Optimum Wellness King Soopers Winter 2022

Stir it Up!

BOOST

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FAST & FLAVORFUL STIR-FRY RECIPES PG.36

DRUNKEN-STYLE NOODLES WITH SHRIMP ------------PG. 39

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MIYOKO SCHINNER: A VEGAN CHANGEMAKER PG. 5

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FROM THE EDITOR

I

Give Veganuary a Try

SHUTTERSTOCK

t’s that time again when many of us dig into our list of New Year’s resolutions. If there’s anything that I learned in 2021, it’s not to take my health for granted. And one of the main ways I stay healthy is by eating well—and eating mostly plant-based.

Studies consistently reveal the many health benefits of eating more plants, including losing weight; improving your cholesterol; reducing blood pressure; and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

There is also compelling research that a plant-based diet may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

You may notice the increasing availability of plant-based products at your local grocery store.

According to numerous sources, grocery sales of plant-based products have grown 27 percent, and the market is set to top $74 billion by 2027. Four in 10 Americans have tried plant-based meat, and 41 percent of millenials are enjoying trying new plantbased foods and beverages at restaurants.

It’s a trend that is not abating.

Interested in giving plant-based eating a try? Then consider pledging to participate in Veganuary. Launched in the United Kingdom in 2014 and now recognized in countries around the world, Veganuary encourages people to try vegan for January and beyond. Simply sign up at veganuary.com and you’ll get a free e-cookbook, official Veganuary starter kit, daily recipes, meal plans, tips for eating out and ongoing support through an email series. There’s also a Facebook group with a supportive community full of people

VISIT US ONLINE livenaturallymagazine.com

making the transition at the same time or who participated in Veganuary in previous years.

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT VEGANUARY: More than 580,000 people from 209 countries took part in 2021.

98 percent of participants said they would recommend Veganuary to others.

40 percent of participants plan to stay vegan.

50 percent of participants experienced health improvements, including better energy levels, mood, skin appearance and body weight.

The Live Naturally website is chock-full of plant-based recipe options, including an ebook of vegan recipes, Vegan Delights. Head to livenaturallymagazine.com/vegan-recipe-ebook to download. Want to be more plant-based but don’t want to give up dairy? There are options! In this issue, we share all about the best plant-based milks, plus several great dairy-free butters and desserts for those of you with a sweet tooth.

As we launch into this New Year, we at Live Naturally will continue to work on researching and sharing ways to live a happier and healthier life.

Wishing you all the best for 2022!

Rebecca Heaton, Editor editor@livenaturallymagazine.com

CONTACT US editor@livenaturallymagazine.com

FOLLOW US

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1

CONTENTS WINTER 2022

Healthy meals to whip up in a wok

40 05 BEGIN A Vegan Revolutionary PLUS What is food as medicine, shopping sustainably and the basics of intermittent fasting.

18 KITCHEN New Face of Dairy PLUS Healthy snacks, pasta sauces and kitchen gadgets.

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

EAT

BOOST

33 Chef It Up Truly Mexican with Pati Jinich.

50 Hormonal Health Natural supplements for sexual well-being.

36 Fast & Flavorful Easy-to-make stir-fry recipes.

52 Love Your Heart Four heart-supportive supplements.

40 Healthy Kitchen Hearty meals with just one pan.

54 Inflammation & Immunity Natural ways to keep inflammation in check and boost immune health.

36 recipe index Big Green Fried Rice 38 Chicken Parm Quinoa Bake 42 Coconut Rice Pudding 35 Dairy-Free Chinese Chile Beef and Black Bean Pan-Fry 37 Dal with Tofu and Spinach 40

44 Around the World The flavors of Turkey.

COVER PHOTO BY JOHNNY MILLER FROM ONCE UPON A CHEF WEEKNIGHT/WEEKEND. © 2021 BY JENNIFER SEGAL. REPRODUCED

BY PERMISSION OF CLARKSON POTTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

56 Pycnogenol This offbeat supplement has an array of benefits.

Double-Stacked Shrimp and Cheese Tacos 34 Drunken-Style Noodles with Shrimp 39 Gnocchi Sheet-Pan Supper 43 Mushroom, Egg and Saffron Fried Rice 37 Salmon or Bluefish with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon 45

AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE MAY VARY BY STORE LOCATION.

Smoky Guacamole 35 Toad-in-a-Hole Sheet-Pan Kimchi Hash Browns 41

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): SHUTTERSTOCK; ANDREW HAYES-WATKINS; AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

52

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YOGA

DANCING WITH THE SCULPT SOCIETY

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GOING FOR A WALK OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH AIR

BEGIN A Vegan Revolutionary

Miyoko Schinner and her company Miyoko’s Creamery are leading the charge on creating delicious plant-based cheese and butter.

BY LISA A. BEACH

W

ith plant-based diets soaring in popularity, Miyoko’s Creamery seems positioned as a leader in the vegan space. Launched in 2014, the California-based brand churns out artisan butter, cheese and other dairyfree products made from nuts, oats and legumes. Founder Miyoko Schinner started the company in her 50s after spending decades as a chef, cooking show host, gourmet restaurateur and cookbook author. We caught up with her to learn about her backstory and what’s on the horizon for her brand.

What inspired you to launch Miyoko’s Creamery?

COURTESY MIYOKO’S

I wrote a book in 2012 called Artisan Vegan Cheese (Book Publishing, 2012) that became a bestseller. Just like dairy cheese, making vegan cheese takes days of fermentation, brining and aging. People kept saying, “I love the vegan cheese, I love the way you’ve taught me how to make real cheese out of plant milk. But it’s a hassle—can’t you just start a company?” I heard that so many times that I finally just said, “OK, I’ll do it.”

How do your recipes’ proprietary methods make your vegan products different from competitors?

We’ve expanded on the fairly rudimentary recipes in my cookbook and developed the commercialization piece of

it. We understand more of the science behind why certain plant milks—such as those made from oats, cashews and legumes— behave a certain way and how the proteins, fats and carbohydrates work.

Most companies making vegan cheese just use oil and starch. We’re making plant milk, fermenting it and turning it into cheese on a large scale.

What advice can you give to others who aren’t vegan but want to eat more plant-based?

Everyone is a “pre-vegan,” on their own path to figuring out how they can change their diet to impact not only their own health, but

the health of the planet, other people and animals.

The best thing we can do is provide them with not only information, but inspiration through recipes and different foods.

Forbes and the United Nations recognized you as a vegan revolutionary.

What does this term mean to you?

I have the slogan “Phenomenally Vegan” tattooed on my arm.

People asked why I used “vegan” because of its baggage. I’m trying to change that, to show that it’s phenomenal! When people go vegan, they enlarge their food choices, not limit them.

They start discovering foods they never even thought about before. They also get healthier and become a

superhero because they’re saving animals and the planet. Being vegan is kind of like being in a club, where there’s a really deep connection based on a philosophical value of, “What can we do to make the world better?”

What’s next for your brand?

I’m going to be more visible in the brand. I’m also going to do more cooking shows.

Last year, I did a one-hour Facebook Live show called “Miyoko’s Home Comfort” every day for four months, then three times a week, then weekly—for over a year.

It was just me in my kitchen with my daughter filming me. I think that was part of the charm—it was so organic and real. So we’re going to do something a little bigger, professionally filmed.

LIVENATURALLYMAGAZINE.COM

5

BEGI N | D ID YO U KN OW ?

Which Coffee Is for You? Your Genetic Code Knows ESPRESSO? LATTE? DECAF? The coffee you choose to drink may be related to your genetics, according to a study by researchers at the University of South Australia, who examined the habitual coffee consumption of close to 400,000 people and discovered that the type of and how much coffee we drink is likely to be an indicator of our cardio health. “People drink coffee for all sorts of reasons—as a pick-me-up, when they’re feeling tired, because it tastes good or simply because it’s part of their daily routine,” says lead researcher Professor Elina Hyppönen. “But what we don’t recognize is that people subconsciously self-regulate safe levels of caffeine based on how high their blood pressure is, and this is likely a result of a protective genetic mechanism.” Hyppönen notes that people who drink large amounts of coffee are likely more genetically tolerant of caffeine, while non-coffee drinkers, or those who drink decaffeinated coffee, are more likely prone to the adverse effects of caffeine, and more susceptible to high blood pressure. “This study shows that genetics are guiding our decisions to protect our cardio health,” Hyppönen says.

Nitrates change into nitric oxide and, in turn, dilate your blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

FOOD BY SIGHT VS. SMELL The order in which your senses interact with food has a tremendous impact on how much you like it. That’s the premise of a new study led by the University of South Florida. The findings, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, show that food tastes better if you see it before smelling it. Researchers conducted experiments with both food and beverages administered to participants in different orders: visual before scent, scent before visual, only visual and only scent. In one study, participants rated fruit snacks packaged in an envelope as tasting better when they could see the item before smelling it, compared with their counterparts who smelled the snacks before seeing them. The same results occurred with cookies and lemonade. “Scents play a critical role in influencing taste perceptions; however, people can process a scent better in their brains when it is preceded by a corresponding visual cue, such as color,” says researcher Dipayan Biswas.

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally, taking around 17.9 million lives each year. Recent research from Edith Cowan University in Denmark reveals that eating just one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables such as leafy greens and beetroot each day can significantly reduce risk of heart disease.

The study examined data from 50,000 people over a 23-year period; those who ate the most nitrate-rich foods had a lower blood pressure and between 12 and 26 percent lower risk of heart disease. “Our results have shown that by simply eating one cup of raw (or half a cup of cooked) nitrate-rich vegetables each day, people may be able to significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease,” says lead researcher Dr. Catherine Bondonno, adding that the study revealed participants also had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. The easiest way to get your greens? “Add a cup of spinach in a banana or berry smoothie,” suggests Bondonno, but she advises not to juice greens because “juicing vegetables removes the pulp and fiber.”

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BEGIN | FOOD AS MEDICINE

What is Food as Medicine?

We’ve been turning to food as a powerful approach to health and healing for centuries. Here’s why.

BY MEGHAN RABBITT

W

hen Sudha Raj, Ph.D., R.D.N., a professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at Syracuse University, considers the many ways food can be used to optimize health and healing, she thinks of Hippocrates’ quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

“Cultures across the world have been turning to food to help them heal since ancient times,” says Raj. In fact, migrating tribes focused on food sources when they decided where to settle, adds Elizabeth Somer, R.D. “Even when we were living in caves or rock shelters, we were identifying local foods that were good or bad, tasty or poisonous,” she

says. “This food history soon expanded to the belief that food could treat ailments.”

There are many reasons why this belief proved to be true: The foods we eat can help determine whether or not we stay healthy as we age, and can even help us fix things like nutrient deficiencies and chronic internal inflammation that can cause disease, says Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., a doctor of natural medicine and a clinical nutritionist.

“There are a number of ways foods can protect us against disease and slow the effects of aging,” he says. Here are a few of the ways foods can both optimize your health and help you heal.

FOOD CAN...

DETOXIFY THE BODY AND HELP YOU ELIMINATE TOXINS Many of the ailments we deal with today are due

is the root cause of almost every disease we deal with these days, from heart conditions and diabetes to cognitive decline and even cancer. Your body’s inflammatory response is actually a good thing; it’s what your immune system does when it comes in contact with a germ, virus or some other threat to your health. However, a nutrient-deficient, sugar-rich diet and unhealthy lifestyle habits prompt near-constant inflammation, causing the kind of chronic inflammation that leads to disease. The good news is that certain foods can stop this unhealthy inflammatory response, says Raj. “Vegetables and fruits contain powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients that can help to heal the body.”

BALANCE BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS When you eat, the body makes insulin to help move the glucose from your food into your cells so it can be used for energy or stored for later. However, if you eat too much food—and especially if you consume too many glucose-rich foods (read: too much sugar)—your body can struggle to make enough insulin to move that glucose, and it can build up in your bloodstream.

This can lead to diabetes. However, food can be a powerful way to regulate your blood sugar naturally, ultimately helping you stave off or treat diabetes.

Leafy greens and other non-starchy veggies, whole grains, legumes and lean protein are all great foods to help balance blood sugar, says Raj.

FOOD AS MEDICINE WITH KROGER HEALTH We want to help you eat better!

Live Naturally and Kroger Health’s team of registered dietitians have teamed up for a series on nutritious foods, their health benefits and how to cook with them.

Head to livenaturallymagazine.com and click on the Lifestyle tab/Food as Medicine.

