Tasting Tomatoes

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which also includes peppers, goji berries, tomatillos, eggplant, potatoes, tobacco, and petunias. Tomatoes likely originated in the western side of South America, in the region occupied by Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and the western half of Bolivia. Wild tomato plants still grow in South America, as well as on the Galapagos Islands. At […]

Eating for Happiness

Happiness centers around several important neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamaine, endorphins, phenylethylamine, and anandamide. Serotonin is popularly known as the “feel-good hormone,” or your body’s own natural tranquilizer, hence the happiness factor. This is the neurotransmitter that antidepressants target in order to boost overall happiness levels. Up to 90 percent of your body’s total serotonin is located in your gut, […]

cooked kale

Knowing the Healing Power of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a family of chemically related substances called naphthoquinones. There are two major types of vitamin K that are important for humans: K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone or phytonadione) is a natural nutrient found in green leafy vegetables. Vitamin K2 (menaquinones or MKs) in foods are mostly in the form of MK4 […]