nutrients

Vegetables are certainly better for you raw. Or at least that's what we've been told. There has been an ongoing debate between raw and cooked vegetables. It is believed that cooking can deplete vegetables of their nutrients. While for some vegetables this may be true, it is not always the case.

While some vegetables lose nutrients as they are cooked, others gain them. How can that be, you ask? Let's take a look at these vegetables to see why some are better with a little bit of heat and some are better left alone.

It’s easy to focus on those plump, crunchy parts of root vegetables, but who knew that the foliage above ground, responsible for all the goodness that grows below, is just as nutritious? I’m talking about your carrots, beets, and even those radishes that you may – hopefully – purchase with the tops flopping around awkwardly. Don’t be fooled! Those tops are a goldmine of nutrients including iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, folate, and vitamins A, B, C, E and K.

Drinking juice is a pleasant way to keep your diet packed with nutrients. If you use organic ingredients, you can also avoid absorbing pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals that are unfortunately often found in many contemporary food products. A juicer processes the fruits and vegetables you need into an easily digestible and tasty form.

As winter approaches there is a lot of work that has to be done in order to prepare. I usually start with the garden.

Driving through Dateland, Arizona, we had to stop at the travel center and get a date shake. With soaring summer temperatures and a long day’s drive, it was a much needed break from the road. The creamy, sweet shake got me thinking about the origin of dates and why an area would be so inclined to pride itself on a single crop. After investigating, I began to understand what makes this fruit so sought after and how its nutritional benefits have been enjoyed for thousands of year.

Quinoa, pronounced “keen-wah”, originated in the area of Chile and Peru and flourishes in altitudes from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. It is a fruit of the family Chenopodium and is an annual herb with seeds growing in clusters at the top of the stalk, much like millet. The native peoples used the seeds for cereal, in cakes and brewed into a beer; the leaves were eaten much like spinach. It was the second most cultivated crop in the native cultures and highly valued for its protein and high nutritional content.  

Are you looking for your next big adventure? If so, why not start with your dinner plate? Exploring a plant-based diet may not sound all too adventurous, but it certainly can be. Preparing mouthwatering plant-based meals is far from boring; as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more and more creative in the kitchen, solely with the help of plant-based flavors. More importantly, I’ve lived on a plant-based diet my entire life, and have witnessed the numerous health benefits firsthand.

There is a quite a difference in the meaning of the term craving depending on what school of thought provides the definition. For example, the healing community defines cravings as a signal that the body is deficient in a vitamin, mineral or water, and needs vital nutrients. The medical industry is trying to prove that cravings are only manifestations of the mind.

The Benefits of Coffee AND Tea:

Conversations about coffee and tea are often phrased in terms of either/or: are you a coffee person OR a tea person? There are amazing benefits to both of these tasty, refreshing, and comforting beverages – and we’re going to discuss both! You can always switch back and forth, or choose what sounds the best in the moment. Coffee and tea can provide some much needed energy and nutrients.