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

SHUTTERSTOCK (4)

CALM CHRONIC INFLAMMATION By now, you’ve heard that inflammation

to a buildup of toxins from both the food we eat and the environment in which we live. And here’s the good news: You don’t need to do a juice cleanse or buy a small army of expensive supplements to “detox,” as some people would have you believe. Your body is well-equipped to eliminate toxins on its own—and certain foods can help you enhance that natural process, says Raj. Sulfur-containing foods like broccoli, onions and garlic have been shown to be particularly helpful when it comes to enhancing your body’s excretion of heavy metals. Also, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, which aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, and also helps your body get rid of what it doesn’t need.

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B E G I N | S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Be an Eco-Conscious Shopper When you buy groceries, you’re buying their packaging, too. Here are some ways to make it greener.

BY SARAH PROTZMAN HOWLETT

A

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Greener Packaging ALUMINUM CANS “Cans are 100 percent recyclable,” she says. “Aluminum can continuously be recycled, actually, and doesn’t downgrade”—a term for reduction in quality when recycled again and again. And no, you don’t have to remove the wrapping or label from the can to recycle it. Just rinse and deposit!

CARDBOARD Cereal, cookie and crackers boxes made from cardboard are sustainable, Moram says, because they can be reused (try boxing a small gift in one before wrapping!) and recycled. Check that the cardboard is not lined with plastic, Moram advises, as that can make it more difficult to recycle. If the box has a plastic film somewhere, like the window on the front of many pasta boxes, remove it before recycling.

GLASS Yes, it’s heavier and breakable, Moram says, but glass jars have all kinds of potential for a second life after that pasta sauce runs out. Brands like Classico pasta sauces and Bonne Maman jams are popular for reuse: Steam the labels off in the dishwasher and turn them into containers for iced coffee, homemade granola or leftovers.

RIGHT-SIZED PACKAGING Look for foods packaged in a way that do not appear to have an excess amount of weight, space or air. “It is a fine balance [for food companies] to make sure there is less waste but also ensure that the package arrives without damage,” Moram explains, adding, “but cereal companies could definitely make their packaging smaller to reduce waste.”

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SHUTTERSTOCK (3); COURTESY ZIP TOP

wareness is growing around the environmental impact of packaged foods, both among consumers and the companies that make them. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, containers and packaging still make up over 23 percent of landfill material in the United States, some of which are food-related containers and packaging.

While recycling and composting can be complex due to city-bycity variances, it’s easy to tell just by looking which packaged-food purchases contribute the most to landfills, says Stephanie Moram, a sustainability consultant and creator of the website Good Girl Gone Green (goodgirlgonegreen.com) and the Green Junkie podcast. Moram’s number one tip? Avoid plastic when possible.

“It lasts forever in our environment,” she says. “It pollutes our water and our soil by taking years to decompose, and it can release toxins into the environment.” Further, plastic debris is often ingested by marine animals, and it can injure or poison wildlife, she says. And, sadly, 79 percent of plastic is never recycled, according to the journal Science.

That said, if your favorite condiment still comes in a plastic bottle, keep a list on your phone of which plastics your local recycler takes, Moram suggests. The most common ones are Plastic #1 and #2, but your area may also accept others. Here’s what else Moram recommends for greener packaged food purchases.

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BEGIN | W X XEXLXL XNXEXS S

In her new book, functional medicine expert Stacie Stephenson shares the primary path to good physical and mental health—it’s lifestyle.

BY SOPHIA MCDONALD

T

he COVID pandemic has taken a toll on our bodies and brains. After 18 months of being largely stuck at home and separated from loved ones, it’s been easy to give in to the temptation to snack and binge on comfort food. This has caused many people to pile on pounds as well as anxieties.

In her new book, Vibrant: A Groundbreaking Program to Get Energized, Own Your Health, and Glow (BenBella, 2021), Stacie Stephenson, DC, CNS, a recognized leader in functional medicine focused on integrative, regenerative and natural medicine modalities, examines how diet, exercise and a component many people don’t think about—mental health—come together to create a better sense of overall wellbeing.

“The basis of the book is the Vibrant Triad. It consists of three points: what you eat, how you move (and how often), and how well you connect with others,” she says.

Here are some of Stephenson’s tips for taking a holistic lifestyle approach—minus doctors and drugs—to health.

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START SMALL Beginning a new diet

START WITH YOU There isn’t one

or lifestyle shift can be an overwhelming task. Stephenson encourages people to begin slowly.

“Start where you are, no matter your current health state, and make gradual, incremental shifts in habits that will have big impacts over time,” she says.

Not only will this help achieve better results, but it will also reduce the always-stressful process of change.

diet that is right for everyone. In general, Stephenson recommends sticking to “fresh, real food, with a heavy emphasis on vegetables, seafood, healthy fats, lowsugar fruits, and savoring rather than overeating food.”

That being said, you may need to try a few different eating plans to determine what works best for your body and lifestyle.

“Listen to the signals and signs from your body to determine how to live and what is healthy for you. Learn about your body and how it works so you are more aware of what is going on and what you can do about it.”

DON’T GO IT“OneALONE thing that surprises people (about my plan) is the emphasis on relationships,” says Stephenson.

“People often forget that how you connect with others is just as important as what you eat and how much you exercise. In fact, you might eat perfectly and exercise daily, but if you don’t have people you can count on, and who make you feel loved and valued, health can still elude you.” Beyond the basics of food and exercise, focus on building healthy and nourishing connections with other people.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Holistic Health

WXE XL XL N X XE XS X S | BEGIN

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

The practice of alternating cycles of fasting and eating can help with weight loss and may fight inflammation and disease.

BY SOPHIA MCDONALD

What if a key part of staying healthy and losing weight was simply skipping a meal? That’s the idea behind intermittent fasting, maintaining a daily window of time when you don’t consume anything other than water.

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting “There’s a cycle of eating and fasting you’re supposed to go through every day,” says Jason Fung, M.D., author of The Complete Guide to Fasting (Victory Belt, 2016). “During the period you’re eating, you’re going to be adding body fat, and during the period you’re

not eating, you’re going to be burning fat.” When a person starts eating as soon as they get up and doesn’t stop until they go to bed, there’s little time to burn calories.

That’s the reason intermittent fasting can help with weight loss. But shedding a few pounds isn’t the only benefit. When Naomi

DID YOU KNOW?

PHOTO CREDIT SHUTTERSTOCK

Intermittent fasting works by prolonging the period when your body has burned through the calories consumed during your last meal and begins burning fat.

Whittel, author of Glow15: A Science-Based Plan to Lose Weight, Revitalize Your Skin, and Invigorate Your Life (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018) started a fasting regimen, she noticed that her skin looked younger, her energy level was higher and her chronic inflammation eased.

Numerous health benefits from fasting appear to be the result of autophagy, which literally means “selfeating.” Studies have found autophagy to help fight infectious disease, regulate inflammation and bolster the immune system. So, what is it? When cells are placed under an appropriate level of stress—such as a reduced amount of food during a fast— they consume and dispose of toxins and unneeded proteins, aka “bad cells.” Whittel likens autophagy to a Pac-Man traveling through each cell and gobbling up waste materials.

How to Start an Intermittent Fast It’s a good idea to check with your doctor before beginning any fasting routine. After that, educate yourself and develop a plan (see “IntermittentFasting Plans” for ideas).

Whittel recommends identifying the meal you’re the least attached to and skipping it. Although some research indicates it’s better to concentrate eating earlier in the day, many people, including Whittel, find it’s easier to skip breakfast and maintain their fast until lunch.

When she is fasting, Whittel concentrates on hydrating after waking. “We lose significant water while we sleep at night, so make sure you’re drinking at least 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning,” she says. Adding a pinch of sea salt or Himalayan salt can add

back some of the minerals lost during slumber.

Your body may need time to adjust to fasting, so don’t take the plunge too quickly. “If you try 16 hours of intermittent fasting and you’re getting headaches or don’t feel good, then you can pull back and go to 12 hours and start to become good at that,” Whittel says.

When it’s time to break the fast, Whittel advises doing it fat first, carbohydrates last.

Why? Foods with healthy fats will help you feel more satisfied and extend the time your body relies on ketones, which your body produces when it burns fat for energy. Some of Whittel’s favorite post-fast foods: an avocado drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice and seasoned with salt, or cooked pasture-raised eggs and nitrate-free bacon.

INTERMITTENTFASTING PLANS An intermittent-fasting window should last at least 12 hours but can be as long as 36 hours.

According to Fung, following are some of the most popular plans:

16-HOUR Also called timerestricted eating, where a person fasts for 16 hours and eats in the eight-hour window.

This can be done daily.

24-HOUR A person eats dinner one day and doesn’t eat again until dinnertime the next day. Fung recommends starting with one to three times per week. This plan is often called One Meal a Day.

36-HOUR Involves eating dinner one day, skipping all meals the following day and eating breakfast on the third day. This can also be done one to three times per week.

Questions or concerns about fasting? It’s always wise to check with your doctor.

LIVENATURALLYMAGAZINE.COM

13

Responsibly Grown and Raised Meet two farmers who make caring for creatures and the planet—and producing the best-quality products—a priority.

B Y N A N C Y C O U LT E R - P A R K E R

MEET.

ERIC WEDEL VITAL FARMS

Eric Wedel grew up around chickens. When he was 16, his dad got into the poultry business in Missouri, producing broiler chickens for a large poultry company. Wedel took a slightly different path, training to do the electrical work and wiring for different egg and chicken barns in the region.

It’s safe to say, whether he was on his dad’s farm or doing his own work, he saw a lot of chickens—and he could recognize the happy ones.

In 2019, Wedel decided to start his own pasture-raised egg farm, Wild Wood Acres, and joined with Vital Farms, which partners with more than 200 farms to bring ethically produced food to the table. “It’s interesting to see our barn in comparison to what I grew up with; I was used to seeing chickens inside their whole life,” says Wedel, whose farm sits on 50 acres with the barn in the center. There, his 20,000 chickens move through a pasture

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

rotation, which allows them to forage on a section of the land, giving other parcels time to rejuvenate naturally without pesticides or herbicides. Hens spend the day in the pasture and only come in at night to avoid being eaten by natural predators.

Wedel’s farm is situated in what is known as the pasture belt, a region of the U.S. with warmer weather and mild winters that allows hens to have outdoor access year-round. All Vital Farms eggs are produced by pasture-raised hens, meaning every hen gets a minimum of 108 square feet to roam and forage with access to fresh air and sunshine. Wedel says he could immediately tell his chickens were enjoying their surroundings. “You just have to listen to them to know how they are feeling. They are cooing and

FARMER ERIC WEDEL GREW UP AROUND THE POULTRY BUSINESS AND NOW RAISES CHICKENS FOR VITAL FARMS.

happy and enjoying the sunshine.” And they are more responsive, too. “These chickens are much more friendly. They love to be held and petted, and they all follow you around,” he adds, something he wasn’t used to with indoor chickens.

COURTESY VITAL FARMS & ANCIENT NUTRITION

Wild Wood Acres, Central Missouri

M E E T T H E FA R M E R S | B E G I N

MEET.

TODD VINCENT Whether ANCIENT NUTRITION establishment of you’re eating a Million Member Center for a carrot, a cracker Regenerative Regenerative Agriculture or a protein powder, Food Forest. The & Sustainability, it’s important to think plants are either Middle, Tennessee about the quality of used in Ancient the soil where the Nutrition formulations ingredients of your food or in research and or supplement originally development for possible grew. Soil is not always top of end use, with the goal being for mind when we grocery shop—but it every Ancient Nutrition product to should be. At the Center for have a regenerative story. Ingredients Regenerative Agriculture & that aren’t found on the farm can Sustainability, a 110-acre farm in be sourced from the 4,000-acre Middle, Tennessee, that is also the Missouri-based Beyond Organic new company headquarters for Ranch and Heal the Planet Farm, Ancient Nutrition, makers of nutriowned and operated by Ancient tional powders and products, soil is a top priority.

“Most of the things we do on the farm are about improving the soil,” says Ancient Nutrition farm director, Todd Vincent, who explains that just like the human gut, the soil has its own microbiome that is teeming with life. “I’ve had to learn to become partners with nature and not try to control it. I have stopped trying to bring nutrition to the plant, but to bring it to the soil microbe because they know how to divvy it up to the plant way better than I could do it. It is much simpler when you partner with nature’s system, and that is letting the soil’s microbes do all that work for you.”

Vincent oversees the farm’s operations, managing more than 110 varieties of tropical plants and herbs and 30-plus varieties of indigenous trees, shrubs and vining plants, all of which contribute to the

Nutrition FARMER TODD VINCENT HAS cofounders BEEN PRACTICING Jordan Rubin REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FOR and Dr. Josh Axe. OVER A DECADE. Ultimately, all of this work ladders up to support Ancient Nutrition’s R.A.N.C.H. Project, which is based on the company’s commitment pillars: regenerative agriculture, nutrition and climate health. By tending to the soil using organic, regenerative practices, the plants garner enhanced nutrition while at the same time pulling carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in the soil to help offset global warming.

