Archive for December, 2009
Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC!
I just moved to New York City a couple days ago and I’m excited to start the New Year in such an exciting place. This week I’m busy getting settled in my new digs, unpacking boxes, and working at the same time. But I definitely have plans to do a little partying tonight with friends.
Yesterday I went to Gustorganics, the only certified organic restaurant in NYC. I just met a few people for a happy hour drink, but I’m planning to go back for dinner very soon. I heard the food is amazing.
Last night I made a Beef and Butternut Squash Stew with sun-dried tomatoes. It was the perfect meal to have with this cold and snowy weather. I found the recipe on the Food Network from Giada De Laurentiis and was really happy with the way it turned out. I even drank the juice from the bottom of the bowl when I was done, hehe.
I like to find the best fresh and natural ingredients whenever possible. For this stew, I used organic grass-fed beef, organic beef broth (with no MSG), and some whole grain bread made locally in NY. The butternut squash also came from a local producer. But, my favorite part of this recipe was the sun-dried tomatoes. They just added the perfect tangy flavor to the sauce. I recommend it if you want to try it sometime!
Anyways, wish me luck getting settled here. I’m off to get some more work done before I unpack my boxes and head out for a crazy New Year’s Eve in New York.
Wishing you all the best in 2010,
Laurel
“These streets will make you feel brand new…”
Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC! is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Maqui Berry Review
I recently sampled some Maqui berry products from the company Novelle. Maqui berries grow in rainforest regions of Chile and Argentina and are harvested by native Mapuche indian families. The dark purple Maqui berry is also referred to as the Chilean Wineberry. I was happy to try out some of Novelle’s Maqui products because they are very potent sources of anthocyanins and polyphenols (disease-fighting, anti-aging antioxidants).
Novelle sent me their Maqui Superberry™ liquid concentrate, veggie supplement capsules, and powder drink mix. I’ve been taking the supplement capsules every day with my multivitamins and fish oil. So far, I like them and didn’t experience any side effects (my stomach can be very sensitive with vitamins and supplements). I used the liquid concentrate and powder drink mix in some homemade smoothies. I just mix frozen fruit and yogurt or soy milk with the Maqui berry stuff and it’s a quick breakfast for me to take on-the-go. The liquid concentrate is tart but also tasty. The flavor is similar to real pomegranate juice. If I didn’t have time to make a smoothie I bet it would taste good mixed in some other juice (like fresh OJ).
I really liked the Novelle products and I think they’d make a great health-conscious gift during the holidays. Here’s a few other notes about the Maqui Superberry™ products:
- Novelle’s products are 100% vegetarian
- You can purchase the Maqui products at Vitamin Shoppe
- Sustainably harvested and a portion of the proceeds are given back to the Mapuche community’s (for health care, education, and prevention of deforestation/industrialization)
I want to thank Novelle for sending me the product samples. I really enjoyed them! Happy Holidays Everyone!
Maqui Berry Review is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Got Dry Skin?
We finally got some cold weather here in Florida (40s and 50s is cold for us) and my skin went into shock. It’s been super dry over the past few days! But what do I expect after the temperature dropped about 30-40 degrees within a day or two? Plus, my office building is cranking up the heat with a bunch of dry, hot air. Eeep!! Of course, I’ll be slathering on lots of lotion this week, but I’m also going to eat plenty of skin-friendly foods (those high in essential fatty acids). Lucky me, some of my favorite foods are great for moisturizing your skin. Here’s a few of them.
Avocado
Avocados are packed with vitamin E, healthy fats, and phytonutrients. All great for your skin! Eat half of an avocado as a snack or slice it up and serve it on top of your dinner salad. You can also buy some avocado oil and apply it directly to your skin as a potent moisturizer. Look for it next to the olive oil at the grocery store. Check out this collection of research on the skin benefits of avocados.
Walnuts (and other nuts)
Pick up some raw, unsalted walnuts or almonds and munch on a handful as an appetizer before your big holiday meals. The healthy fats will hydrate your skin and also keep you from overeating. Nuts also help reduce the arterial damage caused by eating meals high in saturated fat. Read this 2006 study to see for yourself.
Salmon (or other cold water fish)
Cold water fish like salmon have the highest levels of omega-3 fats which give you shiny hair and healthy skin. Salmon are also high in vitamin B12 and iron. Look for wild-caught fish with a deep color of pink or red.
Other skin-hydrating tips:
- Focus on eating fresh, raw foods and limit your intake of salt, fried foods, dairy, alcohol, and anything processed
- Drink plenty of water!
- Taking high-quality fish oil supplements
- Rub sesame oil into your skin every day (look for organic cold pressed oil)
Happy Holidays! I hope you all have a wonderful break over the holidays and can enjoy a few days of relaxation.
Got Dry Skin? is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Ease Allergies with Folate
I heard about an interesting new study when I was reading the latest issue of Fitness Magazine this week. A small “Food Fix” bulletin noted that the more folate (also known as folic acid or vitamin B9) you eat, the less chance you have of getting allergy and asthma symptoms from things like mold, pet dander, and dust mites. (Fitness, Jan 2010, p. 106)
The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center conducted the research by reviewing medical records in over 8,000 people from the ages of 2-85. Researchers concluded that those with the highest levels of folate in their blood had fewer reported allergies, IgE antibodies, and wheezing/asthma symptoms. You can read more details on the study here.
