Eat

Squash (the winter species) is native to Central America and evolved around the same time as flowering plants, approximately 350 million years ago. However, it was not until 13,000 B.C.E. that man began using squash to make cups, containers, and floats for fishing nets. It was one of the earliest cultivated plants, first farmed in 10,000 B.C.E., but because of its bitter taste was not used as a food source until several thousands of years later when squash was bred to have a sweeter taste.

All photos by Shiraz Leyva

Q. I want to reduce or eliminate my added sugar intake, but it’s so hard! How can I beat the sugar craving?

A. At least you are aware that you are consuming too much sugar and that it is not good for your health.

It’s hard to find a good veggie burger, but once you’ve found one…you know to never let it go. I was looking for a way to shake up my lunch routine and went to go buy some veggie burgers. I read the package after I bought them and saw that they had a ton of preservatives, soy, and gluten in them, which are a no-go for me.

You might not believe it, but the foods you eat affect more than just your body weight: They affect your appearance. Certain foods are great for your skin, while others are great for your hair. Have you been suffering from dry, brittle hair? What about oily, frizzy hair? Whatever the case, buying another toxin filled shampoo might not be your best solution. You might just need to change your diet. I say this because certain foods are loaded with nutrients that hair needs to stay happy and healthy.

On a sunny Los Angeles morning, Jess Wang is in her kitchen checking on her “pets.”  “The trick,” explains the ever-gracious Jess, “is not to disturb them too much.” Just like any beloved pet, in exchange for a little care, Jess’s offer many rewards. These pets aren’t the typical furry or winged kind, but rather, they’re of the bacterial sort. They don’t cuddle or play, but they give the gift of health, the rewards of creativity, and they taste great.  

I eat a lot of foods that most Americans find odd.

“Human health is only as good as the land we grow our food in or on.”

A.W.Erickson, 1945

In other words, we reap what we sow. Trying to build a healthy diet from plants grown in unhealthy soil is like building a house without starting with a foundation. It is essential to consider the origin of foods (and other products one consumes, too!) if one aims to live a well-balanced life…with a healthy amount of selenium in store.

The pumpkin is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae, also known as the cucumber family in the genus Cucurbita L. – gourd P, which contains nine species. The familiar orange pumpkin popular in the United States is of the species Cucurbita mixta Pang.

Back to the Roots is a Bay Area company founded in 2009 by then college seniors Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora. They chose to decline corporate job offers and initiate their startup after enjoying learning how to grow mushrooms from coffee grounds.