One of the most important things you can do for your health is to pay attention to your water consumption. When it comes to water, quantity and quality both deserve your consideration. Need a reminder of why water is crucial for attaining optimal health? In his book Effortless Healing: 9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, […]
Ask Chef Phyllis: It’s popular today to make pizza crust out of cauliflower rice, and I’ve seen it for sale in the produce section of my supermarket. I’ve tried sneaking vegetables into many of my children’s favorite foods, such as mac and cheese, with some success. Though cauliflower rice worked, cauliflower pizza crust didn’t fool […]
Every once in a while, I run across some information that reminds me how there are so many special plants and/or foods that do so much more than look pretty. Then again, once you embark upon the study of plants and foods, you realize that very few of them are just pretty. They all contain […]
I am constantly on the lookout for exciting, innovative ways to broaden my palate and my culinary knowledge. Sure, I have my favorite fallback flavors, for which I will always hold a special fondness, but branching out of my comfort zone with unusual spices, meat cuts, and produce keeps things interesting, and more times than not, winds up creating new favorites. Such is the case with this Jamaican oxtail […]
The next time you’re standing in a room with a dozen people or more, pause and take a look around. Chances are, one of these people is dealing with an addiction to alcohol on some level. According to Facing Addiction (formerly known as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence), 17.6 million adults are […]
When should you arrange a dental checkup for your dog or cat? Some things to watch out for are bad breath, not eating, drooling, licking, just not feeling good. However, not all bad breath stems from dirty teeth. If your dog’s teeth don’t look dirty, we need to consider digestion. Your veterinarian will be able […]
Ask Chef Phyllis Our neighbors stopped by recently around lunchtime, and all I had in the house was eggs. I know that frittatas are so popular today, but what proportions make a good one? What kind of pan is best? My guests said that a cast-iron skillet is a good choice. Can you help? —Christine […]
The transition between winter and spring can often be a little challenging for the home cook. Market shelves are unpredictable, and the quality and taste of produce is heavily dependent on whether the season cooperates in prime growing areas. Not to mention, at this time of year, it can be hot and sunny one day, […]
With National Nutrition Month coming to an end, a look at what it means to take this topic for granted seems in order. If you’re lucky, you were brought up eating all the right things (at least most of the time) and you’ve continued as you started making your own food choices (again, at least most of the time). But what if that […]
Among health, wellness, and medical communities, CBD (cannabidiol) is in the limelight these days—and deservedly so. For openers, in mid-2018 the FDA approved Epidiolex, a CBD-based oral solution that treats seizures associated with two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy. This is the first time the FDA has approved a drug containing an active ingredient derived […]
A few months ago I suddenly experienced a great deal of joint pain and stiffness, even though this has been a mild winter and I’ve never been prone to arthritic–type pains before. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but I still went to see my favorite chiropractor, Dr. Joe Givan, and his adjustment […]
It’s my birthday today; and it’s a big one. Or at least that’s what everyone seems to be telling me…. Me? I’m kind of feeling somewhat neutral about it all. Not that I’m uninterested in celebrating the occasion, but I don’t really feel an urge to commemorate this one in any sort of over-the-top and […]
The Brain Foundation’s list of related disorders is surprisingly long. From the unfamiliar Dysautonomia to the seemingly ubiquitous Alzheimer’s Disease it is clear the health of our brains is something that deserves our time and attention. And, if you’ve landed here at SRP before, you know we’re going to talk about the role nutrition plays […]
Though we all want to eat healthy, we can’t get there unless we know what healthy food is. Non-healthy foods are refined and processed, made with unhealthy forms of fats and sugars and non-food chemical ingredients. If this is the kind of food that you habitually eat, you probably crave it—and it’s hard to give […]
Reprinted with permission from author, Rebecca Thistelthwaite, and LocalHarvest. Last month I wrote about how many CSA farms and other direct-to-consumer farms are struggling with the increasingly fickle consumer and the growing competition of online food sales. Taking our plethora of diverse food choices for granted has become the norm. No matter how many times you may suggest […]
The road to more healthful eating can often feel daunting. Less-optimal temptations beckon us from every corner: refined and adulterated ingredients, toxic quantities of sugars, and questionable additives abound. And to top it all off, even when you think you might be making a healthy choice, much of the information out there is conflicting, misleading, […]
With March being National Nutrition Month, the logical self-health habit to encourage this month is to try a nutrient-dense food you’ve never tried before. (Now, keep in mind that it can take some time to acquire a taste for new foods. So, don’t let the first bite determine a new food’s fate on your future […]
Ask Chef Phyllis: Many years ago, my grandmother and great-aunt Theodora made a southern dish they called Deviled Autumn Pork Chops, For lack of more information, I know they used spicy mustard (maybe even more than one kind), country ham, and collard or mustard greens in it. In late autumn, when the pigs were slaughtered, […]
Can you identify with any of these symptoms: struggling to lose weight, anxious and/or fearful, not sleeping well, tired but wired? And do you feel all of this despite last year’s resolution to give up carbs in a last-ditch effort for more energy or to feel calmer and slimmer? Perhaps you became disillusioned after seeing […]
I’ve been rather enamored with the bold, exotic flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean regions for quite some time. Growing up, I was fortunate to experience the influence of Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese cultures, though I barely ventured outside my comfort zone—pita, hummus, shawarma, and the like. As I’ve matured, I’ve discovered just how many other […]