Almonds
Almonds are a relative to the peach, apricot, and cherry. Classified into two categories, sweet and bitter, sweet almonds are the variety that is…
Apricots
A member of the plum and cherry family, apricots are classified as a drupe, or a fleshy, one-seeded fruit enclosed as a pit. Apricots are thought to…
Artichokes
Long considered a delicacy around the globe, artichokes are actually the unopened flower of a thistle like plant. Artichokes are one of the oldest…
Arugula
Arugula has grown in popularity in recent years, becoming a frequent addition to salads. Its peppery and woodsy flavors provide this green with a…
Asparagus
As a member of the lily family and originally cultivated in ancient Egypt, asparagus is a superfood rich in nutrition. Nutritional…
Avocado
The avocado, also referred to as the alligator pear, can be divided into three main categories, West Indian, Guatemalan, and Mexican. In the United…
Bananas
Bananas are the second leading fruit crop in the world. Although traditionally thought of as yellow, bananas can also be red, pink, purple, and…
Beets
Beets are a unique vegetable as both the root and leaves are typically consumed. They originated in North Africa, and along Asian and European…
Blueberries
Native to North America and Europe, there are over thirty different species of blueberries worldwide. Consumed by man since prehistoric times,…
Broccoli
Developed from a European wild cabbage, broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables. Ancient Romans and Italians have cultivated…
Cabbage
Cabbage is a relative of broccoli, brussel sprouts, and radishes as a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables. Modern cabbage has developed…
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes are one of my favorites. Muskmelon, incorrectly referred to as cantaloupe, is one the five most frequently purchased fruits in the U.S. A…
Carrots
Scientifically known as daucus carota, carrots originated in the Middle East and Asia. With over 100 varieties, they can vary in both size and color.…
Cashews
One of the most beloved nuts is by far the cashew. This kidney-shaped nut is a relative of the mango and pistachio as a member of the anacardiaceae…
Celery
Celery is a biennial vegetable, meaning it grows in a cycle of once every two years. While commonly thought of as light green, in Europe celery is…
Chocolate
At the center of chocolate’s health benefits are flavonoids. These plant pigments are responsible for many of the health benefits of many fruits…
Corn
Corn has become the quintessential symbol of the harvest season. Almost everyone grew up hearing the story of Native Americans sharing their…
Cranberries
In the days leading up to the Holidays, lets focus on traditional foods served at the year’s biggest meal. Cranberry sauce, weather the canned…
Cucumbers
Although over 70% of them are made into pickles, cucumbers are nutritious and yummy in their own right. Cucumbers are a tropical plant that…
Eggplant
Eggplants are a member of the nightshade family with potatoes and tomatoes. Although commonly thought of in a deep purple shade, eggplants also come…
Endive – Healing Food Facts
Endive is a chicory green that is today, much more popular in Europe than in the United States. Although its recognition is growing, it is still…
Fennel
With its bulb and stalks, fennel is a member of the Umbelliferae family along with carrots and celery. Fennel has a distinct taste often compared to…
Figs
There are over 150 different varieties of figs, varying dramatically in color from green and purple, to black. Because figs are extremely perishable,…
Garbonzo Beans
Garbanzo beans go by many names, from chickpeas and Bengal grams to Egyptian peas. This unique legume has a nut like buttery taste and is a common…
Garlic
Although garlic is extremely popular, few know that it is actually a member of the lily family. Garlic is a native to Central Asia, and as one of the…
Ginger
Did you know that ginger is considered an erect perennial herb? Native to Asia, India, and China, ginger has been popular in these regions for…
Glycemic Load of Foods Table
See my Glycemic Load of Foods Table here (opens new…
Grapefruit
Named the “grapefruit” because it grows in clusters similar to grapes, nothing says summer quite like this citrus fruit. In fact, its Latin name,…
Grapes
Having been consumed since prehistoric times as far back as 5,000 B.C.E., grapes were highly valued in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations for…
Honeydew Melons
As a member of the curbitaceae family, honeydew melons are a relative of cucumbers and squash. It is thought that honeydews originated in Persia.…
Kiwi
Kiwifruit is perhaps one of the most unique fruits. With its brown fuzzy skin, and bright green meat, there isn’t another comparable fruit. Kiwi is…
Leeks
