Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s healing system. Without it, injuries would fester and simple infections could be deadly. Too much of a good thing, though, can be dangerous. Chronic low-grade inflammation is intimately involved in all stages of atherosclerosis, the process that leads to cholesterol-clogged arteries. This means that inflammation sets […]

It’s the season of less and lighter – summer. The time of year when you really don’t want to be weighed down. Here are some easy, refreshing and original ideas for optimizing your food choices that are both seasonal and simple. People tend to show off more skin during the summer months so a lot […]

 Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? If your family is spread out like mine, Thanksgiving and the December holidays represent a time when most of us gather at someone’s house to share stories about our lives and our year. Food abounds, libations flow, and resolve can go right out the door! Here are some great […]

NATURE’S PHARMACY IN YOUR PANTRY In the ancient words of Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food”. Today’s physicians now believe that wise Greek philosopher was way ahead of his time. “There is an overwhelming strong database suggesting that the quality of calories we eat has a huge impact on […]

Herbs and spices are an important part of the human diet. Not only do they enhance the taste and flavor of foods, they also increase their shelf life by being both antimicrobial and anti-oxidant. Herbs and spices also exhibit a wide range of physiological and pharmacological properties. Dietary factors play an important role in human […]

“Popcorn lung” is an irreversible scarring of the small airways in the lung. Popcorn lung is caused by chemicals some manufactures add to their microwave popcorn to give it a buttery taste. The chemical is diacetyl, which is a natural by-product found in cheese, butter, yogurt and wine. Damage from this chemical happens when large […]

Close your eyes and visualize all of the colors of the rainbow. Now think of the various colors of your dinner meal. What hues are represented? March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme, Eat Right with Color! is ripe for painting a visual impression of abundance. Here in California, we are fortunate to […]