Get Dr La Puma's Healthy Bites & Weekly Wows in your inbox to help you feel your best inside and out. Insights, healthy recipes and recommended household, culinary, literary, botanical and natural products to make your life easier, healthier and more fun.
If you have the notion that not much goes on inside a mushroom, then we’ve got a surprise for you! Portobello mushrooms can be a nutrient powerhouse. These versatile fungi can easily be incorporated into even the most selective of diets. From glazed to grilled, raw to steamed, Portobellos [...]
Most people are surprised to learn kelp is a food staple — and not just for fish and whales! Kelp has several nutritional benefits, as it is abundant in several vitamins — including vitamins C, B, A, E and the mineral iron. Consider these other reasons to include kelp, [...]
Though some will argue the apricot’s place of origin — China, Persia, India, or Armenia — there’s no denying the worldwide appeal of the tangy flavor packed in this little fruit. Now widely grown in the Americas, apricots make a healthy and versatile food choice, great for cooking, [...]
Cilantro and coriander both come from the same plant species Coriandrum sativum. But in different parts of the world, the very same plant is referred to differently. Coriander or cilantro: what’s the difference? Is there one? For Americans, cilantro refers to the leaves and the stalks, both [...]
When it comes to dietary fats and carbohydrates, the advice has varied greatly — to say the least! Apparently fats are bad, but some are good, and carbs are terrible for you except when they’re not — so how are we supposed to know what’s what? But the good [...]
Most people are aware that preparing food with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) has many health benefits, but few know how to properly select EVOO. Even more surprising: grocery store shelves are filled with imposter EVOO! So how can you tell the difference? Never fear, I’m here to help [...]
We often think of green peas as a last-minute addition to stews, rice dishes, and warm salads. So you may be surprised to hear that the green pea is actually one of the most sustainable food crops offering many health benefits! This member of the legume family contains essential [...]
In a recent blog on medicinal herbs, we touched briefly on the power of holy basil or Tulsi basil. This plant indigenous to India has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and claims a whole slew of benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, [...]
What if I told you that those medicinal herbs you toss into your dish at the last minute for a burst of flavor might actually be antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial secret weapons that can lower your cholesterol and glucose, improve your cognition and mood, and even guard against [...]
For centuries, the unusual looking violet and white passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has been used as a calming botanical treatment. Passionflower is an ecomedicine option to reduce anxiety and stress. Its use dates back to the Aztecs in Central America who used parts of the vine to treat [...]