What's New in Healthy Eating?

American Kitchen Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:36:17 GMT

Q: I recently received this as a gift from my mom as a house warming present. I have not yet used them as I am waiting until we move in! SOON! American

All water boiled out of Prestige stainless steel saucepan

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:21:40 GMT

Q: Hi. My Prestige (with copperbase) Steamer saucepan had boiling water while steaming some food in a steamer above. I forgot about it and it was burnt

Flaked enamel

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:19:22 GMT

Q: My enamel cast iron pot recently flaked on the inside to about the size of silver dollar, this occurred while heating the pot to start my cooking when

Stainless steel steamer base pan discoloration

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:37:29 GMT

Q: How do I stop the base pan from discolouring when I am steaming in another tier on top? A: First, be sure you never allow all the water to evaporate

Pan temperature tolerances

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:50:17 GMT

Q: How do you test stove burners for temperatures at low, medium and high settings? The temperature limits are great to provide, but how does one apply

In Praise of Seasonal Squash

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:29:00 GMT

Learn about the nutrients and confort that seasonal squash has provided for centuries, and how eating it in season benefits both you and the planet.

Looking for a high-sided induction saucepan
(2 quart)

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:47:51 GMT

Gail: Thank you for your excellent article on stainless steel cookware. Do you know whether anyone makes a 2 quart induction-ready saucepan with sides

Your Healthy Lifestyle: Two Simple Things Not to Miss

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:51:53 GMT

Angeline Thiri blogs about two important things you can do to to support a healthy lifestyle.

Golden Door Spa's ROASTED PUMPKIN SOUP

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:56:35 GMT

Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Fig Brulee and Candied Pecans For the Pumpkin Soup: 1 cup Shallots, minced ½ cup Celery, diced 1 T Garlic, minced

GMO's nutritional value

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:19:34 GMT

Brittanie: Is there any scientific proof that genetically modified foods have a different nutritional content than their natural versions? NHG: Thank

World Food Day

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:45:57 GMT

October 16, 2011 has been designated as World Food Day, and there is no better time than now to think about how what and how we eat impacts both ourselves and the planet.

Low Salt Diet? Think Again!

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:24:34 GMT

Following a low salt diet may not be as beneficial to your health as previously thought. New studies indicate that low salt diets actually increase your risk of death from heart attack.

Genetically Modified Food: Why Worry?

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:45:03 GMT

Genetically modified food does differ from conventionaly grown, and some troubling studies are confirming this. Unfortunately, these foods do not need to be labeled, so you may be eating it without knowing it.

SLO Food: Seasonal, Local, Organic

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:21:58 GMT

The benefits of buying food that is seasonal, local and organic and how it helps both you and the planet.

Why Is Organic More Expensive?

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:38:26 GMT

Why is organic food more expensive? Simple...the high cost of growing food properly and billions of dollars in subsidies to industrial agricuture.

Are They Really Blueberries

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:35:29 GMT

Blueberries are often described as a "superfood," found to help ward off infection, decrease aging in the brain, and lower cholesterol levels. So it is not surprising that food manufacturers are keen to ride on the back of this superfood, but they neglect to tell you that their product often contains no actual blueberries!

Human Studies on GM foods

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:06:15 GMT

Danielle writes: When you talk about the only published human feeding study on GM soy you do not mention who did the study? I want to know what group of

The New Food Pyramid: What the USDA Still Doesn't Tell You

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:18:03 GMT

Comparing the USDA's MyPlate vs. the new food pyramid, including important guidelines they felt too controversial to include.

Enameled cast iron food storage?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:03:02 GMT

A reader writes: Can you store food in it overnight? Laurel replies: That's a very good question, as you have probably heard that storing food in plain

My Big and Quick 10 minute Low-Cal Lunch

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 06:00:41 GMT

Wash and chop 1/2 cup of any color raw bell pepper, clean and chop (not finely) one cup of fresh raw spinach, and have 7 raw egg whites and some salsa

Calphalon stainless steel

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:40:11 GMT

Reader asks: Which is better, calphalon contemporary stainless steel or calphalon tri-ply stainless steel pots? Laurel responds: Both the Calphalon contemporary

Trans Fats: A Major Cause of Coronary Heart Disease

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:02:34 GMT

It's not the saturated fats you have to look out for, it's the trans fats. Find out how this dangerous fat (and another one you may have never heard of, but is likely in that donut you just ate) can affect your health and how you can avoid them.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:02:10 GMT

Our tips for eating healthy on a budget will show you ways to feed your family tasty, nutritious meals without going broke.

How Low Glycemic Diets Work

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:43:26 GMT

Comparing some of the more popular low glycemic diets and explaining how they work to help you lose weight and gain energy.

Buffalo Steaks Mean Healthy Eating

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 09:42:29 GMT

Buffalo steaks are becoming very popular among those interested in healthy eating due to their superior health benefits. Discover why!

Cashews May Help Treat Diabetes

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:49:54 GMT

A new study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research indicates cashew seed extract may play an important role in both preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

Eating to Lose Weight? Some Healthy Eating Tips

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:16:20 GMT

Healthy eating tips to conquer mindless eating for those who are eating to lose weight.

Healthy Fast Recipes: Healthy Food in 20 Minutes or Less

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:57:12 GMT

A collection of healthy fast recipes for when you don't have a lot of time but still want to eat healthy.

