Flaxseed might be good for fighting hot flashes! A recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic found that eating four tablespoons of crushed flaxseed a day may reduce your number of hot flashes by 50 percent. Yeah, that's what I said ... 50 percent!

I hear flaxseed is good for shiny hair and nails too. I know it’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it may reduce inflammation, and it may also ease constipation. My goodness! What else can it do? Create a dance craze and bake me a cake?

For easy flax eating try this recipe from The Amazing Flax Cookbook, by Jane Reinhardt-Martin, RD, LD. It’s real yummy!

Is it any surprise that populations located near to fast-food restaurants tend to suffer the consequences of a high-fat diet?

UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research conducted a survey plotting fast-food restaurants and convenience stores against the locations of the homes of 40,000 Californians. The Los Angeles Times covered the results, explaining,

It found the average California adult lives near four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores as grocery stores and produce vendors.

"We're living in a junk food jungle," said Harold Goldstein, executive director of the Davis-based California Center for Public Health Advocacy, one of the study's authors.

Obesity rates were 20% higher in neighborhoods with five or more times as many fast-food outlets as produce vendors, compared with those with three or fewer, the study found.

The study underscores what we all intuitively know: living close to fast food increases the chances for its consumption. So what can we realistically do, if eating fast food continues to be an option? The first thing would be to analyze your choice of food and be careful about portion size and add-ons. An article by Todd G. Buchholz in the Journal of Controversial Medical Claims (yes, it exists!) highlighted one positive aspect of fast food.

Comparing the cost of protein obtained at fast-food restaurants to protein obtained at supermarkets, this study finds that fast-food restaurants provide reasonable value to the consumer, considering the cost of raw materials and the cost of time in preparing meals. In a survey of fast food chains and supermarkets in five southern California communities (where the fast-food chains and the supermarkets were located within the same towns), I compared the cost of purchasing a "marquee" hamburger, a grilled chicken sandwich, a fish sandwich, a sliced turkey sandwich, and a green salad. The results suggest that in some cases consumers can actually purchase a high protein meal at a fast food chain for less than the cost of buying the separate groceries at a supermarket and preparing the sandwich themselves.

If you are on a budget, and short on time, fast food may actually make financial sense. Whether or not it makes sense for your health is largely up to you. There’s no reason to beat yourself up about eating fast food, but keep your long-term health in mind.

I've long been a supporter of the good-for-you-qualities of peppermint.
I mean, how can you hate on a medicinal and breath-freshening herb whose effective use dates back ten thousand years?

Using peppermint to ease stomach aches, indigestion and gas is a great thing to do. Recent research suggest that peppermint eases gastrointestinal tissue. It’s kind of like giving your insides a gentle massage. In a 2007 study, subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) took peppermint oil capsules for four weeks, and 75 percent of participants in the study experienced reduced symptoms and discomfort.

Peppermint oil may also be a natural deterrent for most species of household ants. Just sprinkle a little peppermint essential oil where you’ve seen ant trails. The only down side, is I hear you have to drop peppermint oil regularly for it to work. Read on for tips on growing your own, and a great peppermint recipe!

Growing herbs on your windowsill or in your garden is a great way to add extra flavor to favorite recipes and add a boost of immunity-supportive nutrients and antioxidants to your diet.

Basil is a frequent guest in my kitchen. I love the flavors of basil-infused scrambled eggs with grilled tomato and sautéed onion. I also love fresh basil in pasta sauce or wrapped around a pork loin next to applewood-smoked bacon strips. Yum... A Thai chili basil sauce is great on fish, especially delicate white fish like Chilean Sea Bass, Walleye and Tilapia.

Basil is rich in antioxidants. In a 2007 Brazilian study, researchers added essential oil of basil to drinking water and found it had antimicrobial qualities. In other words, basil may help kill common parasites that contaminate water, in turn, fighting human infection. Basil is also said to have calming and bellyache-reducing qualities.

How to Grow
Plant basil seeds, readily available, in a sunny location. Potted basil accents any windowsill!

How to Eat: Basil Pesto

I love the mild flavors of Tilapia, a delicate fish whose origins can be traced to the Nile River in Egypt. A little Bible history? Legend has it Tilapia, called St. Peter’s fish, is the fish Christ multiplied to feed the masses.

There are as many varieties of Tilapia as there are ways to prepare it. I usually sear Tilapia in sesame oil and add a combination of garlic, ginger, scallions and other flavoring, serve it over rice. But variety is the spice of life!

In walks this Costa-Rican-inspired recipe from Global Gourmet. The fresh flavors and savory ingredients compliment the mild taste of Tilapia so well, I’ve completely fallen in love! I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I do!

The benefits that come from you morning glass of orange juice may be profound. Vitamin C may protect against heart disease, cancer, memory loss and wrinkles. Vitamin C, long championed for its cold fighting attributes (and ability to protect sailors and pirates from scurvy), has a wealth of other positives.

Here is a page from vitamin C’s resume, as well as a few suggestions how you can up your dose, without overdoing the citrus aisle.

Ever wonder, halfway through your sister’s famous cashew double caramel popcorn crunch, how much damage you’re causing your teeth? Let’s just say your dentist would not be proud. So what are the noshing and flossing habits of the toothy grinned and fabulous? You might be able to prolong oral hygiene by your diet, and keep tooth decay and periodontal disease at bay by not only your brushing and flossing habits, but also by your eating and post-eating habits.

What do mice, round worms and people have in common?
The FoxA 1, 2, 3, genome sequence, which could be responsible for appetite response and consequently, longevity. In a recent study, scientists identified that this gene significantly promoted the longevity of roundworms by prompting them to eat less. Scientists are now working hard to see if this finding can lead to a drug that promotes human longevity by restricting caloric consumption. What can we learn from these worms and mice, and how were they studied?

You’re not alone!

Is it what you eat or how you eat it, that makes the biggest dent on weight, health and longevity? In a recent survey, more than half the participants believed that what you eat makes a bigger difference than how you eat. Blue Zones research proves otherwise. It’s not what, but how, that might positively affect weight, health and longevity.

Okinawans eat on small dishes to remind themselves to stop eating when they are 80% full. The problem for me is I have a inner fat man that won’t let me stop until he’s had his full. And he prefers to eat to 110% percent satiety. So what to do if you, like me, aren’t as disciplined as Okinawan elders? Here are three simple tricks to downsize servings without loosing your mind.

Given the option between chocolate cake and broccoli I'd opt for cake of course.

Working from home, when hunger pangs strike I will turn to my kitchen with all the relish of a cat nip crazed kitten. Fridge beware, I must have your contents. That is why it's especially helpful to remember your not going to eat it unless you buy it at the grocery store. All our meal choices start at the same place. What to do next time you venture into the land of fresh, fish and chocolaty delicious? Here are five tips for stocking up and staying healthy. One brown bag at a time.