Scientists will need to conduct more studies in order to make specific recommendations for folate supplements, but it doesn’t hurt to increase your intake of folate-rich foods. Try some of these:
- Asparagus
- Leafy greens (spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, romaine, etc.)
- Chickpeas
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Butternut squash
- Asparagus
- Lentils
- Cauliflower
If you’d like to include more folate in your diet, consider trying out these tasty ChefMD recipes from my buddy John La Puma, MD.
- Butternut Barley Risotto with Goat Cheese and Toasted Almonds
- Hummus Sandwiches
- Shiitake Mushroom & Asparagus Frittata with Smoked Salmon
- Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Rich Tomato Sauce
Ease Allergies with Folate is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Fill Up on Antioxidants with Fresh Smoothies
I try my best to fill up with antioxidant- and nutrient-rich food all year long, but I pay special attention to eating plenty of them during the Winter months when everyone seems to get sick. One of the easiest ways to get your daily dose of antioxidants and nutrients is to blend up fresh smoothies at home.
Recently, the PR team from Tropical Smoothie Café sent me two recipes from their new ’supercharged’ smoothie line to share with my readers! These smoothies contain antioxidant-packed fruits such as pomegranates, goji berries, and acai berries. I included two smoothie recipes below and my thoughts on each.
Pomegranate Plunge
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 tablespoon turbinado sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 ripe banana
- 4-5 strawberries, hulled
I made the Pomegranate Plunge last night and decided to leave out the sugar. To me, it was plenty sweet already. But if you like a sweeter taste, turbinado sugar is a less-processed and healthier version of regular white sugar.
I also used frozen strawberries to save a little money (fresh berries are SO EXPENSIVE during the Winter). I did buy a fresh pomegranate because they ARE in season and were on sale. I really enjoyed the tart flavor of this smoothie but it had a lot of seeds from the pomegranate. When I make it again, I might swap out half of the pomegranate airils for fresh pomegranate juice. Great tasting smoothie though.
Acai Berry Boost
- 1/2 cup acai juice
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 4-5 strawberries, hulled
- 2 tablespoon turbinado sugar
- 3/4 cup water
The Acai Berry Boost smoothie was my favorite of the two. It had a wonderful sweet flavor and a smooth consistency. I used frozen strawberries and blueberries and cut out the turbinado sugar. I will definitely make this one again. Yum!
To learn more about Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s drinks and food, visit TropicalSmoothieCafe.com. I hope you enjoy the smoothie recipes! They’re a great way to stay healthy this season. Just be careful if you’re up north. You don’t want to suck down a cold smoothie right before you head outside into the cold.
Fill Up on Antioxidants with Fresh Smoothies is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Millet Soup
New Design!
Hello there! As you can see, Laurel on Health Food has a fresh new design and I’m loving it. I’m busy working out a few kinks and will be adding lots of new content very soon. Stay tuned for more healthy eating recipes, research, and tips! Plus I’ll be sharing some information with you about my services as a holistic health counselor.
“See” you soon!
All the best,
Laurel
New Design! is a post from: Laurel On Health Food
Still Not Eating Greens?
One of the first things I learned in my health counseling training was that leafy greens are the #1 food missing from the typical American diet. It’s something worth mentioning, because greens are one of the most important foods for us to eat!
Good news: I read another study that proves leafy greens are life-saving foods. Yesterday I read about new research from the Hallym University College of Medicine in South Korea. Scientists studied the amount of folate in the diets of women with colorectal cancer and without cancer. They found that women who ate the most folate every day were 50% less likely to develop cancer than those who ate the least amount. (Ref: Oprah Magazine, Jan 2010, p. 92).
Make sure to focus on getting your folate from real food sources. Some studies have found that synthetic folate provides no protection against cancer. So fill up on green foods like:
Asparagus, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens, mustard greens, and broccoli. Lentil beans are also an excellent source.
Think of greens as a way to cleanse your body. If you compare nutrition to nature, the trees and plants on the Earth’s surface take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. The greens we eat as food also cleanse our bodies and support strong respiratory and circulatory systems.
Apple Strawberry Custard
Healthy Substitute: Quinoa Pasta
I spent most of Thanksgiving break on the road, so I did a lot of eating out and having meals at my friends’ and family’s houses. By the time last night rolled around, I was dying to make myself a home-cooked meal.
I had a craving for shrimp, so I decided on shrimp scampi with broccoli. I made it with organic quinoa linguini as a substitute for regular pasta. It was really good! Quinoa pasta is a wonderful substitute because the texture is much lighter than whole wheat pasta. It’s a great option if you have a wheat or gluten intolerance (celiac disease).
To make my scampi sauce, I used sauteed extra virgin olive oil, white wine, fresh lemon juice, shallots, lots of garlic, and just a tablespoon of real butter. I tossed the shrimp in the sauce with fresh parsley and steamed some broccoli to have on the side. Yum!
Here’s a Tyler Florence recipe I used as a guide to make my scampi. To make it even healthier, you can reduce the amount of butter and substitute with quinoa pasta like I did.
Can’t wait to get home tonight for my leftovers! Wishing you all the best. 
Laurel
