There's one food which I avoid eating during lunch on dance days is fettunta/brushchetta - delicious Tuscan bread grilled to perfection, rubbed generously with raw garlic and then anointed with heart-healthy olive oil. No, I am not doing the Atkins diet and I love bread. Well, the only thing that bothers me (and my dance partner) is garlic, especially raw garlic.

Garlic is undoubtedly great for health but I'm sure you agree with me that "garlic breath" can make you somewhat of a social pariah. That explains why I only eat raw Read more

When we were little, my brother and I ate cherries because we wanted to play "cherry pit spitting" game. We would pop a cherry in our mouths, eat it and spit the pit. Whoever spits the farthest, wins. The loser had to make the beds for the rest of the week. Okay, it's kinda childish and it was FUN! Well, I don't do that anymore, I have better reasons to eat cherries.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that eating tart cherries helps lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, decrease body weight and fat - notably a loss of belly fat - in a study on obesed rats. Rats that received whole tart cherry powder had 54 percent body fat compared with 63 percent for those rats fed on high fat, moderate carbs diet (western diet). Also, the rats had lower-weight retroperitoneal fat, a type of belly fat that has been linked with especially high cardiovascular risk and inflammation in humans.

Yes, tart cherries are different from sweet Bing cherries; tart cherries have higher concentrations of antioxidant called anthocyanins than those sweet cherries. I buy fresh tart cherries at the farmers market. If you can't get them fresh, you can look for canned tart cherries at your local grocery store or go online and try buying tart cherries direct.

Here's some smart ideas to eat tart cherries

Keep a bag of dried tart cherries in your office drawer, backpack or gym bag and eat cherries as a mid-afternoon snack.

Toss a handful of dried tart cherries in your salad or make a vinaigrette with cherry juice.

Thaw some frozen tart cherries and then layer the thawed cherries on your favorite yogurt or ice cream for a nice dessert.

In place of raisins, use dried tart cherries in your standard oatmeal raisins cookie recipe. You can also substitute blueberries with dried or frozen tart cherries for some real delicious muffins.

My love affair with raisins started with the California Raisins commercial in the 80s..... row of Motown rock stars raisins dancing and singing "Heard it through the Grapevine "... oh, they were so adorable and sure, they danced right into my life, my heart, my meals, my lunch box and my T-shirts! In fact, mom was pretty happy about that. She said, "at least you are eating fruit and not candy". Even till now, I snack on raisins because raisins  Read more

Across Asia, skin whitening is big business. Women are relentless in their pursuit of beautiful fair skin and most skincare brands have launched a whitening skincare range to meet this growing demand. Israel-based LycoRed has developed a tomato ingredient for oral consumption that helps protect the skin against sun damage from the inside. Yes, you heard me right, this is no beauty myth.

According to a study conducted by the universities of Manchester and Newcastle (England), researchers found that the antioxidant lycopene in tomato neutralizes free radicals that are formed when UV radiation reaches the skin. And, these free radicals have been associated with cancer and aging. A tomato-based diet helps boost procollagen levels in the skin significantly and increased levels may have the potential to reverse skin aging process. However, you are advised to use a sunscreen during periods of extended UV exposure. Tomatoes should be eaten as a "helpful addition" and not as a replacement.

While it is healthy to eat fresh tomatoes, cooked tomatoes and tomato paste may actually be better for you. Lycopene are found at higher concentrations and released when heated, and then absorbed much easily into your body.

So, enjoy your spaghetti bolognese and don't forget to drink plenty of water to keep your skin supple!

While cruciferous vegetables are highly recommended for the preventing of certain cancers, they can cause or aggravate hypothyroidism, a condition caused by an under-active thyroid.

Cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens. Goitrogens have been found to interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis - they block iodine absorption into your body, and iodine is an essential nutrient for healthy thyroid function. In people with hypothyroidism, goitrogens can further suppress thyroid function and stimulate the growth of the thyroid (goiter).

