healthy lifestyle

Organic garlic and organic onion are valuable herbs that benefit the body, add flavor to foods and are well known for their healing qualities. They are both members of the allium family, among chives, shallots, and leeks. They are one of the oldest and easiest plants to grow and have been cultivated for millennia. It is said that both garlic and onions originated in Asia but onions and garlic grew wild in the Americas and were popular long before Europeans arrived. Onions were regarded as a god in ancient Egypt – because of an onion’s many layers, it symbolized life.

Quinoa, pronounced “keen-wah”, originated in the area of Chile and Peru and flourishes in altitudes from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. It is a fruit of the family Chenopodium and is an annual herb with seeds growing in clusters at the top of the stalk, much like millet. The native peoples used the seeds for cereal, in cakes and brewed into a beer; the leaves were eaten much like spinach. It was the second most cultivated crop in the native cultures and highly valued for its protein and high nutritional content.  

A sedentary lifestyle is bad for you—try this 10-minute chair yoga routine to help you adjust better to your desk job.

A native of India, organic sesame seed is rich in vitamins and minerals and has been used as a healing herb for millennia. The plant is a tall annual of the Pedaliaceae family growing up to five feet and bearing pink-white foxglove-like flowers. The pods contain white, brown or black seeds arranged in vertical rows. The plant flourishes in well-drained sandy soil in a tropical climate and can be found throughout Asia and Africa. Though not used as extensively in Europe, the plant found its way to America with the slave traders and has been cultivated in the Carolinas.

The avocado tree is a member of the laurel family and was first cultivated somewhere in Central America 7,000 years ago, making its way to Mexico some 2,000 years later. By the late 15^th century it could be found as far south as Peru where it is known as “palta.” The English term avocado was derived from the Spanish translation of the Aztec name “ahuacatl” -- their nomenclature was “aguacate.” The original fruit was round in shape but as it was cultivated it became pear shaped. It is said to have arrived in the West Indies after the arrival of the Europeans in the Americas.

The 80/20 Rule: Why is the kitchen so important?

The 80/20 rule is not the brainchild of some health and fitness guru on a quest to eradicate obesity. As grand as that sounds, it is more complex than a simple snap of the fingers. From cheat days to diminishing the importance of exercise there is a lot of hype surrounding this idea of 80/20 that in fact originated over a century ago.

Are you looking for your next big adventure? If so, why not start with your dinner plate? Exploring a plant-based diet may not sound all too adventurous, but it certainly can be. Preparing mouthwatering plant-based meals is far from boring; as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more and more creative in the kitchen, solely with the help of plant-based flavors. More importantly, I’ve lived on a plant-based diet my entire life, and have witnessed the numerous health benefits firsthand.

The pomegranate is native to Iran and grows wild there today. It was first cultivated approximately 6,000 years ago. Because it is a hearty fruit that is easily transported, it soon became known in regions where it could not be grown. It was recorded in the Bible and Greek writings, was popular in ancient Egypt and has been prized in India since the 1^st century. The fruit was used medicinally in ancient times and early practitioners divided the fruit into three juice types: sweet, winey and acid.

Coconuts are a rich source of nutrients that have a myriad of applications. There are just as many ways they can be prepared. The nomenclature coconut is confusing because it is not a nut at all, but instead a drupe or fruit that has three layers: an outer layer that is smooth and green, a fleshy middle layer that is fibrous and a hard, and a woody layer that surrounds the seed. This third layer is what we find at the market. The origin of the coconut is somewhat mysterious. One theory is that it was first found growing in India.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that serve as beneficial bacteria. They have been known to help enhance as well as protect your health. There are many different ways to eat probiotics, with yogurt being among the most popular of choices. But not everyone can, nor desires to eat yogurt all the time, and we could always use more plants in our diet! So, for those of you who want to know about a few plant-based foods that contain powerful probiotics, here are seven!