Author Archives: ucdhealthyaggies

So, before we jump right into it, what are grains exactly? Grains are the fruits and seeds of cereal grasses. There are 2 types of grains you can find at the market: whole grains & refined grains. Whole grains include the entire seed: germ + endosperm + bran. Refined grains are processed to only include the endosperm. Thus,Continue reading “The Wonders of Whole Grains”

Winter has a lot going for it: trips to the snow, cozy blankets, and rich hot chocolate. Fresh produce, however, isn’t usually first on this list. Here in Northern California, we are lucky enough to have a variety of produce available year-round; check out all of the options with these seasonality charts here. Eating locallyContinue reading “Eating in Season: Winter Edition”

Originally posted on Healthy Aggies at UC Davis:
Did you know that some food can actually help you think better? If you’re feeling forgetful, it could be due to a lack of sleep or a number of other reasons including genetics, level of physical activity, and lifestyle and environmental factors. However, there’s no doubt that…

Ever since 2737 B.C. when Chinese legend says leaves from an overhanging Camellia sinensis plant fell into Emperor Shen Nung’s cup of boiling water, tea has been recognized by cultures around the world for its capacity to soothe, restore and refresh. According to the Tea Association of the USA, the number of Americans who willContinue reading “Benefits of Tea”

Ahh, it’s that time of the year again. The leaves are changing colorand there is pumpkin flavored everything at Trader Joes. But most of all, the wind is blowing and the air has a crisp chill to it that wasn’t there 4 weeks ago . . .So what better way to cozy up and stayContinue reading “Fall Spices”

So what’s the deal? You seem to hear and see these three letters at every grocery store or farmers market out there. But what does “GMO” even stand for? Or better yet, what do these three letters even mean? And, oh my goodness! Why is everyone, especially those in this video, so hyped up aboutContinue reading “GMO’s”

Even if you’re short on time, it is possible to eat a tasty and healthy breakfast every morning. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare one of these breakfasts. There are plenty of options for wholesome breakfast foods in healthy food stores such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, but sometimes it’s so much moreContinue reading “Breakfast in Under 10 Minutes”

What’s so important about eating your leafy greens? First, they provide us with the most phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are natural chemicals that are found in plants. These chemicals guard plants from harm, such as pests and UV rays. But they do not just benefit the plant itself; they benefit those who eat the plant as well!Continue reading “Superfoods: Going Green 101”

  No sleep, caffeine overload, sweats and flip-flops. It’s that time of the quarter again. Even though in a week we’ll be enjoying the sweet taste of summer vacation and, for some of us, graduation, there’s one last hurdle we all have to get over. You probably guessed it, the daunting week of finals! ManyContinue reading “Finals Week Survival Guide”

Certain foods are meant to be eaten together to bring out their nutritional benefits in the best way possible. Bioavailability is a term that describes how easily a nutrient is broken down, absorbed and utilized by the body. Foods can work together to enhance bioavailability, and allow nutrients to become more powerful and efficient inContinue reading “Powerful Food Combos”