cleaned
14 cherry tomatoes
2 cups pineapple juice
¼ cup organic ketchup
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
dash of hot pepper sauce
2 cups cooked brown basmati rice

Read the full post on SWEET AND SOUR TEMPEH KEBOBS.

By Real Age
Seems like a pretty tall order. A breakfast choice that can make you love yourself more? But a new study suggests it may be so.

The breakfast item in question? Cereal. In a study, the women who had it for breakfast every morning experienced greater self-esteem than the women who started their days with a muffin — even though both breakfasts had the same number of calories.

Read the full post on Eat This for Breakfast to Experience Self-Love.

By Stacy Goldberg

A savory take on an old favorite, these pancakes are chock of full of vegetables,
including kale. Kale is a kind of cruciferous vegetable which provides cholesterollowering
fiber and phytochemicals called flavanoids, which provide antioxidant and antiinflammatory
benefits. A great option this February for Heart Health Month! A perfect
side dish for your dinner or even a main dish when complemented with salmon, all
natural chicken breast or grilled tofu!

Read the full post on Veggie Pancakes.

By Real Age

Sure, weight loss boils down to a matter of calories in and calories out. But a few subtle and surprising diet changes could greatly increase your pound-shedding potential.

Heather K. Jones, nutrition expert and author of Good Housekeeping’s Drop 5 lbs: The Small Changes, Big Results Diet, recommends these three unusual waist-slimming tactics: Tempt your taste buds with vegetable juice, have a vegetarian lunch once a week, and get a regular seafood fix.

The Fat-Fighting Fare
Here’s how these small adjustments can offer big boosts in your overall weight loss results, according to Jones:

Read the full post on 3 New Tips to Help You Lose Weight This Year.

By Dr. Spencer Baron

It’s so easy to eat poorly . . .
Why do we make it such a challenge to eat right?
So many health problems have come about from the way we eat. It’s fascinating that we simply haven’t modified our diets.

To name a few:

• Arthritis
• Digestive complaints
• Headaches
• Fatigue – low energy
• Skin rashes
• Depression

Two reasons come to mind:

Too Lazy – It’s easier to grab a “to-go meal” or take a pill
or
Don’t know any better - We’ve been so brainwashed by commercials that we tend to believe all food is created equally or that the answer is in a pill.

Read the full post on 7 Reasons Why Today’s Foods Cause Problems – 7 Methods to Easily Reverse Them.

By Stacy Goldberg

Full of flavanoids and phenolic compounds, antioxidants which protect your brain and reduce inflammation, eggplant is a great way to vary your vegetables. Joined by walnuts and raisins, two more antioxidant-packed power-foods, this dip packs a nutritious punch!

Ingredients:
1 pound eggplant
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup golden raisins, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grapeseed oil
salt and pepper to taste
5 (6-inch) fat- free, whole- wheat pita breads (such as Tumaros Low Carb Tortillas or Flatout Light Tortillas)
5 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Read the full post on Eggplant Walnut Dip with Toasted Whole Wheat Pita Chips.

By Dr. Andrew Weil

If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative – but not necessarily a healthier one. However, honey does have some health benefits over sugar, as it:

Read the full post on Is Honey Healthy?.

• Is sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less.
• Has a higher proportion of fructose, which doesn’t stress the pancreas as much as sucrose.
• Has a slightly lower glycemic load than table sugar.
• Contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.

By Dr. Joe

We all know that putting the wrong sort of fuel into the car will mean that it does not run well and may not even run at all. Whilst the body is in some respects “more forgiving” the fuels we feed ourselves will affect how well we function.

The connection between what we eat and our mood is an area, which is getting more attention. We know that substances like alcohol affect mood. Foods (not just magic mushrooms) can also have an affect.

Read the full post on Food Influences Our Mood.