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BEGI N | ADVERTORIAL

BE A GLOW-GETTER! Vital Proteins Wellness Gummies help you shine every day— from the inside out—making self-care quick and easy.

BY LISA A. BEACH

W

6

NEW GUMMIES As a complement to other Vital Proteins products (including powders, waters, shots and bars), gummies provide a nice add-on to your current wellness routine. Start your day with a scoop of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in your morning coffee, then take your gummy later. Because the ingredients don’t overlap, you can take all six types of gummies together or pick and choose based on your unique needs. All gummies are free of synthetic colors and artificial flavors and made without soy, gluten or dairy.

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

ith a busy life, it can be challenging to keep up with your wellness S Y and beauty routine. The soluA ALW tion?

Vital Proteins Wellness N O ?

Gummies to the rescue!

O G THE The gummies add a bitesized, delicious boost to your wellness goals. Want to increase your daily collagen intake or elevate your beauty game? There’s a gummy for both. Looking to improve your sleep**, support your immune health**, or boost digestion**? You’ve got options. And if you want to support overall wellness**, there is a powerful multi up to the task.

Gummies are convenient, too! Since you don’t need water to wash them down, take these gummies to go as you head out the door for the day. Plus, they’re easy to chew, easy to digest (great for sensitive tummies), and just as effective as supplements in pill or capsule form. Did we mention they’re bursting with flavor? The fruit-flavored gummies (think strawberry and apple) feel like a tasty snack, adding more variety to your daily eating plan.

Most importantly, all six Vital Proteins Gummies nourish your inner glow.

Note: While only the Vital Proteins Collagen Gummies contain collagen, all of the gummies contain gelatin, so they’re not vegetarian.

AVAILABLE IN KROGER STORES

Beauty

Collagen

Be a glow-getter at every age! Make some strawberryflavored Beauty Gummies part of your daily wellness regimen. Loaded with glowing ingredients—like vitamin A and biotin—these gummies are designed to increase skin hydration** and promote a youthful appearance**. With beauty-centric nutrients squeezed into each bitesized nugget, these gummies can make you look and feel more radiant and beautiful**. Shine on!

Did you know that, starting around age 25, your body produces less collagen? As an important building block in your body, collagen helps support healthy hair, nails, skin and joints**. Vital Proteins Collagen Gummies, made from grass-fed bovine, can give your body a collagen boost as you age. And they contain Verisol collagen—a patented collagen different than Vital Proteins' Collagen Peptides.

Clinically shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles^, Verisol packs an effective, potent amount of collagen so you don’t have to take too many gummies— giving you more bang for your buck.

What’s Inside 2 Gummies: Biotin, Vitamin A, Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals, 2 g Sugar Benefits: • Supports healthy skin, hair and nails** • Increases skin hydration** • Promotes strong hair and nails** • Promotes a youthful appearance**

What’s Inside 4 Gummies: 2.5 g collagen, 5 g sugar Benefits: • Increases hair thickness** • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles** • Increases skin elasticity**

AVAILABLE AT VITACOST.COM

Women’s Multi

Apple Cider Vinegar

Immune Support**

These delicious, bite-sized gummies empower your wellness routine like a (multi-tasking) boss. Bursting with flavor (who doesn’t love raspberry?), the Women’s Multi Gummies boast functional ingredients in every morsel. They are specifically designed with key nutrients that boost energy**, support metabolism** and maintain immune health**.

Your digestive (a.k.a. gastrointestinal) system works as the body’s “other brain” and plays a pivotal role in your wellbeing from head to toe.

Trust your gut health to some Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies.

Bursting with goodfor-you nutrients (like vitamin B12 and folate), these bite-sized gummies help support your gut and immune health** and boost energy**. Appleflavored (of course!), these gummies contain the “mother,” a beneficial combo of protein, enzymes and bacteria that boosts digestion** and energy.**

Refresh your wellness routine— morning, noon, or night—with some citrus-flavored Immune Support Gummies. Chockfull of functional ingredients (like zinc, vitamin C and ginger), these gummies support your immune health**. Key to your wellbeing, a properly functioning immune system helps fight illness and stave off sick days**—and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

What’s Inside 2 Gummies: Vitamin D, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, 2 g Sugar Benefits: • Boosts daily energy** • Supports immune health** • Supports metabolism** • Supports bone health

What’s Inside 2 Gummies: Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin B12, 4 g Sugar

Sleep

What’s Inside 2 Gummies: Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3, Selenium, Ginger Extract, 2 g Sugar Benefits: • Supports immune health**

Talk about a snoozefest everyone will love! Slip into better sleep and wake up feeling rested** with blueberryflavored Sleep Gummies. Boasting dreamy ingredients (think melatonin, L-theanine, and vitamin B6), these nighttime nuggets protect your getsome-shuteye wellness routine. Take Sleep Gummies just 15 minutes before bedtime to join the slumber party!

What’s Inside 2 Gummies: Melatonin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B3, L-Theanine, 3 g Sugar Benefits: • Supports healthy and restful sleep** • Makes a convenient bedtime routine

Benefits: • Supports gut health** • Supports immune health** • Aids in digestion** • Boosts daily energy**

SCAN TO SHOP

COURTESY VITAL PROTEINS

Hover your smartphone camera over this code to order online!

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results may vary. Various studies have suggested benefits following daily consumption of collagen for several months. Refer to product labels and vitalproteins.com for recommended serving sizes and for more information. ^After 8 weeks of supplementation with Verisol® bioactive collagen

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17

Sauce It Up Looking for a fast-and-easy sauce to spice up your noodles? Open a jarred pasta sauce—healthy options abound!

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

O

ver the past year, many of us have sought comfort spending time in the kitchen—and that’s not a bad thing.

According to the International Food Information Council, 8 in 10 Americans say they have altered their food habits as a result of the COVID pandemic, and 6 in 10 people say they are cooking more at home. One of the most popular at-home recipe trends? Pasta! And what is a pasta dish without a delicious sauce? If you’re not up for making a sauce from scratch, there are plenty of store-bought options to choose from. Here are some of our favorites to stock in your pantry.

Shelf-stable sauces were one of the top 10 fastestgrowing categories in 2020.

BARILLA

SILVER PALATE

PRIMAL KITCHEN

MADE IN ITALY

LOW-SODIUM

CERTIFIED PALEO & KETO

Launched in 1877, Barilla is a true pioneer in Italian foods.

Their pesto sauces begin from the fragrant fields of fresh basil growing near the company’s hometown of Parma, located in northern Italy's EmiliaRomagna region, famed for (appropriately) Parmesan cheese. Along with basil, the sauces are made with 100 percent extra-virgin olive oil, freshly grated Italian cheeses, cashews and salt.

Silver Palate’s pasta sauces start with high-quality whole peeled tomatoes— not paste. They slow simmer a blend of tomatoes grown in the rich volcanic soil of the San Marzano region of Italy, along with fruit grown in the fertile central valley of California.

Other ingredients are basic and fresh: extra-virgin olive oil, basil, onions, carrots, garlic and spices, with no added sugars and just a dash of salt.

Made with organic, California-grown tomatoes and avocado oil—full of antioxidants and healthy fats such as oleic acid, which supports heart health—these sauces are both nutritious and delicious. With no added sugars, all sauces are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, certified paleo and keto, and Whole30 approved.

The creamy and flavorful plant-based alfredo sauce is made with cashew butter.

TRY San Marzano Marinara, Low Sodium Marinara

TRY Tomato Basil Marinara, Roasted Garlic Marinara, No Dairy Alfredo Sauce

TRY Rustic Basil, Creamy Genovese

A year of home cooking has led to consumers rediscovering the usefulness and necessity of a home pantry.

Source: SFA

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK CREDIT (2); COURTESY OF BRANDS

Source: SFA

SMART SHOPPER | KITCHEN

Driven by the pandemic’s effect on buying, at-home meal prep and consumption, specialty food sales soared to a record

$170.4

billion

in 2020, according to the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) annual State of the Specialty Food Industry report.

WICKED FOODS

SIMPLE TRUTH

NEWMAN’S OWN

MUIR GLEN

PLANT-BASED

USDA ORGANIC

CHARITABLE

NO ADDED SUGARS

Recently launched in the U.S., Wicked Foods is on a mission to “unleash the mighty flavor of plants.”

Founded in 2012 in the United Kingdom by chefs and brothers Derek and Chad Sarno, the brand offers a selection of creative, delicious, 100 percent vegan pesto sauces that veer from the standard basil pesto recipe—chef-driven flavors like pumpkin, beetroot and black olives. Other “unorthodox” ingredients (that work!) include cashews, tofu, pea fiber, carrot fiber, curry powder, lemon peel and sunflower oil.

One of the best things about Simple Truth sauces is that they are all USDAcertified organic, non-GMO and free of any and all artificial ingredients. Red sauces are made with tomato puree and diced tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil, plus a plethora of spices, including garlic, oregano and fennel.

Rich alfredo sauces contain cream, corn starch and Parmesan. For vegans, a plant-based alfredo is made with soy milk, cauliflower and nutritional yeast.

One of the unique qualities of this brand is that 100 percent of profits go to charity, thanks to founder and actor Paul Newman, who dubbed his sauces “an intimate companion your pasta will never forget.” Red sauce ingredients are simple and basic: tomato puree, diced tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil and spices, while the creamy and cheesy alfredo is made with cream, several cheeses, whey and spices.

Named after naturalist, author and Sierra Club cofounder John Muir, this brand has been committed to organic farming from the start. Tomatoes for all their sauces are sourced from six organic farms in the Sacramento Valley of California, and the company is committed to helping farmers with regenerative agriculture practices and increasing organic farmland.

Sauces are non-GMO with no added sugars and are made with all-organic tomatoes and tomato puree, extra-virgin olive oil, onions, garlic and spices.

TRY Black Olive Pesto Sauce, Orange Pumpkin Pesto Sauce, Beetroot Pesto Sauce

TRY Marinara, Tomato & Basil, Sockarooni, Alfredo

TRY Tomato Basil, Marinara, Vodka, Classic Alfredo, Plant Based Alfredo

AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS MAY VARY BY STORE LOCATION.

TRY Tomato Basil, No Sugar Added Garden Vegetable, Portabella Mushroom, Italian Herb LIVENATURALLYMAGAZINE.COM

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NO TOMATO PASTE. NO ADDED SUGAR. Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________State ___________Zip_____________________________ Phone _____________________________________________________________________________ e-mail _____________________________________________________________________________ No cash value. One coupon per household.

EXPIRES 5/15/2022

1 OFF

$ 00

On any ONE (1) jar of Silver Palate® Pasta Sauce ANY VARIET Y

Retailer: Silver Palate Kitchens, Inc. will redeem this coupon for face value plus .08¢ handling provided coupon is redeemed in accordance with our offer. Customer pays any sales tax. Void if reproduced or where prohibited by law. Invoices proving purchase of sufficient stock to cover redemptions must be shown on request. Cash value 1/100¢. One coupon per item purchased. Send to: PO Box 512, Cresskill, NJ 07626.

or distortion is prohibited. See back of

Send this form, UPCs from any two (2) Silver Palate® Pasta Sauces with the sales receipt and a SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE to PO Box 512, Cresskill, NJ 07626 for a coupon for a free jar by mail.

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

0086341-000643

BUY 2, GET 1 FREE!

EXPIRES 5/15/2022

Encode: 81101008634100064331001101904181101 SYMBOL HEIGHT 0.8576 NBAR 0.0104 BWA -0.0020 save $1.00 ON ANY SILVER PALATE PASTA SAUCE

MAIL-IN-REBATE

N E W FA C E O F D A I R Y | K I T C H E N

The plant-based milk category is booming. We share why, how the different milks are made and what’s in them nutrition-wise.

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

G

one are the days when buying milk was a decision between whole, low-fat or skim. Today’s milk aisle is now laden with cartons filled with dairy-like options made from plants—soy, almonds, oats, peas, coconuts, When buying rice and more. plant-based According to the Good milk, be sure Food Institute and to examine market research firm the nutrition SPINS, nondairy milks label because some milks are worth $2.5 billion may not be as of the $7 billion planthealthful as based foods market. they seem.

And while cow’s milk is still the most popular according to retail sales, plant-based milks grew 54 percent over the past five years—and they’re still growing.

