health

From late November through New Year’s Eve, we can become overtaken with this season of comfort and cheer, celebration and indulgence. We typically arrive at the end of the year with a full belly, large credit card bill, and in addition to warm, cozy feelings of love and camaraderie, some feelings of shame or guilt or “time to get back to work!” Does this sound slightly familiar? I’d be surprised if it didn’t, and if not, you must tell me your secret!

You either love it – or hate it.

I stand in the group of cilantro lovers – I’m happy to pile on that peppery, parsley stunt double. But for a small percentage of the population, including the late French chef Julia Child, the flat-leafed herb tastes oddly like soap, or even bugs.

Cilantro is the Spanish term for the leaves of the coriander plant – you probably recognize coriander as a dried fruit or seed used in many ethnic dishes. The word “coriander” is believed to be derived from the Greek word “koris,” meaning “bedbug.”

In this modern age, the masses–all too often–look to prescription and pharmaceutical drugs to help alleviate daily ailments and discomforts. While these substances may be readily available and effective in suppressing the initial pain, they are taxing on the liver – especially when used on a regular basis.

It’s almost cranberry season! I saw a package of fresh cranberries at the market and thought it was the “perfect juice experiment.”

I love tea and coffee with all my heart and soul. But sometimes it’s nice to change things up over the colder months, whether it’s to cut down on caffeine or just for the sake of variety. There are so many drinks that can soothe, warm, and stimulate the body just as well as more commonplace options. Below are a few of my favorites!

Mexican Hot Chocolate

If you don’t know what herbal tonics are, winter is a really great time to learn about them. They are easy to make and simple to store, but the benefits are incredible.

What Are Tonics?

Herbal tonics consist of an infusion of herbs mixed with water, consumable alcohol, vinegar, or oil. Tonics are used to restore and refresh our bodies, as well aspromote our general health and well-being. There are various ‘tonic herbs’ that will increase your overall vitality, improve longevity, invigorate the internal systems, and even strengthen the spirit.

Oats are the grains of the common oat plant, Avena sativa. From being mocked as the ‘poor man’s breakfast’ oats have become an asset for many to combat bad lifestyle and poor nutrition. Full of carbohydrates, proteins and fiber, a bowl of oats in the morning is definitely a start to a healthier you...

Why are oats so healthy?

Oats are healthy because of what they contain. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients of oats:

Have you ever heard of bitter melon? This highly-medicinal fruit-vegetable hybrid is beneficial when eaten raw or juiced.

Bitter melon sure is pretty, but looks can be very deceiving. When eaten raw, bitter melon has a taste that can only be described as well, bitter — with a hint of cabbage. Doesn’t sound too appetizing, does it? Well, I was willing to look past the awful taste in order to get some of that bitter, bitter nectar in my body. It’s often the most awful tasting foods that end up being the best for you.

By the time I was old enough to care about diets, the “low-fat” concept was beyond just a fad. It was universally accepted that fat was the culprit of weight and health issues, and low- and no-fat options were ubiquitous in the grocery store.

Tis the season for all things pumpkin. After trying some pumpkin-orange juice at a fancy-schmancy restaurant; I knew I had to try juicing this autumnal squash at home.