Rich in calories, carbohydrates and vitamin C, plus highly versatile and full of flavor, yucca root is an important dietary component for millions around the world. It can be mashed, boiled, baked or fried and swapped in for potatoes in just about any recipe. It's also used to make a variety of gluten-free flours and…
The goji berry plant, or “wolfberry fruit" as it's known in China, is a great source of immune-supporting polysaccharides and antioxidants prized for for over 2,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some legends report that goji berries were eaten by monks in the Himalayan Mountains and steeped in hot water to help aid meditation and obtain…
The potato is a staple food in American cuisine, often used as in side dishes to accompany a protein and vegetable. This vegetable is inexpensive, available worldwide and relatively easy to grow. So are potatoes healthy, and if so, how many should eat? The biggest vegetable crop in the United States, potatoes are one of…
Not only are nigella seeds used similarly to cumin, sesame and fennel seeds in cooking, but they're also the main ingredient found in black seed oil and kalonji, a natural remedy that has been used for centuries to help support the immune system. Nigella seeds and kalonji (the Hindi name for this plant) are full of antioxidants,…
For hundreds of years, shiitake mushrooms have been a popular food source in Asia. In fact, they're the second most popular and the third most widely cultivated edible mushroom in the world. Today, shiitakes can be found in most grocery stores because of their meaty and versatile flavor, but did you know that they're packed…
Rice gets a bad rap but, if you choose the right type, it can be a healthy, filling carbohydrate to occasionally include in meals. That's why I use brown rice in this stuffed peppers recipe. This easy stuffed peppers recipe combines it with meat (use ground bison or grass-fed beef) and seasonings for a perfectly…
There’s an herbal remedy that’s been used by native populations in Central and South America for thousands for years, shown to help relieve a wide range of problems from skin dermatitis to coughs. Starting in around the 1950s, European physicians considered sarsaparilla root a “tonic, blood purifier, diuretic and sweat promoter” that could help treat serious,…
If you're a fan of French cuisine or cooking, you may be familiar with chervil, a green herb in the parsley plant family that's also related to cilantro. It's one herb used to make the classic French seasoning mix called the "fines herbes blend" — along with parsley, tarragon and chives — that flavor recipes…
You may not be aware that an item that is in your kitchen right now might have one of the most impressive lists of health benefits out there. But it’s true: the black pepper sitting innocently in your shaker is an incredibly powerful little spice used for millennia to heal the sick. Can you eat…
What is black rice? Despite being less popular than brown rice or wild rice, black rice, also known as "forbidden rice" or "emperor's rice," is an ancient grain that has even more impressive health benefits than many other rice varieties. Not only is it the type of rice that is richest in powerful, disease-fighting antioxidants,…
