Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Selenium may have caught your attention, as it’s one among many supplements that has been studied for its potential to treat a variety of conditions ranging from asthma and dandruff to infertility. While it’s true that our bodies need this essential to function properly, it takes very little to do … Read More
The room is spinning but you’re simply standing still. The dizziness and spinning associated with vertigo can be completely debilitating, oftentimes leading to nausea and vomiting. But what causes vertigo, and how can you fix it? Studies show that benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is associated with osteoporosis and poor … Read More
When it comes to cholesterol-lowering food, you can’t go wrong with cruciferous vegetables of the Brassica family. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussel’s sprouts contain many valuable nutrients for the human body, and even fight cancer and heart disease.[1] What Makes Cruciferous Vegetables so Powerful? Cruciferous vegetables are high in … Read More
Dates are often used as alternative sweeteners because of their natural sweetness. It turns out that these sweet foods contain more than just carbohydrates and sugars: they are packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other health-promoting nutrients that can help you stay healthy. Learn about the health benefits of … Read More
I’ve always loved the taste of coriander in my cooking, but I recently learned that coriander uses aren’t limited to flavoring foods. There are many coriander benefits that earn this plant a starring role in both the spice and medicine cabinets. Coriander refers to the plant Coriandrum sativum. The leaves … Read More
People in Japan have a longer life expectancy and a significantly lower risk of several serious diseases compared to Americans, including cancer and heart disease.[1,2] Extensive research has looked at differences in the Japanese diet compared to the typical Western diet. Much of the interest has been on higher fish … Read More
Wasabi is a native Japanese plant that has been used for centuries because of its medicinal properties. This is likely what has led people to wonder about the health benefits of wasabi. You probably know it as the green, ground-up root in sushi restaurants. (Once you have experienced that burning … Read More
Once you’ve received the sobering news that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, the next step is to discuss a personalized breast cancer treatment plan with your medical team. Your doctor’s recommendations will involve many factors, including your age, medical history, the type, location, and size of the cancer, and … Read More
Toast without butter is like macaroni without cheese—sad and incomplete. Same goes for popcorn, especially at the movie theater. For years, though, we’ve been told to cut butter from our diets. Those delectable, creamy French dishes a la Julia Child are frowned upon by nutrition experts and cardiologists. Now we’re … Read More
Every year, my grandma makes three cranberry dishes to serve alongside our Thanksgiving turkey: a pureed cranberry sauce, a whole-fruit sauce, and a cranberry relish. And the days following, the family enjoys turkey sandwiches with those cranberry leftovers as a special, once-a-year condiment. Cranberries are a common food to pile … Read More