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle and gradual. If you experience as fatigue, unexplained weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold, depression and anxiety, constipation, menstrual irregularities, puffy face, pale dry skin, brittle hair and nails, you may want to test for hypothyroidism.

And, if you have hypothyroidism, you should limit your intake of RAW cruciferousetables such as broccoli, turnips, cabbage, bok choy, chard, spinach, Brussel sprouts, mustard greens, cauliflower, radish, and kale. Goitrogens are heat sensitive, meaning that nitrogen levels are significantly reduced when cruciferous vegetables are cooked. Other goitrogens include strawberries, peaches, soy, millet, walnuts, peanuts, and pine nuts.

To maintain normal thyroid levels, incorporate whole foods rich in iodine (seaweed, kelp), niacin, riboflavin, zinc, as well as vitamins B6, C, and E in your diet . It is wise to stay hydrated but steer clear of diuretic beverages like tea, coffee or colas that can cause unwanted excretion of nutrients.

"Without having to starve yourself, acai berry lets you lose weight naturally and effectively....Get your beach body ready, order now...." Surely most frustrated dieters are seduced into popping pills to melt away excess pounds, right? After all, it doesn't hurt. But are there real benefits of acai berry or is it just another weight loss scam - hyped testimonials, suck-you-in free trials and exaggerated science.

These benefits of acai berry are promoted heavily on the Internet; it claims to help you drop 30 pounds in a week, promote healthy skin, enhances your immune system, improves sleep, helps blood circulation, increases energy levels, improves digestion, detoxifies and cleanses your body, helps with arthritis, diabetes and cancer, reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and protects against cardiovascular disease.

I don't deny acai berry is one of the highest antioxidants fruits in the world, has good amounts of Vitamins and nutrients but the idea that it is a solution to ALL diseases is nothing more than pure marketing hype. To date, acai berry has no known health benefit that’s any different than that of other similar fruits - cranberry, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry or blueberry.

Yes, acai berry is a good fruit with anthocyanins and flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants that help your body fight against free radicals. By all means, use acai berry to supplement your diet but just ignore the hype.

Maybe when you were young, dark eye circles annoyed you but now, this cosmetic concern is no longer significant. As you age, your eyesight changes. It is not what it used to be; it begins to deteriorate and you need glasses to help you see better. For some people, cataracts can develop and at any age.

Cataracts is the clouding of the eyes' lens which is responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. When you have cataracts, your vision becomes poor as cataracts act like a frosted glass, interfering with your sight. Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the leading causes of visual impairment and acquired blindness in America.

Studies show a strong relation between dietary and supplemental intake of antioxidant Vitamins - Vitamin C and Vitamin E- with development of cataracts. By increasing your intake of these antioxidants, you may decrease the development or progression of this eye disorder by as much as 60 percent. However, supplement have to be long term to reap real benefit.

Sources of Vitamin C can be obtained easily through oranges, guavas, papayas, kiwis, cantaloupes, grapefruits, strawberries as well as tomatoes, green peppers and Brussels sprouts.

You can find Vitamin E in safflower and corn oil, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, wheat germ, and egg yolks.

In addition to dietary supplementation, there are certain lifestyle habits that may help slow the development of cataracts. These include:

Quit smoking

Limit alcohol consumption

Avoid using steroid medications when possible

Keep diabetes and obesity under control

Put on a hat or a pair of UV protecting sunglasses when out in the sun and avoid tanning booths

In my previous post, I talked about the many health benefits of apple. Here's another to the list... Apple brings hope for people with male pattern baldness. Although Androgenic Alopecia or male pattern baldness is not a medical condition, it can dent self-esteem and cause anxiety or even depression.

In a study conducted in Japan, it was established that a polyphenol compound (Procyanidin B-2) in apples and apple juice has promising effects on human hair cells. Procyanidin B-2 blocks the production of TGF Beta which causes hair follicle to shrink and fall out. With this, it is safe to assume that Procyanidin-B2 acts as a growth-promoting agent on people with male pattern baldness.

