Famous Flavors

Dairy Products – The Calcium Champions Dairy Products – The Calcium Champions (image credits: pixabay) Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, with one cup (245 grams) of plain, whole milk yogurt containing significant amounts of the DV for calcium, as well as a hearty dose of phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins B2 and B12. Think of dairy as your bones’ best friend – it’s like having a calcium deposit service that delivers directly to your skeleton. Many types of yogurt are also rich in probiotics, a type of beneficial bacteria that can promote immune function, improve heart health, and enhance … Read more

The Protein Powerhouse That Stops Sweet Tooth Attacks The Protein Powerhouse That Stops Sweet Tooth Attacks (image credits: wikimedia) Here’s something that might blow your mind: an older 2010 study in men with overweight showed that increasing protein to 25% of calories reduced cravings by 60% and the desire to snack at night by half. That’s not just a small improvement—that’s a complete game-changer for anyone battling those late-night raids on the cookie jar. As registered dietitian and nutrition writer Brittany Lubeck, MS, RD, tells The Healthy, consuming protein causes the blood sugar from the food you eat to be … Read more

The Surprising Relationship Between Coffee and Gut Bacteria The Surprising Relationship Between Coffee and Gut Bacteria (image credits: pixabay) Many people don’t realize that coffee’s impact on gut health starts with the trillions of bacteria living in our intestines. Recent studies published in 2023 have shown that moderate coffee consumption can actually increase the diversity of gut microbiota, which is generally considered a good thing. One peer-reviewed article in the journal Nutrients found that people who drink two to three cups of coffee per day had more beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, compared to non-coffee drinkers. However, too much coffee—think … Read more

Fermented Foods Make a Major Difference Fermented Foods Make a Major Difference (image credits: unsplash) Doctors often include fermented foods in their daily diets to support digestion. Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso are favorites for their natural probiotics—live bacteria that help keep the gut healthy. A 2024 review in the journal Nature Microbiology showed that people who eat fermented foods regularly have a more diverse gut microbiome, which is linked to better digestion and less bloating. Dr. Megan Rossi, a gut health specialist, points out that just a small serving of fermented food each day can make a noticeable … Read more

Hydration with Water Hydration with Water (image credits: unsplash) After a salty meal, the best thing you can do is drink water—lots of it. Salt causes your body to retain water, making you feel bloated and thirsty. Research from the National Academies of Sciences in 2024 highlights that proper hydration helps your kidneys flush out excess sodium more efficiently. Aim for small, regular sips rather than gulping down a large amount at once, which can overwhelm your system. Water also helps maintain the balance of electrolytes in your body, which gets thrown off by high sodium. Even mild dehydration can … Read more

Coffee: Your Liver’s Morning Champion Coffee: Your Liver’s Morning Champion (image credits: flickr) Let’s start with something most of us grab first thing in the morning – coffee. Experts recommend at least three cups every day to help prevent liver problems, which might be the best news you hear all day. Researchers found that the benefits were proportional to coffee consumption up to around 3-4 cups each day, beyond which further increases provided no additional benefit. What’s fascinating is that all coffee types decrease the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in chronic liver disease – whether you prefer instant, ground, … Read more

Antioxidant-Rich Foods Deserve More Attention Sea Buckthorn Berries: The Himalayan Superfruit with Record-Breaking Power Sea Buckthorn Berries: The Himalayan Superfruit with Record-Breaking Power (image credits: pixabay) Think all superfruits are created equal? Think again. Sea buckthorn berries, a hardy shrub native to harsh coastal environments, contain what researchers are calling record-breaking antioxidant levels with an ORAC value of 895,281 μmolTE/100g, making it the highest ever measured in superfoods. Motivated by the experimental status and limited commercialization of sea buckthorn in North America, researchers set out to characterize the unique composition of polyphenols in Canadian cultivars, with Professor Fereidoon Shahidi noting … Read more

The Fermented Food Revolution Is Here The Fermented Food Revolution Is Here (image credits: unsplash) You’ve seen them lurking in the corner of your grocery store, those weird jars with unpronounceable names. Kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir – foods that look suspicious but are actually nutritional powerhouses your brain has been craving. As of 2024, a staggering 60% of consumers believe their diet is a key player in improving mental health, with 39% changing what they eat and drink to boost it. “Eating fermented foods is a powerful tool for nurturing your mental health by changing your microbiome,” explains Susan Albers, PsyD, … Read more

Yogurt: The Probiotic Powerhouse Your Gut Craves Yogurt: The Probiotic Powerhouse Your Gut Craves (image credits: wikimedia) Your grandmother wasn’t wrong when she said yogurt was good for you, but she probably didn’t realize just how incredible this creamy delight truly is for digestive health. Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics. It’s made from milk fermented by probiotics, mainly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. These beneficial bacteria work like tiny soldiers in your digestive system, fighting off harmful microorganisms and keeping your gut in perfect balance. What makes yogurt particularly impressive is that yogurt bacteria survive transit … Read more

Bananas: Nature’s Perfect Energy Snack Bananas: Nature’s Perfect Energy Snack (image credits: pixabay) Picture this: you’re hitting that afternoon wall, and you need something that won’t crash your energy levels later. A 2012 study compared bananas to carbohydrate sports drinks in cyclists who needed sustained energy for their long rides. The researchers found that the banana offered just as much fuel to the riders as the drink. Bananas are packed with potassium, fiber, vitamins, and carbohydrates that provide a big boost of natural energy. What makes bananas so special isn’t just their natural sweetness – it’s the way they deliver … Read more