According to the latest health statistics, most of us need to increase our fruit and vegetable intake, and dark leafy greens in particular. Far from just a cliché, dark leafy greens are true superfoods that pack a powerful nutrient punch. 3 Reasons to Add Dark Greens to Your Diet While celebrating all things… Continue Reading
folate
Black Beans
(Phaselous vulgaris) Black beans are about the size of a pea with a black skin, a creamy white flesh and a sweet, rich flavor often compared to that of mushrooms. They have a velvety-texture that holds its shape during cooking. Black beans are also known as turtle beans (in reference to their shiny-like… Continue Reading
Quinoa
(Chenopodium quinoa) Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient grain. Although recently rediscovered in the U.S., quinoa has been cultivated in the Andean mountains of Peru, Chile and Bolivia for over 5,000 years. The grain was prized by the Incas who believed it to be sacred and referred to quinoa as the “mother seed.” … Continue Reading
Kidney Beans
(Phaseolis vulgaris) Kidney beans are legumes which are plants with seed pods that split into two halves. Some of the more common legumes are beans, lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans. The legume family also includes alfalfa, clover and even the beautiful flowering plant wisteria. Like all legumes, kidney beans benefit from bacteria (rhizobia)… Continue Reading
Beets
(Beta vulgaris) The beet is perhaps best known for its numerous cultivated varieties. Most of us are familiar with the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet. Other varieties include the leaf vegetables, chard and spinach beet, as well as the sugar beet used in the production of table sugar. … Continue Reading
Sweet Bell Peppers
(Capsicum annuum) Sweet peppers, also known as bell peppers, are members of the nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. It’s easy to see why sweet peppers acquired the nickname “bell” – their lobed shape is quite reminiscent. Sweet peppers can be traced back thousands of years to their wild origins… Continue Reading
Folate/Folic Acid
Folate gets its name from the Latin word folium for leaf because this B-vitamin is found in high concentrations in green leafy vegetables. Folate is necessary for cells to divide properly as it is required for producing the genetic material DNA. As a result, cells and tissues that divide rapidly such as skin cells… Continue Reading
Wilted Spinach
Serves 2 – 3 Ingredients: 1 large bag of spinach (pre-cleaned and dry) Olive Oil 2 cloves of garlic, cleaned and diced 1 lemon, cut into quarters with seeds removed Salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper Directions: In a large saute pan, add a few tablespoons of olive oil and diced garlic and cook… Continue Reading
Eating a Heart Healthy Diet
To recognize the Go Red Campaign, this month we offer a series of articles to increase your understanding of heart disease. In this article, we review the foods to eat and supplements to take that support heart health. In the companion article, Living a Heart Healthy Lifestyle, we offer tips on how to modify your… Continue Reading