Results also revealed that Procyanidin B-2 produced no side effects such as sexual dysfunction, itching or irritation which are commonly associated with minoxidil (Rogaine).

A rich source of Procyanidin is found in the skins of baby green apples. Eating them is a natural way of introducing Procyanidin into your body to promote hair growth. Don't forget, the best way to prevent hair loss is proper nutrition as hair is a living and growing part of your body.

Maybe exotic fruits like durian, carambola, kiwano, langsat or rambutan sound foreign to many but surely not this fruit - apple. We know the adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" by heart but how much do you know about the health benefits of apple?

The health benefits of apple are immense. According to USDA, apples are in the top 20 foods with the highest antioxidant concentration. Apples contain quercetin, a powerful flavonoid that protects the body from chronic diseases. Evidence shows that apples help decrease the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, and reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Recent research also suggests a correlation between eating apples and improved memory function. In addition, apples are recommended for obesity, cataracts, osteoporosis, gallbladder stones, anemia, halitosis, insomnia, bronchial asthma, constipation, arthritis, and skin health.

Although apple seeds contain a small amount of amygdalin, it won't have any toxic effect unless eaten in a large quantity.

It is wise to enjoy apples (organic, if possible) unpeeled as much of the phytochemicals are found on its skin. If organic apples are unavailable or beyond your budget, you may want to use a natural vegetable cleaning liquid to help remove as much of the pesticide from the skin as possible before eating.

Whether it's a fruit or a vegetable, tomato is definitely good for you. Tomatoes offer an abundance of health benefits, particularly it's ability to protect against prostate cancer.

Tomatoes are not only high in Vitamins, calcium and potassium, they also contain a carotenoid called lycopene which gives tomatoes their red color and has antioxidant properties. Studies show that diets high in tomato and tomato-based product consumption may decrease the risk of prostate cancer up to 35 percent and diets low in lycopene have been linked to increased risk for heart attack and stroke, eye disorder and lung disease caused by environmental pollutants.

Lycopene is better absorbed when cooked with a little oil, preferably olive oil. This is because the heating process helps to break down the cell walls of the tomato releasing the lycopene while the oil helps increase its absorption.

With just 26 calories per 100 grams and virtually no fat, tomatoes are smart healthy choices for people who are on diet.

Mom was right. Carrots are good for your eyes but did you know that Vitamin A, commonly found in carrots are also beneficial in treating acne?

Acne is caused primarily by hormonal imbalance and toxic build up in you body, particularly in the blood and lymph. Studies have shown that acne sufferers typically have low levels of Vitamin A in their blood. Vitamin A inhibits excess oil production, and is necessary for the maintenance of healthy skin and hormonal balance. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant that relieves your body of oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B complex vitamins, selenium, zinc and magnesium are all vitamins and minerals that certainly can benefit an acne prone skin. Together with proper cleansing routine, combination of these vitamins and minerals can speed up the healing process, assist in skin repair, balance hormones, fight free radicals, strengthen immune system, help regulate oil production, and also reduce stress that has been proven to trigger hormonal imbalance.

Some of the best sources of Vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables. And yes, drink plenty of water to flush toxins out of your system!

Vegetables need not be all green and boring. In the past, people associate vegetables with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Today, evidence shows that the phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables provide our bodies with a myriad of health benefits. People who eat more fruits and vegetables as a part of an overall healthy diet are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as cancers, coronary health disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

Many of the bright colors in fruit and vegetables come from  Read more

There's no doubt about it. Vegetables are good for you; they are nature's gift to mankind, bursting with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many phytochemicals that have miraculous health benefits. Introducing fresh vegetables to your diet is the best thing you can do to save yourself from chronic ailments such as cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. You do okay with fruits but the BIG problem is, you don't like to eat vegetables. Want to find out how to sneak vegetables in your diet without knowing it? Here's how...  Read more