Eat

I’ve been craving falafels lately and have no idea why. Maybe it’s because I was recently looking through my Birthright trip photos and remembered having the best falafel of my life in Tel Aviv. My friend and I went out one night in search of the best falafel and boy, did we ever find it. It was being served out of a little shack on the side of the street. People were lining up around the block for this stuff, so we figured it had to be good.

Botanical names of herbs sometimes tell you what the herb does. Motherwort’s botanical name is Leonurus cardiaca, meaning “lion hearted.”  It is, indeed, a supreme herb for the heart.

Here are some of the things Motherwort does for cardiovascular health:

Have you heard of the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Dirty Dozen list? Every year, this non-profit organization shifts through the fruit and vegetable market to see which conventionally-grown produce is loaded with the most pesticides. The Dirty Dozen list for 2018 is officially here and let’s just say the report found nearly 70 percent of produce tested was contaminated with pesticide residue. Here's what you need to know.

Black currant is a member of the family Grossulariaceae, commonly known as the currant family of the genus Ribes L. or currant P that contains sixty-five species, five of which are the American black currant, the northern black currant, the western black currant, the trailing black currant, and the European black currant.

Smooth, silky, and sweet are just three words that come to mind when I think of the Ataulfo or champagne mangoes that give my smoothie its uniquely hydrating base. They’re a lovely golden yellow color, weigh approximately 8 to 10 ounces, and possess a buttery flesh with a richly sweetened flavor that’s perfect for blending into a smoothie. Best of all, this type of mango is in season from early spring to late summer, so be sure to get it while it's ripe for picking!

Fava beans are a member of the family Fabaceae, commonly known as the pea family of the genus Vicia L of the species Vicia faba L, commonly called fava bean P. The plant is native to the Mediterranean basin with evidence found as early as the Iron age. By the end of the Iron age they had spread throughout the world.

Carrot cake holds a special place in my heart. Ever since I was little, I’d always pick the carrot cake muffin at the mall. What kid in their right mind would pick carrot cake!? This one, apparently. While all the other kids shoveled in the chocolate chip muffins, I sat with my carrot one, happy as a bunny.

Cancer is a horrific disease that continues to kill over 595,000 people each year. While there’s no cure for it yet, there are plenty of natural and dietary options that can help reduce your risk of being diagnosed. There’s no singular way to prevent cancer, but changing your habits can help.

I am a peanut butter monster! I don’t even want to think about the amount of money I’ve spent on plain, crunchy peanut butter in the past year. It must be in the hundreds though. I always have a good ol’ jar of PB on hand. Recently, I was craving cookies but didn’t have very much in my cupboard. I had a whole whack of shredded coconut and of course my trusty peanut butter…so I decided to make peanut butter macaroons, because what is better than that, seriously…

Nettles are a member of the family Urticaceae, commonly known as the Nettle family of the genus Urtica L. or Nettle P. with five species. The most commonly found is the stinging nettle, with three subspecies.