Broccoli Aids Fight Against Breast Cancer

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:39:53 GMT

There is some good news in the fight against breast cancer! Sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli, may help in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer by targeting cancer stem cells which fuel the growth of tumors, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A Nutty Way to Lower Cholesterol

Thu, 20 May 2010 13:24:24 GMT

This is nuts! (Sorry, couldn't resist) A recent study has found that eating only 2.4 ounces of nuts every day lowers total cholesterol levels and also improves the ratio of good HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol. Nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, the kind that help to lower cholesterol. They are also a rich source of protein and contain fiber and phytosterols which have been shown to reduce cholesterol.

Fighting an Addiction to Sugar

Mon, 17 May 2010 16:34:30 GMT

Patience and perseverence win out: I think I'm starting to make progress in overcoming my addiction to sugar.

Lose Weight by Eating Hot Peppers?

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:29:05 GMT

Bring on the jalapeños! This morning I was greeted by the cheery news that my long-time addiction to hot chile peppers may be good for my waistline.

Muffins so good they should be illegal!

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:18:33 GMT

Eating healthy doesn't have to mean extra work or so-so taste!

Raw Prejudice

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:59:49 GMT

Overcoming my prejudice against the raw food movement and finding some awesome guacamole in the process.

How Vegetables and Fruits affect Cancer and Heart Disease

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:24:18 GMT

How articles can misrepresent the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet.

Researching the Benefits of Organic Foods

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:30:01 GMT

Writing the article on the benefits of organic foods was much harder than I expected.

The Food Revolution Starts Now!

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:17:34 GMT

All I can say about "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" is ... it's about time! The standard American diet filled with processed and fried food, tons of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and huge amounts of sodium is leading us to an early death.

The Challenge of Healthy Eating

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:02:22 GMT

Trying to eat healthy seems particularly difficult when you shop at your local supermarket.

The Dangers of Microwave Popcorn

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:14:28 GMT

I just love popcorn! And there's nothing quite like watching the latest episode of "Lost" while curled up on the couch with my sweetie and a big bowl of popcorn. Until recently we had been making microwave popcorn because we figured it was quick and easy. Unfortunately, it turns out that our yummy treat may have been hazardous to our health!

So Long Aunt Jemima!

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:32:15 GMT

I’m ready to make another switch from something unhealthy to something healthy. This one only took 43 years… Ever since I was a child I’ve just loved Aunt Jemima pancakes, waffles, and syrup. My father tried in vain to convert me to homemade pancakes but they never were as tasty to me. Even in Spain, I paid 9 euros (that’s around $12) for a bottle of Aunt Jemima syrup, and I had friends send me the mix from home! I admit I still love them both, but two things have finally changed my mind. 1. Finally finding a good homemade recipe for pancakes that I love (see whole wheat blueberry pancakes) 2. Becoming convinced that all sugar is NOT the same, as some articles claim, and that high fructose corn syrup (Aunt Jemima syrup in a nutshell), really is bad, bad, bad for your body. Took me long enough, right? We here at Natural Health Guide are human. We do indulge in processed foods from time to time, because they just plain taste good and like many people we love the convenience and taste. But little by little, we’re switching – when we find something good enough to switch to. We’re not into suffering for our health. I like pure maple syrup well enough, I’ve got a good recipe for pancakes and waffles, so I hereby swear off Aunt Jemima for good. (Unless someone else serves it to me, in which case I won’t ruin everyone’s breakfast by being all holier-than-thou :-). Thanks for the memories, Aunt J! Juliette

When I First Met Laurel Avery...

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:11:39 GMT

When I first met Laurel Avery (the owner of this website) 3 years ago, I saw myself as a perfectly “normal” eater. Perhaps like many of you, I didn’t go overboard either on the healthy side, such as watching every little thing I ate or eating strictly vegetarian, nor did I indulge in “bad” things like fried foods or McDonalds (except for the occasional slip). At the supermarket, I bought what most people bought: lowfat milk, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, bread, margarine, meats, fish, cheeses, cereal, snacks, coffee, a few frozen dinners for the occasional night off cooking. Regular stuff, not too healthy not too bad. Right? When I started to have some health problems, the first thing the doctor had me look at was my diet. I thought he was being rather silly and didn’t pay too much attention. My blood test results showed various problems, but I couldn’t imagine they were the result of my diet, as reasonably healthy as I was compared to so many people. As Laurel and I spent more time together, she started mentioning some things that, at first, I paid little attention to. “How about butter instead of margarine,” she suggested one day. “Butter is actually way better for you than margarine.” (No way, I thought). On another day: “Let’s cook with my cast iron cookware instead of your non-stick pans, it’s healthier.” (I imagined hours of scrubbing in my future). When she learned I hated peas, she said, “I bet you won’t hate locally grown, garden fresh peas,” (oh yes I will). However over time, I tried some of her suggestions, and I found her choices were both tasty and appealing. So I started doing some research myself. The woman is smart. There’s science to back up her claims. What’s more, after a year of doing things like switching from margarine to butter, low fat milk to whole fat milk, ordering local organic fruits, veggies, and meats, revising my cooking techniques and nearly eliminating processed foods from my kitchen, not only did my health problems diminish, my blood test results did a turnaround. Particularly my cholesterol levels. That’s right, even with butter and red meat in my diet (and lots of organic fruits and veggies), my cholesterol totally changed for the better, with my HDLs (the good cholesterol) nice and high, and the LDLs nice and low. The bottom line: I was eating delicious, rich food, I didn’t gain weight, and I did feel better! Amazing. The process has been gradual, and I know a lot of these suggestions run counter to what we’ve always thought. I am still in the process of learning to eat healthy, in fact. I only had those garden fresh peas for the first time a few weeks ago – heavenly! I’ve learned to listen to Laurel and I consider her my personal Natural Health Guide, and I hope you will too. I’ll share my continuing adventures in healthy eating here with you. Juliette