For a food as ubiquitous as pasta, I bet there is a lot you don't know about it or its history. It's one of America's favorite food we eat more of it per capita than any other country and although we consider it to be an Italian food, its original beginnings were in China. While no one would dispute its role as a comfort food, there is a divide over whether or not it should be included in a healthy diet. Those on low carb or gluten-free diets shun it, while marathon runners often load up on it before a big race. So what's the real deal on pasta? Check out these 7 interesting facts... Read More

Who says you need wide open spaces and top-notch soil to have the garden of your dreams? If you're an apartment dweller like me, all you really need is some repurposed containers, dirt and seeds, and a windowsill or small outdoor space. And voila! You're on your way to growing some amazing plants and produce (think about the money you'll save on groceries!). Here are the easy-to-follow directions to help you get the ball rolling on your very own urban garden. 1. Choose your planters. Go ahead and mix it up by planting in containers you already have at home. Coffee cans, paint... Read More

While lotus stems may be abundant in Southeast Asia, they are quite uncommon in the U.S. When in season, asparagus makes a tasty substitute. String beans may be more available and work equally well. This is an easy and flavorful salad that can be made ahead. Serves 4-5 Ingredients 1 large cucumber, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths 1 ½ cups water ½ teaspoon salt 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths 3 shallots or 1/2 purple onion, cut into half-moon slivers 1 or 2 red chilies, seeded and cut into thin slivers Dressing Juice of 2 limes 2... Read More

Stretch marks: most people have the nobody likes them. Known to dermatologists as striae, stretch marks are scars that develop when your skin has to accommodate rapid growth. Often first appearing as reddish or purple lines on your thighs, hips, or belly, stretch marks fade over time but, like any scar, may never disappear completely. Why do we get stretch marks? Your skin stays supple thanks to the proteins elastin and collagen, but when it becomes overstretched during puberty, pregnancy, or times of sudden weight gain and hormonal imbalance, the dermis layer of your skin tears and... Read More

Need a little inspiration to get back to healthy this summer? Look no further than the Internet!  Whether you're seeking healthy recipes, new workout ideas, or simply some wellness words of wisdom, these healthy lifestyle blogs will be your new go-to reads! Recipes My New Roots - Sara focuses on seasonal ingredients to create her truly beautiful, vegetarian dishes. This blog will have you excited to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers market this weekend! Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes - Heather has mastered the art of creating simple, beautiful and healthy... Read More

The gluten-free diet has become all the rage in recent years, but many people don't know what gluten actually is. What foods contain gluten? How does gluten affect your body? Should you go gluten-free? In this video, Jade from Wellness Today lays out all the facts about this much maligned protein. Learn why gluten sensitivities have become more widespread, the difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, and why gluten causes digestive upset for so many people. Watch below! Though bread, pasta, and baked goods are the most common offenders, gluten can sneak its way into... Read More

You eat a fresh apple, and you peel off the sticker before washing it. But have you ever stopped to think about the purpose of that sticker? Maybe you should take a look before tossing it into the trash next time. That sticker is like a fingerprint; it indicates certain characteristics of the produce, such as how and where the crop was grown and its variety. Learning how to decode the digits on the sticker Price Look-Up (PLU) numbers can significantly impact your health and make you a more conscious consumer. Thankfully, learning produce language isn't very complicated, so you can be a... Read More

When I was a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, one of the best skills that I learned was time management. This probably isn't what you were expecting! Finding the healthiest foods or learning how to cook new grains might sound more like the expected benefits from a nutrition school, and trust me, I learned that, too. But the skill that has helped me the most in all aspects of my life is time management! More specifically, IIN founder Joshua Rosenthal taught us about a simple concept called Big Rocks that has changed the way I manage my daily and weekly schedule. The... Read More

It always amuses me that produce doused in toxic chemicals is called conventional. The word conventional means in accordance with what is generally done or believed. Organic foods, the ones grown naturally without the use of synthetic chemicals, are regarded as premium, but they are actually fruits and vegetables the way nature intended them. As more people learn about the detrimental effects of pesticides and herbicides on our bodies and planet, organic foods are becoming more popular than ever. Thanks to this newfound interest, they are also more widely available. Aside from the... Read More

If you thought spinning was trendy, get ready for the next big thing: underwater spinning. It's just what it sounds like, which means it involves even more water than most sweat-drenched spin classes. Yes, you heard that right: you can now cycle in the pool, combining the low-impact nature of swimming with the hardcore exercise of a spinning class. If you love spinning but feel like you've mastered the traditional version, then it might be time for you to give this new trend a try. The concept of underwater spinning is really simple: it's a static bike class, with the exception that the... Read More