So what’s the deal? It’s tied to a few factors. The first is lactose malabsorption—the intolerance we didn’t know we had. According to the National Institutes of Health, about

HOW ARE PLANT-BASED MILKS MADE? The established industrial process for making nondairy beverages, according to ProVeg, is to soak the legume, nut, grain or other main ingredient in water and then press and strain the liquid or “milk.” Some plant-based

milk ingredients can also be ground in their dry form and then blended with water.

Depending on the product and manufacturer, additional ingredients such as oil, sugar, flavorings and stabilizers are added to make the milk more palatable.

The next step—similar to cow’s milk—is homogenization and heat treatment to crush any fat globules and disperse them uniformly through the milk, resulting in a smoother drink. To increase shelf life and emulsion stability of plant milk, different heat treatments such as pasteurization (less than 212°F) or ultra-high temperature treatment (275– 300°F) are used. Additionally, manufacturers often fortify their plant milks with calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids and/or other added nutrients. »

PHOTO CREDIT

SHUTTERSTOCK (2)

*

36 percent of the U.S. population has some degree of lactose malabsorption, when your small intestine cannot digest, or break down, all the lactose you eat or drink. In lay terms, dairy products just don’t sit well in many of our stomachs. Enter plant-based milks as a replacement.

But it’s not just about lactose intolerance. According to the 2020 ProVeg International Plant Milk Report, people choose plant milks over animal milks for a variety of reasons—whether it is for their nutritional value, animal welfare, lower environmental impact, to avoid dairy-milk allergens or simply out of personal preference.

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K I T C H E N | N E W FA C E O F D A I R Y

Types of According to SPINS, the six most popular plant-based milks from the past year (based on sales) are soy, oat, almond, pea, coconut and rice. Depending on the type and brand, plant-based milks are available refrigerated and/or shelf stable (not refrigerated). Once a shelf-stable box is opened, it needs to be refrigerated.

almond

soy

Soy milk is made from soybeans. When fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D, it is the only milk alternative that is comparable to cow’s milk in terms of nutrition. In contrast with dairy milk, soy milk contains low levels of saturated fatty acids and high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, both of which can, according to studies, lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce risk of coronary heart disease. Several studies have shown that consuming soy can help reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and osteoporosis.

1 cup unsweetened contains: 80–100 calories; 7 g protein; 4 g fat; 4 g carbohydrates Other nutrients: potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, isoflavones.

(While there has been some concern that soy isoflavones may raise the risk of breast or endometrial cancer, recent studies find no negative effect.)

TRY Westsoy

The most popular plant milk, according to SPINS, almond milk is made from ground almonds.

Very low in saturated fat—about 96 percent less than whole dairy milk—almond milk is also low in calories.

One disadvantage of industrially manufactured almond milk is that the protein content of the nuts is filtered out together with the pulp, which leaves only around 0.5 percent protein in the milk. Research indicates that almond milk can be a particularly good solution for children suffering from allergies or intolerances to animal milk.

1 cup unsweetened contains: 40 calories; 2 g protein; 3 g fat; 1 g carbohydrates Other nutrients: vitamin E, a disease-fighting antioxidant You should avoid this milk if you are allergic to tree nuts.

TRY Califia

Made from brown rice, this milk is the most hypoallergenic available and therefore particularly suitable for people with lactose intolerance or allergies to milk, soy or nuts. Compared with other plantbased milks, rice milk is higher in carbohydrates, but lower in fat, protein and other nutrients if not enriched or fortified.

During processing, the carbohydrates are split into sugars, which gives rice milk its typical sweet taste without adding any sugar.

1 cup unsweetened contains: 120 calories; >1 g protein; 2 g fat; 22 g carbohydrates TRY Rice Dream

WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

According to a new Polaris Market Research report, oat milk is the fastest-growing plant milk, with sales projected to grow almost 10 percent annually over the coming years. Made from raw oats, it is high in vitamin B12 and calcium, with some fiber (unfortunately, the beneficial fiber in oats is mostly lost in the milk production process).

Because sugar is a natural component of oats, this milk tastes slightly sweet. It’s ideal for those with dietary restrictions or allergies, as it’s naturally free of dairy, lactose, soy, nuts and gluten. Research shows intake of oat milk can lower LDL cholesterol levels after just four weeks of consumption.

1 cup unsweetened contains: 130 calories; 4 g protein; 2.5 g fat; 15 g carbohydrates Other nutrients: vitamin B12, calcium, iron and vitamin D

Rice

22

oat

TRY Silk Oatmilk, Chobani Oat Zero Sugar Vanilla TRY A CREAMER. CHOBANI OAT Coffee Creamer Vanilla

,

don t forget about dairy While plant-based milks are getting a lot of attention, innovations in the traditional dairy milk aisle continue.

pea

Pea milk is another plant milk high in protein. Made from yellow peas milled into flour—the protein is separated from the fiber and starch, which gives the milk its white color—one cup packs 8 grams of protein, the same as one cup of cow’s milk. The protein also gives this milk a creamy texture with a mild taste.

Pea milk contains branched-chain amino acids, which may support muscle growth and regulate blood sugar. Pea protein is naturally gluten- and dairy-free and does not contain any of the top food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, lactose, wheat and soy. Therefore, it works with nearly any diet.

1 cup contains: 90 calories; 8 g protein; 4.5 g fat; 6 g carbohydrates Other nutrients: iron TRY Ripple

NEW! Silk NextMilk is made with a blend of oat, coconut and soy milks, plus added nutrients, which mimics the richness and creaminess of dairy milk—without the lactose and fewer calories.

A1 and A2 are two proteins in cow’s milk that are almost identical—each contains 209 amino acids, the building blocks of any protein. The only difference between them is in the 67th amino acid in the chain, where each protein has a different amino acid, so when the A1 protein is broken down, it can create a peptide called BCM-7, which is related to the opiate family and may create negative health effects in humans. Enter a2 Milk, an antibiotic-free, certified kosher dairy milk from local U.S. farms that comes from cows that naturally produce only the A2 protein and no A1.

A few studies reveal that a2 Milk can be an alternative for people who experience gut discomfort after drinking milk, but further research is needed.

TRY a2 Milk

coconut

SHUTTERSTOCK; COURTESY OF BRANDS

What makes this type of milk different? It’s basically “regular” cow’s milk that is passed under pressure through a thin membrane.

This separates, or filters, the water and lactose (sugar) from the other components of the milk. The result is a lactose-free milk with nearly twice the protein and half the sugar of regular milk, with a rich and creamy texture. This makes ultra-filtered milk appealing to a range of people, including fitness types who like the extra protein, people who are lactose intolerant, and those who need to limit their sugar intake, such as diabetics.

TRY Fairlife

Milk Minus a Protein

1 CUP CONTAINS: 110 calories; 4 g protein; 8 g fat; 7 g carbohydrates

Made from the grated meat of coconuts, coconut milk is an important element of Asian cuisine.

But there is a difference between canned and in a carton. While canned coconut milk has a high fat content and is used for curries and other dishes, coconut milk in a carton is more diluted with water and sometimes also enriched with vitamins. It’s naturally sweet and has about half as many calories as whole milk but has little protein and 5 grams of saturated fat per cup—about the same amount as whole cow’s milk. Numerous studies show that the lauric acid in coconut milk can help lower cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health.

Longer-Life Milk

1 cup unsweetened contains: 60 calories; >1 g protein; 5 g fat; 1 g carbohydrates

DID YOU KNOW?

Other nutrients: lauric acid (a healthy fatty acid)

1 cup of whole cow’s milk contains:

TRY Simple Truth Unsweetened Coconut Milk

Ultra-Filtered Milk

150 CALORIES 8 G PROTEIN 8 G FAT 12 G CARBOHYDRATES

Aseptic packaging is a specialized manufacturing process in which food, like milk, is sterilized separately from packaging. The contents are then inserted into the container in a sterile environment. This method uses extremely high temperatures to maintain the freshness of the milk while also ensuring that it’s not contaminated with microorganisms.

Horizon Organic offers several of its organic, non-GMO milks, most recently adding Growing Years for kids, in aseptic quarts to lock in taste and provide a shelf life of 60 days.

TRY Horizon

AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS MAY VARY BY STORE LOCATION.

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23

K I T C H E N | N E W FA C E O F D A I R Y

Love butter but don’t do dairy? Fear not: The plant-based picks keep on coming.

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

I

t’s hard not to love butter. From spreading on toast and fresh corn cobs, to sautéing vegetables and baking in cookies, pies and cakes, this kitchen staple is well-used. But rich, creamy butter doesn’t have to come from cows. There are many worthy plant-based picks that taste and act just like their dairy counterparts—and are also lower in saturated fat and contain no trans fats. For the 36 percent of the U.S. population who are lactose intolerant, these-dairy free spreads are a healthy option, not to mention their lower impact to produce in terms of climate, water and land usage. Here are a few to try.

COUNTRY CROCK

KITE HILL

European-Style Cultured Vegan Butter

Plant Butter

Plant-Based Butter Alternative

Buttery Spread

Founder Miyoko Schinner transformed age-old butter-making techniques with plant-based ingredients, resulting in a vegan butter that melts, browns, bubbles, bakes and spreads just like animal dairy butter. USDAcertified organic, non-GMO, and free of lactose, gluten and soy, this award-winning spread is made with plantbased ingredients, including coconut and sunflower oils and cashews.

Well-known for its buttery spreads, Country Crock’s line of plant butters are all dairy-free, gluten-free and certified plant-based by the Plant Based Foods Association. Made with oils from olives, avocados and almonds, these butters have all been verified through testing to mimic the way dairy butter behaves at different temperatures when spreading, cooking and baking.

Going plant-based doesn’t mean you have to go butterless. Kite Hill whips cultured almond milk with a blend of oils, such as sunflower and coconut, and a touch of cocoa butter for richness to create this creamy, European-style spread.

Non-GMO, kosher and dairy-, soy- and gluten-free, this artisanal butter swap is suitable for spreading on a baguette or baking into your favorite cake.

One of the original plantbased spreads, Earth Balance’s rich, buttery taste comes from a blend of palm fruit, canola and olive oils, with a touch of pea protein and other natural flavors.

Available in several blends, including original, soy-free and USDA-organic whipped, all are non-GMO and vegan.

The Original flavor also comes in sticks for ease when measuring to bake or serve on the table.

TRY:.

Miyoko’s Creamery’s newest addition Cultured Vegan Butter Made With Oat Milk

Miyoko’s Creamery launched The Vegan Butter Channel on YouTube to showcase how to cook with vegan butter.

“I created our vegan butter because as a chef and cookbook author, butter is the foundation of so much of my cooking and baking, so it was important that any vegan butter I use tastes and performs up to the highest standards,” says company founder, Miyoko Schinner. Youtube.com/c/MiyokosCreamery AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS MAY VARY BY STORE LOCATION.

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

EARTH BALANCE

SHUTTERSTOCK; PHOTO CREDIT COURTESY OF BRANDS

MIYOKO’S CREAMERY

delicious

DISCOVER HOW

RICE DREAM™ CAN BE! Deliciously light & refreshing taste with sweetness from brown rice

tv

www.dreamplantbased.com D A I R Y-F R E E

|

L O W I N FAT

|

E X C E L L E N T S O U R C E O F C A L C I U M & V I TA M I N D

EXPIRATION DATE: 5/15/22

$ 1.25

OFF

ANY (1) RIPPLE® 48oz BOTTLE

SUPPORTS RT RTS GROW GROWING BODIES

SUPPOR SUPPORTS TS B BRAIN RAIN DEVELOPMENT DEVEL

SUPPOR SUPPORTS TS HAP HAPPY TUMMIES

CONSUMER: LIMIT ONE (1) COUPON PER PURCHASE OF SPECIFIED PRODUCT AND QUANTITY STATED. LIMIT OF TWO (2) IDENTICAL COUPONS IN SAME SHOPPING TRIP. NOT TO BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER COUPON(S). Void if expired, reproduced, altered, copied, sold, purchased, transferred, or exchanged to any person, firm, or group prior to store redemption, or where prohibited or restricted by law. Any other use constitutes fraud. RETAILER: Ripple Foods PBC, will reimburse you for the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ handling if submitted in accordance with Ripple Foods, PBC. Coupon redemption policy (available upon request). Coupon is not subject to doubling. Mail coupons to: Inmar Dept #55643, Ripple Foods, PBC, 1 Fawcett Drive, Del Rio, TX 78840. Cash value 1/100¢. Valid only in the USA.

K I T C H E N | N E W FA C E O F D A I R Y

dairy-free

dreamy &

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

I

f you love ice cream but are one of the more than 36 percent of the population who are lactose intolerant, or if you are following a more plant-based diet, you have plenty of options! Dairy-free desserts are readily available in the frozen foods aisle. Try some of these creamy and dreamy treats.

NEW!