Leeks are a relative to the onion and garlic family, but are different as people consume their leaves rather than the bulb. They are a native to…
Lemons
Although often thought of as sour, lemons actually are available in sweet varieties such as the Meyer lemon. Lemon trees are unique as they flower…
Limes
Limes are a popular citrus fruit that can be either sour or sweet, depending on the variety. Originating in South-east Asia, limes were carried by…
Maple Syrup
As the months grow cooler, a whole new flavor pallet is in season. One of many people’s fall favorites is maple syrup. Made by tapping the bark…
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is the seed of a fruit similar to an apricot, grown on a tropical evergreen called the Moluccas. Native to the central Spice Islands of…
Olives
Although most consider the olive a vegetable, its actually a fruit. Many consume green and black olives, the only difference between the two being…
Onions
Did you know that the onion is a member of the lily family? Onions come in a wide variety of flavors, colors, and shape, which can be broken up into…
Oranges
As one of the most popular fruits in the world, the history of the oranges dates back to ancient times. The first reference of oranges was found in…
Papaya
As a native to Central America, the papaya is a tropical fruit with a soft consistency and sweet taste. The papaya became a favorite of Spanish and…
Peaches
Did you know, that a nectarine is considered a smooth skinned peach? Native to China, peaches and nectarines were spread to the Middle East and…
Pears
With Autumn officially upon us, the season of harvest is in full swing. One of the many new fruits in season are pears. Historic record of the pear…
Peas
Peas come in three different varieties: garden, snow, and snap. The history of the pea is unknown, although it is believed that they originated in…
Pecans
North American native to the Mississippi River valley, the pecan grows on a type of hickory tree that grows to a height of about 150 feet. Each tree…
Pineapples
Pineapples were named for its resemblance of a large green pinecone, and its flavor profile, which is often compared to a mixture of apples,…
Plums
Plums are a relative both the peach and almond. There are over 200 different varieties of plums, coming in a rainbow of colors from blue and purple…
Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a holiday classic. As a member of the nightshade family, potatoes are relatives of the tomato, eggplant and bell pepper.…
Prunes
Prunes, or dried plums, originated near the Caspian Sea – the same area where European plums originated. As people migrated, so did prunes…
Pumpkin Seeds
Continuing with our pumpkin theme, pumpkin seeds are another great fall favorite. Although sometimes discarded after carving pumpkins, many use them…
Pumpkins
With Halloween just a few weeks away, pumpkins are in high demand. As a member of the winter squash family, pumpkins share similar nutritional…
Raisins
Raisins are a common American snack made from dehydrated grapes. Ancient Phoenicians and Armenians worked to prefect the process of making raisins.…
Raspberries
Did you know that raspberries are not just limited to the color red, but also come in a wide range of colors from black and orange to yellow and…
Rye
One of the heartiest of the grains, rye is more nutritious than its cousin, wheat. Rye was originally a wild grass found in Central Asia.…
Scallops
Scallops are a type of mollusk that has a wavy, scalloped, shell. When consumed, you are actually eating the ‘nut’, or the muscle used to open…
Spinach
Spinach originated as a wild plant in Persia and East Asia and has been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years. Catherine de Médici brought…
Sweet Potato
Sweet potato pie, casserole and other dishes, are frequently served at Thanksgiving dinner. A favorite of many, the sweet potato is not a member…
Thyme
Thyme is a small evergreen shrub and member of the mint family. Native to the western Mediterranean, thyme has been utilized since ancient times for…
Tofu
Behind soy sauce, tofu is the best-selling soy product in the United States. Tofu is made from soymilk by coagulating the soy proteins with calcium…
Tomatoes
Did you know that there are over one thousand different varieties of tomatoes? Originating in central and South America, tomatoes were introduced to…
Turnips
Turnips, as well as cabbage and broccoli, are a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. Cultivated over 4,000 years ago in Asia, turnips…
Watermelon
Did you know that a watermelon can weigh upwards of 90 pounds? Watermelons are native to the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. Depicted in…
Zucchini
Considered a summer squash, zucchini are a member of the melon family. Other summer squash include crookneck, straightneck, and pattypan squash.…
Welcome
On the Dr Oz show
On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical “band aids.”