Food For Thought: What are amino acids and where can you find them?

When I publish articles about the health benefits of different foods, I often mention amino acids. For anyone not in the know, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are roughly 500 amino acids that we know about, but all proteins are formed from 20 of those. Amino acids are required for just […]

Food For Thought: Squeeze in some selenium

Minerals are broken down into two different categories: macrominerals and micro minerals (also known as trace minerals). While macro minerals are required in large quantities to keep your cells healthy, micro minerals are needed in very small amounts—usually less than 100 milligrams per day. Magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous are all considered macro minerals. Micro minerals […]

Food For Thought: Cast your vote for cast iron

If you feel that cooking in cast iron is more your grandmother’s speed than your own, you might want to rethink that outdated belief. Cast iron is an efficient way to cook and it’s a healthy option, too. I think those old-fashioned cast iron skillets deserve a place in even the most modern of kitchens. […]

Food For Thought: For meat you will praise, learn how to braise!

If you always seem to end up with stringy, tough meat that you can’t get a knife through (let alone your teeth), you can only blame the animal and/or the cut for so long! I firmly believe that with the right cooking method, you can turn the most humble of cuts into a star. Braising […]

Food For Thought: How about some Calcium?

If your skin is looking dry, your nails are breaking more than usual, and/or your teeth are starting to look a little yellow, you may be deficient in calcium. Muscle cramping is another sign of a calcium deficiency. Also, if you’ve been experiencing more intense PMS symptoms, that’s another sign that you might need to […]

Food For Thought: Pumping Iron!

You most likely recognize that we need iron in our bodies to help make our blood healthy. And, if you’re like most people, you know that we get this important mineral from red meat. But there are lots of other places where we can get iron into our diets, and there are also ways we […]

Food For Thought: The importance of magnesium is greater than we thought

Every week I share articles with you that tout the health benefits of all kinds of foods. When I came across an article recently about how the majority of Americans are deficient in a mineral that is more important to our diets than previously believed, I thought it was time I started to share information […]

Food For Thought: I’m cuckoo for coconuts!

Coconuts are my new best friend. I am, quite frankly, nuts over them. But I’m not only talking about the meat of the coconut (which is delicious), but I’m in love with coconut oil (virgin organic coconut oil, please) and coconut butter and coconut milk. Heck, it’s all good! You may be sitting there thinking, […]

Food For Thought: Do you consider coffee
your friend or foe?

Last week I wrote about foods that will do wonders for your mood. One thing I didn’t mention in that piece, however, was why you might want to think about easing back on a certain little trouble-making drug from your diet. You know it and you probably know it well (I know I do!): caffeine. […]