So Delicious Dairy-Free Wondermilk Frozen Desserts

A delicious blend of dairy-free ingredients like smooth oats, crisp soy and creamy coconuts, these frozen treats are dreamy and creamy to satisfy even the most devoted ice-cream-o-philes. All pints and cones are vegan-certified and non-GMO, and pints are also gluten-free.

Pint flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate Cocoa Chip, Cookies & Cream, Buttery Pecan, Strawberry Cone flavors: Salted Caramel Sundae, Vanilla Peanut Sundae

Halo Top Frozen Dessert

Made from rich and creamy coconut milk, plus a boost of plant protein—10 grams per pint—from fava beans and pea protein, Halo Top’s dairy-free pints are certified vegan and kosher. All pints are just at or under 360 calories for a semi-guilt-free indulgence.

Flavors: Chocolate Almond Crunch, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Cup, Sea Salt Caramel

Simple Truth Oatmilk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

One of Kroger’s signature brands, Simple Truth’s treats are free from unhealthy additives and preservatives. Their line of creamy oat milk pints and half gallons are all vegan, non-GMO and lactose- and dairy-free. Several flavors are also available in their Almondmilk Frozen Desserts.

Flavors: Maple Pecan, Sea Salt Caramel, Peanut Butter Chip, Strawberry

Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

Known for their fun, creative and iconic flavors with yummy add-ins, Ben & Jerry’s dairy-free choices are made with almond milk, with some new additions made with sunflower butter. Full of the chunks and swirls of their dairy brethren, these pints are all certified vegan.

Flavors: Change the Whirled, Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Cherry Garcia…and many more!

AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS MAY VARY BY STORE LOCATION.

SHUTTERSTOCK; COURTESY OF BRANDS

creamy

Frozen plant-based treats to satisfy your sweet tooth.

©2022 Chobani, LLC

K ITCHEN | SNACKS

Snack On

For those “hangry” times in between meals, or when you need an energy boost or an afternoon pick-me-up, a healthy snack can do the trick. Here are three of our favorites.

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

ONLY IN KROGER!

SAHALE SNACKS

HIPPEAS

Bean + Nut Snack Mix

KATE’S REAL FOOD

Organic Chickpea Snacks

Bars

SWEETENED WITH HONEY

Available in: 1.25-ounce and 4-ounce resealable pouches.

Flavors: Harissa, White Cheddar Black Pepper, Creole GF NG

While many granola and energy bars are high in processed sugar, Kate Real Food bars are sweetened with organic honey and dried fruits like cherries and mango.

An avid outdoorswoman and skier, Kate Schade perfected her recipe for a healthy energy bar to satisfy a personal need to stay fueled during her outdoor adventures—as well as share with active friends. It didn’t take long before she established a loyal following. Available in an array of flavors, the bars are made with great-tasting, wholesome, organic ingredients with no chemicals or artificial sweeteners, with 3 grams of protein and 8–9 grams of sugar, depending on the flavor.

Available in: 4-ounce, 6-ounce and 10-ounce pouches.

Flavors: Lemon Coconut, Mango Coconut, Dark Chocolate Cherry & Almond, Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate

Flavors: Vegan White Cheddar, Bohemian Barbecue, Nacho Vibes, Sriracha Sunshine O

K KOSHER

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Chickpeas aren’t just for hummus and falafel anymore. Created by betterfor-you food innovator Livio Bisterzo, Hippeas are a healthier alternative to traditional cheese puffs. Made from chickpeas—which contain fiber, calcium and magnesium—plus rice and brown rice flours and pea hull fiber, a serving of crunchy Hippeas contains 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of plant-based protein with zero grams of cholesterol and no trans fats. A feel-good fact: For every bag sold, Hippeas donates to Farm Africa, a charitable organization that works with farmers in East Africa to provide a way for the people in SubSaharan Africa to grow out of poverty and make the most of their land.

O USDA ORGANIC

WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

V

NF SF GF

NOW AVAILABLE AS CHIPS!

K

O

NG GF AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS MAY VARY

BY STORE LOCATION.

V VEGAN GF GLUTEN-FREE NG NON-GMO NF NUT-FREE SF SOY-FREE

COURTESY OF BRANDS

It all started during a hike on Mount Rainier when Josh Schroeter and Edmond Sanctis were enjoying the views…but not their snacks. So they decided to start their own snack company, and Sahale Snacks was born. The brand is named after Sahale (pronounced sa-HA-lee) Mountain, a popular climb in northern Washington state. Their savory, plant-based Bean + Nut Snack Mixes with 5–6 grams protein per serving are inspired by destinations around the world—Tokyo, New Orleans, Rome and more—with sophisticated, all-natural ingredients like dry-roasted nuts, roasted chickpeas, fava beans, pepitas, crisped brown rice, and unique spices to satisfy even the pickiest of foodies. The newest flavor is Harissa, made with the popular hot pepper chili paste native to northern Africa.

Make snack time a full flavor experience EXCLUSIVE FLAVOR

Crunchy roasted beans … dry-roasted nuts … unique and enticing seasonings …

Discover delicious layers of flavor and texture — Beyond Ordinary . ®

©/TM/® Sahale Snacks, Inc.

KITCHEN | GADGETS

4 2 1

5 3

KITCHEN HELPERS A gaggle of gadgets to add to your kitchen stable.

B Y R E B E C C A H E AT O N

2 MAKE YOUR OWN NUT MILK

3 MULTITASKING MACHINE

4 STIR-FRY MASTER

Blend anywhere with the Cuisinart Cordless Compact Blender.

Compact, cordless, convenient—and rechargeable—this handy gadget makes blending a breeze without being tethered to a power outlet.

A heavy-duty fourprong cutting blade can crush ice, so blend a smoothie on the go or even at a campsite! Great for all quick home-blending needs, too. Features a 16-ounce, BPA-free togo cup with a travel lid.

Runs for 20 minutes on one charge of the lithium-ion battery. $79.95

A fresh glass of almond milk can be as simple as nuts and water. The Nutr is a low-maintenance gadget that makes creamy plant-based milk in minutes, without messy nut bag squeezing. With three unique settings (hot, warm, no heat), it can be used to make soy, rice, almond, walnut, hemp, flaxseed, oat milk and more. Simply add your favorite ingredients and water and press the button.

Easy to clean, too.

Feel-good fact: Nutr partners with One Tree Planted, which plants trees around the world while enlisting amazing reforestation partners. $129

The Multo by CookingPal is changing the entire kitchen experience. This autonomous multitasker does the job of multiple appliances to streamline cooking. It consists of two parts: the Smart Kitchen Hub, a custom-made tablet, that suggests meals and provides step-by-step guides for a vast range of chef-tested recipes, while the Smart Kitchen Appliance handles a variety of tasks, including chopping, mixing, steaming and cooking, so you don’t have to lift a finger. It even does the one task many cooks dread: cleaning itself up once your meals are made. $899

Woks may hail from The Chef’n 3 in 1 ancient China, but Prep Colander makes it’s no secret that prepping and cleaning they’re the best tool multiple ingredients for whipping up easy. It features three your favorite Asian modular colanders foods. And the Kuhn so you can soak, Rikon Essential Wok rinse and strain provides everything veggies, beans and you need to do just grains—separately that. Its flat bottom and all at the same keeps it steady on time. Each colander your stovetop and stands upright for easy allows for more-even prep, and the main heating, and its size bowl can be used for is ideal for families. storage or serving.

It’s made of carbonIt’s a handy gadget steel (the material of to keep things tidy choice in most Asian and organized on the households), counter when you’re which means cooking. When it’s durable you’re ready PUT THIS and gets hot to clean up, WOK TO WO enough for all parts are with some de RK licio authentic dishwasher stir-fry recipe us Asian-style safe. $21.99 on pages 36 s -39. cooking. $80

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WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

5 CLEVER COLANDER

COURTESY OF BRANDS

1 PORTABLE BLENDING

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1. 8 00 . 66 3.6 5 8 0

ONE CHEF :: THREE RECIPES | E AT

TURN THE PAGE FOR THREE DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM PATI JINICH’S COOKBOOK

A Passion for Cooking

CHEF IT UP True Mexican Cooking with Pati Jinich In her latest cookbook, this Mexican chef and host of a popular PBS series shares a trove of traditional dishes.

BY R E B ECC A H E ATO N

ANGIE MOSIER

B

orn and raised in Mexico, Pati Jinich loves to cook her native food. “Being from another country fills you with nostalgia and romanticism for your home country,” she says. In her Emmy-nominated series “Pati’s Mexican Table” on PBS, the chef and cookbook author shares the tastes of her childhood intermingled with Mexico’s rich history and culture.

She recently premiered a series called “La Frontera” about food and culture in communities along the Texas-Mexican border “where my two beloved countries meet,” she says. And she also found time to work on a new cookbook, Treasures of the Mexican Table (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021), filled with a wealth of traditional recipes that date back hundreds of years. We caught up with her to learn more.

“When I moved to the U.S. after getting married, I wasn’t a good cook,” laughs Pati. “But I didn’t feel at home, didn’t speak English well and was in between jobs. So, I started to recreate flavors that I knew and loved, having grown up with a family of accomplished cooks and food maniacs. I was able to start growing roots and make a story here because I got so hungry for anything Mexican.” But when she first moved to the U.S., traditional Mexican ingredients were harder to come by. “Now you can find most everything as the appetite for Mexican foods and things in the U.S. has grown tremendously, and people know a lot more about Mexican food and culture and want to bring that into their homes,” she says.

Go-To Ingredients Chipotles in adobo sauce. “I can’t live without them!”

A bowl of avocadoes from Mexico. “In all stages of ripeness.”

Beans. “Black and pinto are a must.”

Rice. “I have fallen in love with jasmine rice. It’s so fragrant and aromatic.”

Tomatoes. “No matter what time of the year, I always have ripe tomatoes.”

Chiles: jalapeno, ancho, guajillo and arbol Corn tortillas. “Of course!”

3 Cooking Tips It’s important to keep 1 your knives sharpened. It’s very frustrating to prep food for cooking with dull knives.

Cooking Philosophy

“I really treasure and am very grateful for all that I’ve inherited in terms When you’re 2 cooking of Mexican cuisine a new DID YOU and culture. I have recipe, take time to KNOW? a deep respect for read the ingredient There are techniques, stories list and instructions and classic recipes from start to finish, states in that have stood the and make sure you Mexico, each test of time, and I have the ingredients with a do whatever I can to you need. Somebeloved trove of dishes. pass these on,” Pati times you think you says of her cooking have an ingredient, philosophy. “But I but don’t. If like to leave a door open possible, try to prep for new possibilities for ingredients ahead, too, those ingredients, too.” which makes cooking a She also likes to cook and recipe easier. eat in an unpretentious, unfussy, family-friendly Give yourself the 3 time and accessible manner, to cook; it’s and to constantly repurvery important. To get pose food that she’s preyour food right, you can’t pared. “Take for example a be in a rush. The attitude chicken: You can eat it with of cooking should be that rice and beans, and in a you should relax a little. few days you can use it in This makes cooking a lot a torta or quesadilla.” more pleasurable.

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CHEF IT UP

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE RECIPES FROM PATI JINICH’S COOKBOOK

Double-Stacked Shrimp & Cheese Tacos

(Tacos Bravos de Tono) MAKES 8 DOUBLE TACOS; SERVES 4 OR 5

2 lbs ripe tomatoes or 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes 4 garlic cloves, peeled 2 to 3 dried chiles de arbol, stemmed 2 tsp dried oregano 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning the shrimp 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, plus more for cooking the tacos 2 lbs medium shrimp, peeled and deveined Freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 16 corn tortillas 3 cups grated melting cheese, such as asadero, Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella (12 ounces) 1 large ripe avocado, halved, pitted, and thinly sliced

cook' s note ------------------

2. Add the oregano, tomato paste, and salt to the blender, add the canned tomatoes, if using, and puree until smooth.

3. Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the tomato puree, using the lid to shield yourself from splatters, cover partially, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes, until the mixture has thickened and darkened.

Remove from the heat.

4. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp

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be browned on the outside but just cooked through. Be careful not to overcook, or they will be rubbery. Scrape into a bowl and repeat with the remaining butter, oil, and shrimp.

5. Heat a comal or large skillet over medium heat for at least 5 minutes. Add a tablespoon or two of oil to the surface.

6. Briefly dip a tortilla into the sauce, making sure the entire tortilla is coated (I use a pair of rubber-tipped tongs, but you can just use your hands), and lay on the pan. Dip a second tortilla into the sauce and lay in the pan next to the first one, making sure the tortillas are not overlapping (see note). Top each tortilla with about 2 Tbsp shredded cheese and cook for a couple of minutes, until the cheese begins to melt and the bottoms of the sauced tortillas begin to dry and brown a little. Then, using a spatula, scrape up one tortilla and stack on top of the other one, cheese side up.

