The Health Benefits of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

fresh berries

Cancer won’t be cured today, and the spread of COVID promises to continue, but in a world where illness can make us seem powerless, there is a medical issue you can cure today, with a few easy, natural steps. Inflammation is our body’s way of healing and defending itself, and we have all experienced it at one time or another. "People think inflammation needs to be stomped out at all times,” says Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, a medical editor from Harvard Health Publishing and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School “But it plays an essential role in healing and injury repair to keep your body safe and healthy. Some inflammation is good. Too much is often bad. The goal is to recognize when inflammation is simply doing its job, and when it can potentially cause problems." … [Read more...]

Plant-based Food and Beverage Trends for 2021

The green movement has gained steam in recent years, with more and more people turning to eco-friendly lifestyles, buildings, and diets. However, there is a bit of a difference between an environmentally friendly diet and a plant-based diet. Both options are green diets, but they focus on various aspects. An eco-friendly diet will offer more food groups and options for meals than a more strict plant-based diet. Plant-based diets are not bad or significantly more complex than environmentally friendly diets, but there are some extra steps and potential pitfalls to watch out for. As the trend continues to grow, it is worth taking the time to ensure you are jumping on the trend as safely as possible. Changing your diet is still a significant change for your body, so ensure any new diet is … [Read more...]

Here’s How Some of the Most Common Summertime Beverages Help (or Hurt) Your Teeth

According to an AACD survey, virtually all adults (99.7%) surveyed believe a healthy smile is socially important, but it's medically important as well. While most people are aware of the ways that certain foods affect our dental health, not everyone stops to think about how beverages can do the same. This summer, maintain your healthy smile and be more conscious of your oral health by staying hydrated with the right beverages. Here's how some of the most popular U.S. beverages affect your teeth. Energy Drinks Many people consume sports drinks and/or energy drinks throughout the day to keep their energy levels up. While neither is great for your teeth, energy drinks are definitely worse. As much as sports drinks are harmful to your teeth, researchers found that exposure to energy drinks … [Read more...]

Could Social Media Food Posts Be Ruining Our Health?

In the U.S., more than 10,000 people reach the retirement age of 65 each day -- and given the growing population, that number will also increase in the coming years. It's understandable that you might want to do everything you can to adopt healthy habits while you're still young. You could potentially stave off a chronic health condition or maintain a healthy weight just by making small changes in your youth. But considering how social-media-obsessed young people are these days, it's important to consider whether the visually appetizing food trends we see on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat are helping or hurting those endeavors. In other words: could these platforms be negatively impacting our diet, even if the food depicted seems nutritious? Facebook has approximately 1.97 billion … [Read more...]

The 7 Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

What if we told you that you could lose weight by eating? That would not make a lot of sense right? Usually, it is our eating that creates a problem with our weight management goals later. But I am not talking about eating whatever you can get your hands on. I am talking about eating seven foods that have been considered to have the ability to help you lose that extra weight and get ready for the beginning of summer.  Remember, I do not offer you any magic tricks, we simply offer you a way to improve your diet and lose some weight by including the following foods in your everyday diet. The 7 foods that will help you lose weight Cruciferous Vegetables – In the group of cruciferous vegetables, you can find cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.  All of them contain … [Read more...]

Just Eat It

  Just Eat It by victoriamason  I probably say those exact words more than once a day when I'm dealing with my kids.  While I like to cook I often dread making family meals because in a family five with three kids under ten years old you just can't please everyone. And when this time of year rolls around with extra holiday activities and festivities I find that we eat out more and more.  Finding a place that satisfies us all is our next hurdle. Where to Go Source: ElCactus Facebook page We break it down into a category and go from there.  Am I meeting a friend for a girls night?  Then Bistro Du Coin is a good spot.  Is it date night? Mintwood Place offers up some deliciously good American fare that is sure to please both H and I.  Maybe we are meeting a group and kids may or … [Read more...]

Summer-Inspired Cocktails

This summer, in our new place, has meant spending time in my favorite space, our porch. You can find us out there any time of day, but the best is in the evening when it is time to rehash the day and unwind. A little summer-inspired cocktail or two makes it even better. Recently we added a new set of spirits to our bar from Kobrand Wine & Spirits.  Alizé Passion Gold and Bleu, each infused with premium French vodka and the all natural flavors of exotic passion fruit.  We prefer the Gold version over the Bleu, which has a mix of cherry, a spicy ginger and passion fruit.  I always find it fun to serve up something new whether it is just us alone experimenting or hosting friends for cocktail hour, something we try and schedule each month with different friends. Using the Alizé … [Read more...]

COOL WHIP Makes It Special

  Spring and Summer bring out the fun, sweet and berry-infused desserts in me. I want color and fresh fruit featured in so many of the treats I create for my friends and family. COOL WHIP Whipped Topping is a great way to top off or compliment the dishes that I make too. … [Read more...]