Springtime is here at last, and the whole world is in bloom. Beautiful flowers are springing up everywhere. The trees are lush and verdant. Birds are singing and you may see some rabbits in your lawn. …

The keto diet is a popular way to lose body fat while retaining muscle. It involves limiting the amount of carbohydrates one eats a day. A person practicing keto might only eat 40-50 grams of carbs…

The pesticide watchdog organization EGW, or Environmental Working Group, recently released their annual “dirty dozen” list. The list categorizes the conventionally-grown produce found to have the highest levels of pesticide contamination. Topping the list this year…

Bubble tea, or boba as it is sometimes called, is a unique and refreshing beverage. It originated in Taiwanese tea shops, which combined traditional milk tea with shaved ice and tapioca pearls. The result is half drink,…

Charcuterie is all the rage – it’s a sophisticated French snack dominating headlines and food blogs worldwide. It’s not hard to see why; it looks glamorous, tastes great, and it’s fun to eat. A DIY charcuterie…

Saag paneer is a beloved Indian dish consisting of finely chopped vegetables and fresh soft cheese (paneer). It’s as delicious as it is satisfying, so it’s no surprise that it’s a staple of eastern Indian cuisine.…

Post-workout recovery is important for getting the most out of an exercise routine. First, your muscles need protein and amino acids to rebuild and repair themselves. Second, exercise depletes our reserves of electrolytes, so we need…

Brain fog is a feeling no doubt familiar to many of us. We live in a distracted and disjointed world, where our attention is constantly pulled in many different directions. Our sleep patterns are disrupted by…

Our bodies are the most complex machines on Earth. Like any machine, they need fuel to run, and the better the fuel, the better the performance. Whether you’re exercising for fun and fitness or training to…

What are Postbiotics? Postbiotics, along with pre- and probiotics, are a hot topic right now. It’s for good reason; your digestive health has a massive impact on your overall health. So what is a postbiotic exactly?…

Coffee is a treasured part of the American morning routine, but it can have some downsides. Excess caffeine can cause jitters, anxiety, and post-crash drowsiness. Plus, coffee is acidic, which means drinking too much of it…

Amazing Algae and Super Sea Plants The ocean is the cradle of life on Earth. It’s one of our planet’s most biologically dense ecosystems – tens of billions of lifeforms are contained in the oceans and…

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics – What are They? Microorganisms may be invisible to the naked eye, but our bodies simply could not function without them. In fact, there are more microorganisms in and on your body than…

Waste Not, Want Not Did you know that the average American wastes 1 pound of food a day? Or that 25-40% of all food produced in the United States goes uneaten? Or that 8% of greenhouse…

Delicious Healthy Mocktails Drive away the winter cold with some bright, colorful beverages! Healthy mocktails are a great way to relax and treat yourself without consuming alcohol. These recipes are fun and refreshing whether you’re a…

Delicious Burgers – Without the Beef There’s nothing quite like a burger. When the craving hits, it’s an “accept no substitutes” kind of situation; only one thing will do the trick. Well, this Beyond Burger recipe…

February is National Chocolate Month, so what better time to celebrate the majestic cacao bean? Here are some ways to use cocoa – other than just eating more chocolate! Cacao beans are the small, oblong seeds…

Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeepers Keith and Sharon Jardine know a thing or two about bees. For more than forty years they have lived with, cared for, and learned from these tiny, fuzzy creatures. Their local raw…

What is Fair Trade? Fair trade is a principle; the belief that all producers should earn a living wage, work in safe conditions, and have control over when, where, and how they work. It’s easy to…

What is inflammation? Inflammation – it’s a word we hear a lot in regard to our health. But what is it, and how can introducing anti-inflammatory foods into your diet help you? Simply put, inflammation is…

January 13th is National Gluten-Free day! Have fun celebrating with some homemade treats. Easy gluten-free baking is a cinch; Martindale’s offers a large selection of gluten-free flours and mixes. Take a look at some of the…

National Walnut Day is coming up on May 17th. Walnuts have been a mainstay in our diets for centuries, but how did that occur and how did it become the booming California industry it is today?…

There is certainly a time and a place for both fresh and dried herbs. But how do we know the when and where? What about non-irradiated herbs. Are they safe? Or is irradiated better? This is…

When you were younger, you likely remember being told that eating carrots helps your eyesight. It’s true! But, why? Certain vegetables contain good-for-you compounds that when eaten with regularity, can be beneficial to long-term eye health.…

The sweet nectar of the bees is oh so delightful. Many of us use it as an everyday staple, as it is quite versatile and usually readily available in our pantries. Honey is made up of…