Don’t worry if the tortilla you scraped up sticks and tears a little bit or if it does not sit evenly on top of the other one. Spoon some

seared shrimp on top of the stack, gently fold the stack in half, and cook for a couple of minutes longer, turning the stack over occasionally, until the cheese has begun to ooze out and create a crust.

7. Top with slices of ripe avocado and serve (these are best straight out of the comal), or transfer to a plate or platter and cover with foil to keep warm while you cook the remaining stacks.

PER SERVING: 586 CAL; 54 G PROTEIN; 54 G CARB (3 G SUGARS); 2,056 MG SODIUM; 10 G FIBER

ANGIE MOSIER

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine the fresh tomatoes, if using, garlic, and chiles de arbol in a medium TACOS BRAVOS saucepan, cover are very much in the with water, and Sonoran tradition of shellfish dishes. bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the tomaof the butter with 1 Tbsp of the oil in a large skillet over toes, garlic, and chiles are soft. high heat. Once the butter melts and begins to foam, add half Drain and transfer to a blender. the shrimp and sear for a minute or so per side. They should

If your pan isn’t large enough to hold two tortillas without overlapping, for each stack, dip and cook one tortilla, topping it with cheese, remove it from the pan, and dip and cook a second tortilla, then stack them together, top with some shrimp, and finish cooking as above.

ONE CHEF :: THREE RECIPES | E AT

THIS RUSTIC GUACAMOLE is popular in Mexico City and throughout central Mexico.

Smoky Guacamole

(Guacamole Ahumado) MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS

cook's note --------

Some versions of guacamole ahumado are made with just roasted chiles and salt.

Coconut Rice Pudding (Arroz con Leche de Coco) SERVES 6 TO 8

1 cup long-grain white rice or jasmine rice 2 cups water 4 cups whole milk ¾ cup sweetened coconut cream, such as Coco Lopez, thoroughly mixed before measuring (see note) Rind of half an orange 1 (2-inch) canela or cinnamon stick 1 star anise 3 Tbsp sugar ½ tsp kosher salt 3 to 4 Tbsp dark raisins (optional) 1 tsp vanilla extract TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL) Ground canela or cinnamon Diced mango or other fresh fruit Whipped cream DIRECTIONS 1. Combine rice and water in a medium-heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan so rice

doesn’t stick to it. Add milk, coconut cream, orange rind, canela or cinnamon stick, star anise, sugar, and salt, stirring well to combine. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook at a low simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is soft, about 20 minutes. Pudding will still be soupy.

Stir in the raisins, if using.

1 serrano or jalapeno chile, or more to taste 2 garlic cloves, not peeled 1 (½-inch-thick) slice white onion 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste 3 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and upper stems 3 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, and flesh scooped out DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the broiler, with the rack 2 to 3 inches from the heat source. Put the chile, garlic cloves, and onion slice on a baking sheet lined with foil and broil for 5 to 8 minutes, turning the vegetables halfway

through, until charred on all sides. Alternatively, you can toast the vegetables on a comal or large skillet over medium heat, turning them every 3 to 4 minutes, until blackened.

Remove from the heat.

2. When they are cool enough to handle, peel the garlic cloves and cut the stem from the chile.

Coarsely chop the chile, garlic, and onion. Place in a molcajete or bowl, add the lime juice and salt, and mash and mix with a pestle, fork, or wooden spoon until pasty. Add the cilantro and avocados and mash together until the mixture has reached the desired consistency (some people prefer a chunkier guacamole, others like it smooth).

Taste for salt and serve.

PER CUP: 499 CAL; 7 G PROTEIN; 30 G CARB (3 G SUGARS); 1,186 MG SODIUM; 21 G FIBER

THIS POPULAR DESSERT IS immortalized in a favorite Mexican children's song.

2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla until well-combined.

With a slotted spoon or tongs, fish out canela or cinnamon stick, orange rind, and star anise. The rice will absorb more liquid as it cools, but pudding will remain soupy.

3. Serve hot, warm, or chilled. If desired, sprinkle with canela or cinnamon and/or top with fresh fruit and/or whipped cream.

Note: Without the optional toppings, the pudding can be refrigerated, covered, for up to five days.

PER SERVING: 292 CAL; 7 G PROTEIN; 36 G CARB (13 G SUGARS); 230 MG SODIUM; 1 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM PATI JINICH TREASURES OF THE MEXICAN TABLE: CLASSIC RECIPES, LOCAL SECRETS © 2021 BY PATI JINICH. PHOTOGRAPHY © 2021 BY ANGIE MOSIER. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF MARINER BOOKS, AN IMPRINT OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NUTRITIONAL VALUES CALCULATED AT HAPPYFORKS.COM/ANALYZER

cook' s note -------------------

Coconut cream tends to separate in the can, so be sure it’s mixed well before you measure the cream. Shaking the can is not always sufficient: If it doesn’t look well-mixed, pour all the cream out into a bowl, whisk well, and then measure.

E A T | H E A LT H Y K I T C H E N

Sizzling STIR-FRIES Healthy meals to whip up in a wok

noodle swap

Almost any thin noodle will work well, like spaghetti and Bolognese.

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FA S T & F LXAV X XOX R XF XU X XL | E A T

dairy-free

CHINESE CHILI BEEF & BLACK BEAN PAN-FRY

S

BY SARAH COOK

This is an addictive umami overload—it’s quite simply impossible to have leftovers.

SERVES 4

2 onions, 1 roughly chopped and 1 thinly sliced ½ cup black bean sauce 3¼ Tbsp Chinese chili or chili-garlic sauce 2 fat garlic cloves 3 Tbsp tomato puree

14 oz beef minced 1 cup green beans, trimmed 14 oz fresh or straight-towok medium egg noodles 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce

DIRECTIONS 1. Make a sauce by putting chopped onion into a food processor with the black bean sauce, chili sauce, garlic and tomato puree. Add 1 cup water and whizz to a fairly smooth sauce.

L: ANDREW HAYES-WATKINS; R: NADINE GREEFF/STOCKSY

2. Fry beef in ½ Tbsp oil in your largest frying pan, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon as it browns. Tip the browned beef out onto a plate, and add sliced onion with another ½ Tbsp oil and a splash of water. Lower heat slightly, and fry onion until softened, scraping up any stuck beefy bits as you go. Return beef to the pan, then stir in the sauce with another cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom to stop it catching.

3. Cook green beans for 4 minutes in boiling water until tender, then drain. Carefully stir beans, noodles and soy sauce through the beef mixture (if pan is too full, you can heat the noodles following the packet instructions then serve beef on top).

When noodles are evenly mixed through and hot, serve.

PER SERVING: 684 CAL; 44 G PROTEIN; 17 G FAT; 86 G CARB (7 G SUGARS); 760 MG SODIUM; 7 G FIBER ADAPTED FROM PIMP YOUR NOODLES © 2021

BY SARAH COOK. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF SEVEN DIALS, AN IMPRINT OF THE ORION PUBLISHING GROUP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

mushroom,egg & SAFFRON FRIED RICE

BY CH R I S TOY

Saffron adds a subtle flavor to this mild fried rice. SERVES 4 2 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine 6 saffron threads 2 Tbsp cooking oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped 1 Tbsp crushed and chopped peeled ginger 4 oz mushrooms, sliced 1 medium onion, diced into ½-inch pieces ½ tsp salt

½ tsp black or white pepper 2 cups day-old cooked rice 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp sesame seeds 4 scallions, green and white parts, cut diagonally into ¼-inch pieces 4 large fried eggs with soft yolks

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DIRECTIONS 1. Pour wine into a small bowl, glass or jar.

2. Crumble saffron into the wine and let soak.

3. In a wok, heat cooking oil over high heat until it begins to smoke.

4. Add garlic, ginger and mushrooms. Stirfry for 2 minutes.

5. Add onion, salt and black pepper. Stir-fry for 1 minute.

6. Add rice, soy

sauce, saffron with wine, sesame seeds and scallions. Stir-fry for 1 minute, or until all ingredients are well-combined.

7. Divide stir-fry into 4 bowls and top each with a fried egg. Serve immediately.

PER SERVING: 527 CAL; 15 G PROTEIN; 13 G FAT; 87 G CARB (2 G SUGARS); 583 MG SODIUM; 4 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM VEGETABLE STIR-FRY COOKBOOK © 2021

BY CHRIS TOY. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF ROCKRIDGE PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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E A T | FA S T & F L AV O R F U L

drunken-style

NOODLES WITH SHRIMP

BY J E N N I F E R S EGA L

This recipe is inspired by the popular Thai street food dish pad kee mao, or “drunken noodles.”

SERVES 2 OR 3

big green FRIED RICE

BY H EI D I SWA NSO N

Aromatic, packed with flecks of kale and punctuated with fresh vegetables, every component of this fried rice delivers. SERVES 2 OR 3 1½ Tbsp toasted sesame oil 4 green onions, white and green parts, chopped 1 cup sliced asparagus or green beans, trimmed and cut into ¼-inch segments 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp peeled and grated fresh ginger 2½ cups cold cooked brown rice 2 cups wellchopped kale, trimmed and ribs removed 2 eggs, beaten 2 to 3 tsp tamari or soy sauce Chilesesame oil and zest of 1 lemon, to serve (optional)

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DIRECTIONS 1. Heat 1 Tbsp of the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add green onions and asparagus and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until green onions soften.

2. Stir in garlic and ginger. Wait 30 seconds, then add rice and stir to separate the grains. Cook for about 3 minutes, until rice is hot, then stir in kale.

3. Shift rice and vegetables to the sides of the skillet and add remaining ½ Tbsp sesame oil to the pan. Add eggs and push them around until just set. Break up eggs with a spatula.

4. Drizzle in tamari and stir-fry everything together until well-combined, about 30 seconds.

WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

5. To serve, drizzle with chile-sesame oil if you like a bit of heat and sprinkle with lemon zest. Serve immediately.

PER SERVING: 309 CAL; 10 G PROTEIN; 11 G FAT; 42 G CARB (3 G SUGARS); 393 MG SODIUM; 5 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM SUPER NATURAL SIMPLE © 2021 BY HEIDI SWANSON. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF TEN SPEED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

3 large eggs Salt 5 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined 2½ cups bite-sized broccoli florets 1 bunch of scallions (light & dark green parts separated), thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS 1. Soak noodles: Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large pot.

Remove pot from heat and add rice noodles. Stir well so they don’t stick, then let soak, stirring frequently, until soft and al dente. Drain and rinse well with cold water. (If not using the noodles right away, toss them with a little oil to prevent sticking.)

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, sriracha, brown sugar and ¼ cup of the water.

3. In small bowl, beat eggs with 1/8 tsp salt.

4. Heat 1 Tbsp of oil in a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shrimp and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt; cook, tossing occasionally, until shrimp are opaque and just cooked through, about 2 mins.

Transfer shrimp to large bowl.

4 garlic cloves, minced ½ cup loosely packed Thai or Italian basil leaves, roughly chopped 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice (from 1 lime) Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

add remaining 3 Tbsp oil.

When oil is shimmering, add light scallions and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 min.

8. Add noodles and sauce and toss until noodles absorb sauce and are tender, 3 to 5 mins. If noodles remain a bit tough, add 2 Tbsp water and continue to toss and cook until tender.

9. Add shrimp, eggs, broccoli, dark scallions, basil and lime juice, and toss until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately with lime wedges, if desired.

PER SERVING: 493 CAL; 31 G PROTEIN; 29 G FAT; 25 G CARB (1 G SUGARS); 2,342 MG SODIUM; 2 G FIBER ADAPTED FROM ONCE UPON A CHEF WEEKNIGHT/WEEKEND © 2021 BY JENNIFER SEGAL. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF CLARKSON POTTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

5. Add 1 Tbsp of oil to skillet; add eggs and scramble until cooked through. Transfer eggs to bowl with shrimp.

6. Add broccoli to pan along with 1/8 tsp salt and remaining ½ cup water. Cover and steam until cooked through, about 2 mins. Transfer broccoli to bowl with shrimp and eggs. Discard excess water from pan and wipe it clean.

