Before the pumpkin spice latte (and pumpkin spice everything else) craze swept the nation, fall was plain ol’ pumpkin season: pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup and, of course, pumpkins carved into jack-o’-lanterns. As a Halloween tradition, it can be fun to learn how to carve a pumpkin and make your own jack-o'-lantern. “Pumpkin” is a term…
Is broccoli the healthiest vegetable? It’s certainly near the top of the list thanks to all that broccoli nutrition provides. Ask any nutritionist, medical doctor, neuropath or nutrition researcher for his or her personal list of the most nutrient-dense foods, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are sure to show up on all of them. Broccoli is…
You know what they say, “Variety is the spice of life,” right? Adding certain condiments to your meals can be a great way to kick up the flavor of basic, healthy foods — making them more tasty, appetizing and enjoyable. But not all condiments belong in your refrigerator or pantry. Many are surprisingly loaded with…
Do you need a snack that will help improve muscle tone, keep energy levels steady and boost your metabolism? Then it’s time you introduce high-protein snacks into your diet. As an essential nutrient in our bodies, our bodies need enough high-protein foods to run smoothly. In the battle of the bulge, protein’s ability to jump-start…
In the past few decades, our diets have changed dramatically. Highly processed foods are more common than fruits and vegetables, as Americans opt for convenient choices that fit in to their busy lifestyles. Enter the Paleo diet plan, which seeks to ditch processed options in favor of the foods eaten by our ancestors. The Paleo…
Pancakes are the ultimate breakfast comfort food, but they often have a similar "cakey" taste that sometimes gets a little boring. But just like it's a delicious transition once in a while from regular bread to banana bread, the same holds true for banana pancakes. In addition, the key ingredients in conventional pancakes — conventional…
The topic of grilling carcinogens is probably the last thing you want to focus on while heading up for a summer cookout. The truth is when we’re playing softball, enjoying a family picnic or watching fireworks, there's a good chance you're in front of a grill firing up some hot dogs, burgers, shrimp, ribs or…
Senna is an herb that comes from a variety of flowering species of Cassia plants, often used to make senna tea. Senna leaf, fruit and pods have been used in tea form as a purgative or natural laxative for centuries. In fact, Arabian physicians are said to have discussed senna's medicinal qualities all the way…
Although it may sound like a complicated process, methylation is the basis for life. What does methylation do in the body? It helps embryos first develop and grow and then assists in gene expression, nutrient conversion and many other bodily processes. Methylation supports functions of the cardiovascular, detoxification and neurological systems, just to name a…