Every year, painful osteoarthritis affects over 32.5 million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis is caused by damage or the breakdown of joint cartilage between bones. It can naturally occur with age; however, some people are…

That “time of the month” is a right of passage for all ladies from a young age. Every woman will deal with it during their life, but some have a tougher time than others. It can…

L-Theanine is a compound you can naturally find in tea but also in mushrooms. You can also find it in supplement form. This amino acid can help with relaxation, focus, and sleep. The specific compound is…

Brr…it’s cold out there! No better time for a warm cup of bone broth with lots of added benefits to boot. This highly nutritious drink is a great way to warm yourself up from the inside…

What is the Keto Diet all about? The Keto Diet, short for ketogenic, switches the metabolism in the body to burning fat instead of burning sugars from carbohydrates. This metabolic switch is ketosis. While every person’s…

The gut microbiome is a magical and mysterious place. We are learning more and more about it all the time while new research continues to emerge. When it comes to a healthy microbiome, doing everything we…

Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q10 (known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone) is naturally occurring in the body. We can get more of this helpful antioxidant from foods in our diets, including oily fish like salmon and tuna, or…

You’ve likely heard someone reference a “FODMAP diet” in your travels. What they are referring to is, in fact, a low FODMAP diet. FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small…

It’s a tricky one to spell and even harder to pronounce, but it is mighty powerful within the body. Astaxanthin benefits us as an antioxidant, but more specifically, a carotenoid. Naturally occurring in algae, this carotenoid…

Veganism has been around for a very long time, but recent advancements in food science have made it far more accessible. There are now so many convenient products available that look, taste, and feel like the…

We tend to think of our immune system as a superstar only during the cold and dreary winter months. While it certainly does work overtime to keep us healthy from nasty seasonal bugs, the health of…

What is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)? Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human cortex — the outermost layer of the brain. It is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. Neurotransmitters are…

It is more common than many think for a person or a family to have multiple food allergies within their household. Some of us have a family member with one food sensitivity. Some have a Celiac…

What does Non-GMO mean? Genetically modified organisms, or GMO for short, are living organisms whose genetic material is being artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. Consequently, this creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and…

Big changes are underway with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). They are in the process of rebranding their gluten-free certification seal that appears on product packaging. A move that comes largely to support its increasing global…

The “Paleo Diet”, short for paleolithic, is a staple in many people’s lives in recent years. Several products are even now branding as paleo-friendly. How is a paleo diet different? A paleo diet intends to mimic…

Bacterial Balance for a Better Mood Feeling a little bit down for one reason or another? Does the change of the seasons this time of year leave you feeling blue? Say hello to “nutritional psychiatry”: a…

Is it true that eating plant-based mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) is healthier than eating animal-based MUFAs? To answer this question, doctors conducted a long-term study of 93,378 men and women who filled out detailed food questionnaires…

Do you like nuts? If you want a change of nutty taste, try hazelnuts. Also known as filberts, these sweet, buttery, crunchy gems are loaded with essential vitamins and healthy fats. For example, a single, one-ounce…

It may still be summer, but before you know it, your children will be heading back to school. Check out these studies on the benefits of omega-3s for your children to help reduce asthma and improve…

Love blueberries? Here’s one more reason to love them even more: they’re good for your brain. In fact, a new study has found that older men and women who ate a daily serving of blueberries for…

Tomatoes are just starting to come in season, and what better time to indulge your senses with those red, juicy, slightly salty-sweet summer treats than now! If you’re a former smoker, you have an even better…

Autism – or autism spectrum disorder – appears during early childhood and interferes with a person’s ability to communicate with others and interact socially. According to the Autism Society, the prevalence of autism is growing. Between…

  March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, a time to get the word out about the causes, symptoms and treatments available for this debilitating autoimmune disease. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS occurs…

February is not only National Avocado Month, it’s also Macular Degeneration Awareness Month. Did you know that avocados play a key role in eye and brain health? They contain lutein, a carotenoid that is the colorful…

February is heart health month, a time to pause and consider what you can do to love your heart. Following are two studies for you to read that make the connection between nutrients and your heart…

  Older people often have insomnia, but standard medications can increase falls and have other side effects. In this pilot study, eight adults over age 50 with confirmed insomnia took a placebo or 240 ml of…

Muscle mass and strength naturally decline with age. In this study, 42 healthy adults, ages 55 to 70, took a placebo, or 1,500 mg of l-carnitine with or without 2,000 mg of l-leucine, 3,000 mg creatine…