7. Return pan to stove, increase heat to high, and

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L: HEIDI SWANSON; R: JOHNNY MILLER

8 cups plus ¾ cup water, plus more as needed 8 oz rice noodles, as thick as you can find 2 Tbsp oyster sauce 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1½ Tbsp fish sauce 1½ Tbsp sriracha, or to taste 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

FA S T & F L AV O R F U L | E A T

sourcing savvy

Oyster sauce is a thick, dark brown condiment made primarily from oyster extracts. Despite its name, oyster sauce doesn’t taste strongly of oysters; rather, it has a salty, savory, slightly sweet flavor. You can find it in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

LIVENATURALLYMAGAZINE.COM

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one-dish

DINNERS Cleanup is easy with these one-pot, one-pan recipes

DAL WITH TOFU & SPINACH

BY AMERICA’S TE ST KITCHEN

Dip naan or pita into this traditional Indian dish.

make it heartier --------------

Add roasted vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes and/or squash.

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STEVE KLISE; R: AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

SERVES 1

H E A LT H Y K I T C H E N | E A T

2 Tbsp oil, divided 1 small onion, chopped fine 2 garlic cloves, minced 1¼ tsp garam masala 1 tsp grated fresh ginger or 1⁄8 tsp ground ginger Pinch cayenne pepper 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth ½ cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed 3 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered (½ cup) 2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro or parsley 1 tsp lime juice 7 oz firm tofu, cut into ¾-inch pieces 1 cup baby spinach DIRECTIONS 1. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, garam masala, ginger and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and lentils, bring to a simmer, and cook over low heat until lentils are tender and resemble thick, coarse puree, 12 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

TOADIN-A-HOLE SHEET-PAN KIMCHI HASH BROWNS

BY A M ERI CA’S T E S T K I TCHEN

Kimchi kicks up the flavor of this easy sheet-pan recipe.

2. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and remaining 1 Tbsp oil in bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside until ready to serve.

3. Stir tofu and spinach into lentils and cook until spinach is wilted and tofu is warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Top dal with tomato mixture. (Dal and tomato mixture can be refrigerated separately for up to 2 days.)

PER SERVING: 958 CAL; 57 G PROTEIN; 47 G FAT; 89 G CARB (10 G SUGARS); 1,948 MG SODIUM; 18 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM COOKING FOR ONE © 2020 BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. PUBLISHED BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED..

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SERVES 4 TO 6

3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled 2 scallions, sliced thin 1½ cups kimchi, drained, squeezed dry and chopped 6 large eggs 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450º. Spray rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil spray.

Shred potatoes with food processor or box grater then transfer to large bowl.

Cover with cold water and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander and rinse and dry bowl. Using clean dish towel, squeeze potatoes dry in four batches, transferring dried potatoes to dry, now-empty bowl.

2. Add scallions, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper to potatoes and toss to combine.

Distribute potatoes in even layer on sheet, but do not pack down. Bake until top of potatoes is spotty brown, 32 to 35 minutes.

3. Remove sheet from oven. Using metal spatula, flip hash browns

in sections, then sprinkle kimchi evenly over top. Using back of spoon, create six 3-inch-wide indentations in potatoes. Crack 1 egg into each and sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper.

4. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until whites are just beginning to set but still have some movement when sheet is shaken, 7 to 8 minutes for slightly runny yolks or 9 to 10 minutes for soft-cooked yolks.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve.

PER SERVING: 306 CAL; 14 G PROTEIN; 6 G FAT; 50 G CARB (3 G SUGARS); 179 MG SODIUM; 7 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM FIVE INGREDIENT DINNERS © 2021 BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN’S TEST KITCHEN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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E A T | H E A LT H Y K I T C H E N

CHICKEN PARM QUINOA BAKE

BY S E RENA WOLF

Quinoa is packed with fiber, iron and other essential nutrients.

SERVES 4

¾ cup quinoa, rinsed and drained 1¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth 4 cups broccoli florets 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 ⁄3 cup whole-wheat panko bread crumbs ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional) One 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella, divided 2 cups diced or shredded chicken breast (or store-bought rotisserie bird) 2½ cups marinara sauce, divided ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Chopped fresh basil for serving (optional) DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425º.

2. Combine quinoa and chicken broth in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer, cover the saucepan with a lid, and cook for 14 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Let quinoa rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

tip

------

To make grating and slicing fresh mozzarella a breeze, pop the ball into the freezer for 15 minutes beforehand to firm up the cheese.

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L: MATT ARMENDARIZ; R: LINDA XIAO

3. Place broccoli in a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp of oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few cranks of black pepper.

Toss to coat. Arrange broccoli in a single layer in the skillet. Transfer to oven and roast for 13 to 15 minutes, until tender and lightly browned in spots. When you take broccoli out of the oven, reduce temperature to 375°.

H E A LT H Y K I T C H E N | E A T

4. While broccoli is roasting, heat remaining 1 Tbsp oil in a small skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot and shimmering, add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, until golden brown.

(Be careful not to burn garlic! If it looks like it’s browning too quickly, turn down heat.) Stir in bread crumbs and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until crumbs are nicely toasted and have darkened a shade in color. Transfer bread crumbs to a small bowl.

5. Grate half mozzarella ball on large holes of a box grater. Slice remaining half into very thin rounds. (The rounds don’t need to be perfect—they’re going to melt!)

6. Add chicken, cooked quinoa, 2 cups of marinara sauce, and grated mozzarella to the skillet with broccoli.

(Be careful, the skillet is HOT!) Fold everything together with a spatula until well-combined.

Taste and season with a little salt and pepper if necessary.

Smooth top of the filling with a spatula.

Spread remaining ½ cup marinara sauce on top, then add sliced mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garlicky bread crumbs. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese has melted and topping is lightly browned.

7. Let rest for 10 minutes. (Trust me, you will burn your tongue!)

Serve warm, topped with fresh basil, if you like.

PER SERVING: 860 CAL; 84 G PROTEIN; 30 G FAT; 63 G CARB (13 G SUGARS); 1,394 MG SODIUM; 9 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM THE DUDE DIET DINNERTIME © 2019 BY SERENA WOLF. REPRINTED COURTESY OF HARPER WAVE, AN IMPRINT OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

GNOCCHI SHEETPAN SUPPER

BY J EN NA H ELW I G

Who knew that you could roast, instead of boil, gnocchi?

SERVES 4

1 lb refrigerated or shelf-stable gnocchi (such as De Cecco) 10 oz button or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and quartered 3-5 sprigs woodsy herbs (such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, or sage; optional) 2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for drizzling ½ tsp kosher salt 6 cups baby arugula ½ cup full-fat ricotta cheese ½ lemon

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine gnocchi, mushrooms and herbs, if using, on prepared baking sheet. Add olive oil and salt and toss to coat, then spread out gnocchi and mushrooms in a single layer. Roast until gnocchi are HOVER YOUR SMARTPHONE CAMERA OVER THE CODE TO SHOP THIS RECIPE ONLINE.

tender and mushrooms are golden, about 20 minutes.

3. Divide arugula into 4 shallow bowls or plates. Top with the gnocchi mixture, and then dollop with ricotta. Squeeze lemon over the plates, drizzle with more olive oil and serve.

PER SERVING: 278 CAL; 9 G PROTEIN; 16 G FAT; 25 G CARB; 661 MG SODIUM; 2 G FIBER EXCERPTED FROM BARE MINIMUM DINNERS© 2021 BY JENNA HELWIG. REPRODUCED

BY PERMISSION OF MARINER BOOKS, AN IMPRINT OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

LIVENATURALLYMAGAZINE.COM

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E AT | AROUND THE WORLD

Turkish Delight Eating together is the heart of Turkish cuisine.

BY REBECCA TREON

I

n ancient times, Turkey was the intersection of Asia and Europe, a crossroads of trade that pollinated the region with different cultures and cuisines. Once known as Anatolia, Turkey’s rich history spans across centuries ruled by the Persians, Romans and Ottomans, finally becoming an independent republic in 1923. Its geography is diverse—with rugged mountains in the east, fertile valleys in the west, semiarid deserts in the southwest, and temperate zones along the Black Sea coast to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast—and the country’s cuisine reflects this variety. But the one constant for Turks throughout history has been sharing a meal with family or friends, a bedrock of the culture.

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SHUTTERSTOCK (3), DAVID HAGERMAN

A

ccording to Robyn Eckhardt, author of Istanbul & Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey (Mariner, 2021), you won’t see Turks eating fast food behind the wheel while driving. “I’ve seen truck drivers stop in the median of a highway, set up a portable barbecue grill and have a picnic lunch right there,” she says. “Stopping for the ritual of eating and eating together is very important, because food, gathering together and eating communally is a big focus—enjoying food is how you welcome guests and how you spend time together.”

While Turkish food appears meatheavy, particularly focusing on lamb, Eckhardt says that’s not the case. In fact, the cuisine is very regional and, in many areas, people opt for beef, seafood, or vegetables and legumes at the heart of a meal. “Before researching my book, I assumed that Turkish food was kebabs, small plates called meze, chopped salads and baklava—the things you see in Turkish restaurants in America,” Eckhardt says. “I discovered that is a fraction of

Salmon or Bluefish with Garlic, Herbs & Lemon SERVES 2

(TOP LEFT): COLORFUL PRODUCE IN A TYPICAL TURKISH GROCERY BAZAAR; (BOTTOM LEFT) BOZA, A SMOOTHIE-LIKE FERMENTED DRINK; (ABOVE) A TRADITIONAL FAMILY BREAKFAST GATHERING.

Turkey’s dishes. The food is realeverywhere, and going to the market is a ly very regional.” part of daily life.”

Eckhardt describes Turkish Because eating is a shared food as hyperlocal and ultra-fresh, experience, family and friends will with many dishes prominently gather and enjoy small dishes, ordering featuring olive oil, whether using a few at a time, eating and drinking over it for frying or drizzled on top. A several hours at cafes called meyhane. meal will always include at least Ordering meze, the small, shareable two side dishes of vegetables plates, will be accompanied by beer (cooked or fresh) or legumes, plus or wine, and finish with a grilled or yogurt as a topping or dip, sometimes fried fish. At home, cooks will make with savory herbs or spices added, to add sourdough loaves or flatbread and serve heft to a meal. Legumes (like garbanzos, them with spicy dips. They’ll roast a lentils or white beans) or vegetables whole chicken with caramelized onions cooked in a tomato sauce, stuffed or serve vegetables stuffed with bulgur. vegetables like eggplant, and vegetables Stews may have a broth infused with and meat layered and baked in clay pots yogurt, and meatballs are nestled in a (called güveç) are typical dishes throughtomato sauce with seared eggplant and out the country. Tost, or grilled cheese, is thyme. Spices, especially crushed red also a familiar dish. Many types of pepper and Aleppo pepper, are common vegetables are pickled and served as a enough to be found on restaurant side dish, and artisan products are tabletops, and warmer spices that once commonly found at the traveled the Silk Road— markets frequently visited like cinnamon, ginger, throughout the country. allspice and even curry— Preparations for dishes are are also used. simple because they rely on Regardless of the the flavor of the ingredients Turkish dishes you to come through. choose to try, gather with “Turkish people are those you love to enjoy passionate about freshness them the traditional and getting the best Turkish way—eaten in the RECIPE ADAPTED FROM ISTANBUL & BEYOND © 2021 ingredients from the company of friends and

BY ROBYN ECKHARDT. market, and not doing too family, savoring not only PUBLISHED BY MARINER BOOKS, A DIVISION OF much to change them,” the flavors of the food, but HARPERCOLLINS. says Eckhardt. “Markets are also of community.

1 pound skin-on salmon, mackerel, bluefish or other oily fish, or whole fresh sardines or anchovies, cleaned and cut into 1½- to 2-inch pieces 1 medium onion, finely chopped 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ⁄3 packed cup chopped fresh dill 1

DIRECTIONS 1. Cut a 2-foot length of parchment paper and center it in a 10-inch skillet that has a lid.

⁄3 packed cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1

¾ tsp fine sea salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup olive oil 2 lemons, sliced as thin as possible 2 Tbsp dry white wine or water

HOVER YOUR SMARTPHONE CAMERA OVER THE CODE TO SHOP THIS RECIPE ONLINE.

2. Put the fish, onion, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper in a medium bowl, drizzle over 2 Tbsp of the olive oil, and gently toss. Transfer to the lined skillet.

3. Arrange lemon slices in a single layer over the fish. Drizzle the remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil and the wine or water over.

Fold the paper over to cover the fish and crimp edges together to seal, then cover the pan. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes; do not uncover the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, covered, for another 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how wellcooked you like your fish. Remove the pan from heat and rest for 5 minutes.

4. Remove the lid, carefully open the paper, and serve directly from the skillet, so diners can use bread to mop up the juices.

PER SERVING: 588 CAL; 49 G PROTEIN; 37 G FAT; 14 G CARB (4 G SUGARS); 1,068 MG SODIUM; 3 G FIBER NUTRITIONAL VALUES CALCULATED AT HAPPYFORKS.COM/ANALYZER

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Supplements for Sexual Health While not a popular topic to discuss, those who do learn that they’re not alone and that there are many natural remedies to help.

