Here in Connecticut, the first days of spring have meant a return to freezing temperatures, replete with dashes of snow and sleet. To warm up from the inside out, I’ve been making this Hearty Hemp Hearts Porridge that may tantalize your taste buds, while also helping to better your health. This warm, grain-free porridge is packed with fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants, healthy fats and … [Read more...]
Turmeric has quickly become one of my favorite spices to use in the kitchen, and it’s not just because of its cheerful color (it makes curry and mustard yellow) and earthy flavor that hints of mustard and ginger. It has also been regarded as a versatile, medicinal herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The major ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has been demonstrated to have … [Read more...]
Through generations of Southern cooking and tobacco use, my extended family has a strong history of high blood pressure (or hypertension), stroke and heart attack. When I was a young child, I remember both the familiar and pungent scent of pipe smoke from my maternal grandfather and the heartbreaking toll that multiple strokes had on his body. Sadly, I was just a first grader when he passed away … [Read more...]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRepnhXq33s] Music can comfort and soothe us or it can stimulate us to action. It is literally the soundtrack of our lives, accompanying us as we drive to work, energizing us through a workout, empowering us after a break-up or setting the tone for concentration as we study. Music can drive us to creativity or create community with a universal message. … [Read more...]
Ever go the grocery store and get completely overwhelmed by all of the food labels? Labels can claim all kinds of things about a food or food product—such as, it’s gluten-free, sugar-free, low fat or organic—yet a quick glance at the nutrition info reveals ingredients you’ve never even heard of before. How can smart consumers stay on top of the buzzwords for food purchases that are nutritious, … [Read more...]
Today is the last day of Heart Health Month, but there is no less need for greater awareness. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the country. Yet according to a recent Heart Health Survey by Cleveland Clinic, 74 percent of Americans do not believe that they will die of heart disease. The survey also found that 32 percent are not doing anything to prevent heart … [Read more...]
February is not only a month to celebrate romance, love and candy hearts. It is also a time to draw attention to heart health. On the first Friday of February, join people all over the country in celebrating National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of women's fight against heart disease. This will be the 11th year of the Go Red for Women movement. Dubbed "the silent killer," heart disease often … [Read more...]
I believe that every significant life experience has something to teach us—about life, ourselves, our relationships with others. For what is life if not for building meaningful connections with others, for learning about the world in which we live and for truly discovering our own true nature, the boundless potential we possess and the sacred path we are meant to follow? I have learned so much … [Read more...]
Hartford often gets a bad rap for crime, poverty and the quality of its education, but it recently received high praise for its level of health and fitness. Among the nation’s 50 fittest largest metropolitan areas, the Hartford area recently was ranked 5th. Only the San Francisco, Calif. Boston, Mass., Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis, Minn. areas ranked higher. The ACSM (American College of … [Read more...]
It really is quite amazing that a type of the seeds that sprout from atop the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Pet, a holiday commercial mainstay, have grown into the latest superfood. The seeds from the Chia pets, laden with pesticides, are “not fit for human consumption,” said Dr. Jack Bukowski, of the Nutritional Science Research Institute, on faculty of Harvard Medical School, in an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz … [Read more...]