Health professionals emphasize the importance of calcium in our diets, especially for women. There are good reasons for this emphasis – calcium is essential for strong bones (especially in post-menopausal women), proper muscle and nerve function, and proper blood clotting. Food sources are best for obtaining this mineral. Supplements may not be “bioavailable,” or easily absorbed by the body.

Adult men and pre-menopausal women need about 1000 milligrams of calcium a day, and women need about 1200 milligrams after menopause. Here are ten of the top foods that are good sources of calcium. Read the rest of this entry

You may find that the more research you do into the contamination of produce from pesticides, herbicides, bacteria and other dangerous substances, the more afraid you become! But don’t despair – there are things you can do to make your produce consumption safer. Here are some tips. Read the rest of this entry

When you cook chicken, you are probably careful to cook it thoroughly. You probably also know to use bleach or other disinfectant on your cutting board and knife, or any surface with which the raw poultry has come in contact. And of course, you have to wash your hands before preparing the salad. Why all the precautions?

The problem is, many chickens are contaminated with bacteria. Thorough cooking and cleanliness are supposed to protect you from these germs, but is that enough? Why is raw chicken so unsafe, or is it? Read the rest of this entry

Berries are some of the most healthful foods, and summer is the season of the berry. From strawberries to blueberries to cherries, summer brings these healthful fruits to our tables. They are more affordable in summer, being in season. Here are some of the more commonly available berries and their health benefits. Read the rest of this entry

Sea vegetables are not, botanically speaking, really vegetables. But they can be eaten as or with vegetables, they are green and leafy, and “sea vegetable” somehow sounds more palatable than “seaweed”! Sea vegetables are amazing foods. In Japan, they are a staple food that is fried, steamed, boiled, toasted, etc.

Sea vegetables are eaten by coastal-dwelling people all over the world. Practitioners of a macrobiotic diet – a Japanese-based, vegetarian diet and overall lifestyle that has been reported to alleviate cancer – incorporate large amounts of sea vegetables into their dishes, often serving them in some form for every meal. Read the rest of this entry