B Y N A N C Y C O U LT E R - P A R K E R

I

n our hectic lives, it’s easy to blame a lot on being too busy or stressed. But sometimes this keeps us from taking a closer look at what might actually be a health problem. Take sex, for instance. It’s easy to chalk up a low libido or even erectile dysfunction to being tired or having a busy day when we really should be taking a closer look at the underlying cause. Why is this important? Well, it turns out, having a healthy sex life is a good thing on many fronts, explains Dr. Jean-Jacques Dugoua, N.D., Ph.D., founder of the Liberty Clinic for integrative health in Toronto, Canada.

“Most people enjoy sex. It is important to mental health and healthy relationships,” he says. But there can be more to a low sex drive than meets the eye. Many people don’t realize the health benefits of having hormones in balance. “Testosterone has a lot of benefits. Having healthy levels in the long run is preventative for heart disease and mental health issues,” Dugoua explains.

HORMONAL BALANCE For a topic many people don’t want to talk about, sexual dysfunction has a large presence. Approximately 40 percent of women experience problems with low libido and sexual arousal, and roughly 50 percent of men in their 50s

50

WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

report issues with erectile dysfunction.

This is why Dugoua makes a point of asking his patients about their sex life.

“If a person’s sex life is normal, they won’t want to talk about it for more than five seconds,” he says. But, if they are having challenges and you ask them a question, Dugoua says it often leads to a long conversation, which is helpful to determining the root cause. “For a lot of issues pertaining to sex health, if you catch them early enough, you can do something about it,” says Dugoua.

“For men, they may feel that if it is libido, there is no pill for that. Or they may not want to take Viagra or pop a pill,” explains Dugoua. For men in their 20s or 30s, he recommends doing blood tests, as diabetes could be one of the root causes. But, Dugoua says, for the majority of men, libido issues

are usually stress-related. When you’re stressed, your body starts pumping out the stress hormone cortisol. “Cortisol has blocking effects and interferes with testosterone,” Dugoua explains.

A person may have normal hormone tests, but if there is a lot of cortisol kicking around, it will prevent testosterone from doing its job of bumping up the libido. “Stress, work, school, life, family, relationships, take your pick of stressors,” says Dugoua, adding that the key is how we manage stress. “There are many ways to adjust and bring stress down. Psychotherapy, for instance, can be super helpful,” he says.

Stress is also an issue for women, but the female reproductive cycle poses additional challenges. “Women have to contend with fluctuating estrogen and progesterone. If they are having libido issues, I start with asking if they are having

6

HORMONAL HELPERS

SAW PALMETTO

ASHWAGANDHA This well-known adaptogen herb is often referred to as Indian ginseng. Research suggests that it is good for both decreasing the stress hormone cortisol and slightly increasing testosterone. Dugoua recommends taking ashwagandha, particularly for people in their 20s or 30s experiencing low testosterone.

Recommended dosage: 240–500 mg per day

This herb is considered a vasodilator which means it helps improve blood flow. It is also thought to slow the breakdown of testosterone in the body.

Recommended dosage: 160–320 mg

B-COMPLEX There are many reasons to take vitamin B-complex—keeping the nervous system healthy and boosting our mood, for instance. Studies have also shown it to play a role in hormonal balancing by helping to create and activate estrogen and support metabolism.

Recommended dosage: A combination of approximately 1.1–1.2 mg B1, 1.1–1.3 mg B2, 14–16 mg B3, 5 mg B5, 1.3 mg B6, 30 mg biotin, 400 mcg folic acid and 2.4 mcg B12

MACA Studies have shown this adaptogenic root vegetable may help balance hormones, improve libido and decrease sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. This may be in part because it is also shown to have mood-boosting and anxiety-easing properties. It is often found in libido formulas for women.

Recommended dosage: 1.5–5 grams per day

GINKGO BILOBA Also referred to as ginkgo, this natural supplement is thought to increase blood flow. “Theoretically, it could increase blood flow to female genitals, which might help with libido.

But it’s known more so for guys,” explains Dugoua.

Recommended dosage: 60–240 mg up to twice daily

regular periods,” Dugoua says. If there is irregularity, then there is a possibility for the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause estrogen levels to fall and raise testosterone levels. Likewise, for older women facing menopause, they face a dramatic drop in estrogen, which is linked to low bone mass, acid reflux and heart disease.

When women have a lot of estrogen, it can increase the risk of breast cancer, and low testosterone can diminish sex drive. “We help women manage their hormones,” Dugoua explains.

This mineral has been shown to help regulate hormones, including testosterone. Zinc deficiency has been linked to erectile dysfunction and lower sperm counts.

Recommended dosage: 15–30 mg of zinc picolinate (thought to be easier to absorb than other types)

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

stress. You build testosterone at night,” explains Dugoua. Regular exercise can also help with blood flow to the genitals; Dugoua notes that strength training in particular can help bump up testosterone. A healthy diet is also important. Dugoua recommends zinc-rich foods such as shellfish, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and asparagus, which can bolster testosterone. And foods such as antioxidant-rich berries are good for circulation and protecting the inner linings of blood vessels.

ZINC

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS Dugoua recommends several natural supplements to help with sexual dysfunction. Here are just a few that Dugoua recommends. As always, it’s important to consult with a healthcare specialist to make sure you are taking supplements to match your specific needs.

SHUTTERSTOCK

HEALTHY HABITS For both men and women, there are some baseline lifestyle habits that can aid in a healthy sex life. In addition to managing stress, good sleep habits are very important.

“A lot of people overlook sleep.

But sleep is key to having healthy testosterone levels and managing

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B O O S T | S U P P L E M E N TA L H E A LT H C A R E

Love Your Heart Four natural supplements to support this all-important organ.

B Y K AT H R Y N L E AV I T T

I

t’s a sobering fact: Heart disease is the number one cause of death both in the U.S. and worldwide. But, according to the American Heart Association, a full 80 percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Arrigo Cicero, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiac researcher and professor at the University of Bologna, says that we know many of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease—and also how to manage them. He advises to not smoke; get regular exercise; focus on eating whole grains, vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts and fish; and avoid excess salt, processed meats and trans fats. He also recommends reducing stress, managing insomnia and adopting a pet(!), all of which are associated with improved heart health. Additionally, he recommends these heart-supportive supplements.

FISH OIL

Cicero’s favorite supplement for heart health is magnesium.

“It is associated with reduced blood cortisol level (the stress hormone) and reduced blood pressure,” he says, which is important because blood pressure is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Research also suggests that magnesium may improve cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease, heart failure and stroke. A 2019 analysis found that the highest magnesium intake reduced stroke risk by 11 percent.

Recommended dosage: 200 mg/day chelated magnesium (a form that is more easily absorbed)

The news has been back and forth on fish oil and heart health, but recent research is once again touting its benefits.

An updated 2019 metaanalysis of 13 randomized, controlled trials and more than 127,000 participants found that marine-derived omega-3s significantly reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease and death. Cicero suggests supplements with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) specifically—which may improve circulatory health, help regulate heartbeat and may reduce cardiovascular inflammation.

Recommended dosage: 1,000 mg/day EPA

Natural Factors Coenzyme Q10

BEETROOT EXTRACTS Beetroot extracts are a “natural source of nitrates and are associated with reduced blood pressure and improved vascular and heart functionality,” says Cicero. A 2021 trial on healthy males found that taking beetroot extract before exercise improved heart rate recovery, and a 2020 review paper reported that the blood pressure lowering effect of beetroot juice is “significant” in people with normal blood pressure and even more considerable with high blood pressure or obesity.

Recommended dosage: 200–400 mg/day

WINTER 2022 | OPTIMUM WELLNESS

Widely thought to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of major cardiac events, red yeast rice is made by fermenting white rice with a yeast called Monascus purpureus, creating a reddish colored rice. In a 2019 research paper, Cicero reported that this rice reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol by as much as 25 percent. He suggests taking it combined with phytosterols (which studies have found have an additional cholesterollowering effect) or the Chinese herb berberine (which also reduces triglycerides). Do not use red yeast rice if you take statin drugs or are intolerant to statins, says Cicero, as red yeast rice has similar effects.

Recommended dosage: 1,200–2,400 mg/day, divided into two to three doses

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These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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Inflammation & Immunity B Y K AT H R Y N L E AV I T T

A

2020 study of people in 27 countries found that the most pressing health concerns right now are COVID, mental health, cancer, stress, obesity and diabetes, all of which have a common link: inflammation. “Inflammation, simply put, is the root cause of all disease, whether that’s pain, immune system dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease, you name it,” says Jennifer McLemore, L.Ac., an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist in Boulder, Colorado, who sees inflammation-related concerns in just about all her patients.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is an essential process. The immune system uses a healthy amount of inflammation to respond to and help heal illness and injury. “If you were to get a cold or an injury, it’s the same exact pathway for inflammation,” says McLemore. The trick is achieving just the right amount of inflammation to keep the immune system functioning optimally. Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle tips the balance toward too much of it.

The number-one driver of too much inflammation is a poor diet, says McLemore. For a healthy inflammatory response, she advises reducing sugar and alcohol, and choosing a diet rich in whole foods.

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NAC

“To help create a just-right inflammatory response for the immune system, you have to have vitamin D,” says McLemore. “It’s one of the few substances that increase T-regulatory cells, which are the main determinant in inflammation,” she explains. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, she says, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Recommended dosage: Vitamin D 2,000 IU daily (get tested first); vitamin C 1,000 mg once or twice daily

“There are so many reasons to recommend NAC, considered the master antioxidant,” says McLemore.

NAC is the main precursor to glutathione, and “pretty much every toxic thing we do to our body depletes our glutathione levels,” she says, which stresses our immune system and can lead to disease. Now being studied in clinical trials to protect against COVID, proper glutathione levels are crucial for staying well.

Recommended dosage: 600 mg once or twice daily

Turmeric Used for thousands of years as a medicine, turmeric is thought to offer quicker recovery from fever, cough and sore throat.

“Out of all the herbs used to decrease inflammation, turmeric has the most methods of action on the body—therefore it has the strongest effect,” says McLemore. “It is also one of the best and most thoroughly studied herbs for inflammation.” Avoid it if it causes stomach upset, she says.

Recommended dosage: Start with 500 mg twice daily up to 1,000 mg three times daily, with food

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Fish Oil While opinions about fish oil have varied in recent years, interest is renewed. A 2020 review found not only is it antiinflammatory, but it may also help prevent viruses from entering the body in the first place. A 2019 clinical trial suggests that enriched marine-derived fatty acids increased immune response for up to 24 hours. McLemore also suggests trying cod liver oil because it’s naturally rich in vitamin D and not chemically altered.

Recommended dosage: Follow label instructions

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SAY IT OUT LOUD: Pick-NOG-en-all

Pycnogenol This hard-to-pronounce, tree bark-derived herb has an impressive array of benefits.

B Y K AT H R Y N L E AV I T T

WHAT IS IT?.

From the bark of the French maritime pine growing along the coast of France, Pycnogenol is a trademark name for pine bark extract, which has records dating back to the fourth century BC and the Greek physician Hippocrates, who reportedly used the herb for inflammation. Today, Pycnogenol is still considered a powerful anti-inflammatory, as well as a super-antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress to help prevent disease.

It is naturally rich in multiple beneficial compounds, a quality believed to be behind its wide range of benefits.

USE IT FOR Research suggests that Pycnogenol offers myriad benefits, supporting heart health by lowering cholesterol; supporting brain and skin health; and helping to prevent diabetes, allergies, asthma, migraines and even the common cold.

It is also of special interest for assisting with hot flashes in perimenopause, providing a non-estrogen alternative to hormone therapy. Research has found that it also helps recycle

vitamins C and E in the body, providing a double-pronged antioxidant effect.

THE SCIENCE. Recent studies suggest that Pycnogenol improves symptoms in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury. A 2021 study found that it improves inattention and impulsivity in children with ADHD after just four weeks of supplementation.

A 2019 clinical trial found that in male patients with diabetes, taking Pycnogenol reduced total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and glucose levels. Finally, a 2021 study found that Pycnogenol works better than cranberry in reducing UTI frequency in people with recurring infections, and a new clinical trial in progress is looking at Pycnogenol for relieving symptoms of menopause brought on by breast and other gynecological cancer treatments.

HOW TO TAKE IT Available as a tablet or capsule, the recommended dose of Pycnogenol ranges from 30 mg to 200 mg daily, depending on the condition. Take with food to avoid stomach upset.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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