Digestion and assimilation of nutrients are complex processes that occur over several hours, starting from the moment that you place food into your mouth. The pancreas is essential in digestion, as it it secretes pancreatic enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of foods into smaller molecules — allowing the body to actually use fats, vitamins, minerals,…
While basically all high-fiber foods have certain benefits to offer, some stand out due to specific types of fiber they provide. One type of fiber called beta glucan, found in foods like oats and barley, is associated with an impressive amount of health perks — such as protection against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular issues and obesity.…
When you see the word flour, it typically means that something has been ground into a flour, either from its original state or a dried state. It is no different with green banana flour. Not to be confused with the plantain, organic green banana flour may be familiar to you if you are always on…
You'd think that "self-care" is a series of intuitive actions that are done naturally, but that's not really true, is it? Practicing self-care really requires reflection and motivation. Your self-care checklist may differ greatly from your spouse's, mother's or child's, so it also needs to be customized to suit your needs. But don't underestimate the…
You may never have heard of diatomaceous earth before, but chances are you've consumed or used plenty of products that contain it. What is diatomaceous earth, and does it really work? Diatomaceous earth is a powder that comes from the cell walls or shells of diatoms, or aquatic organisms. It's commonly used by humans to…
Chips, hot dogs, pizza and ice cream are obvious unhealthy foods. They're not considered healthy by most of us, let alone nutritionists. But what about unhealthy foods masquerading as "health foods"? In the food industry, it's long been a practice to sell their foods as healthy despite their foods being anything but. It's called customer…
Often called “wheat protein,” “wheat meat” or “wheat gluten,” seitan (pronounced say-tahn) has a look and texture shockingly similar to meat when it’s cooked, and its alternative namesakes are quite fitting since it’s made from gluten, the main protein found in wheat. Seitan stands out as one of the few meat substitutes completely free of soy. Like its soy counterparts,…
Spinach is considered to be one of the world's healthiest foods, with researchers identifying more than a dozen different types of flavonoid antioxidants alone that are present in the leafy green, not to mention all of its other vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. Spinach nutrition has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities, and if you combine that with…
Some things seem specifically designed to put you in a bad mood, like parking tickets or 40-minute wait times when you call customer service. There is another rotten mood culprit out there: the bad mood foods you may be eating. How poor nutrition contributes to bad moods Think about how you feel after inhaling a…
Originating in the Far East around 2,000 years ago, kombucha is a beverage with tremendous health benefits extending to your heart, your brain and (especially) your gut, and those aren't the only kombucha benefits. How does this ancient drink make such a huge difference in your body? Why is it considered one of the top…
