A perfect accompaniment to any dish, I call my greens “nutritional dynamite.” For this dish, I prefer black kale, red Russian kale or collard greens. Feel free to mix and match. 2 bunches greens, washed well, chopped and steamed until tender. (If you don’t already own a stainless steel steamer basket, please buy this essential kitchen item.)

Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is the latest, hottest craze in superfoods. It’s been touted on Dr. Oz, written about by Dr. Andrew Weil, and The Huffington Post, and featured in several health newsletters. The leaves, fruits and bark of this tree can be taken as a powder or a tea, and often offer the best nutritional supplement available in the Southeast Asian and African countries where it is grown.

There are many great holistic websites but this is one of our favorites: www.greenmedinfo.com , where the motto is “Education Equals Empowerment.” In their mission statement the founder, Sayer Ji, writes, “GreenMedInfo.com exists in order to provide convenient and open access to the biomedical research available today on the therapeutic value of natural substances in disease prevention and treatment.” The website provides articles, newsletter, videos and more…

Named for the way the fruit hangs in bunches (like grapes), the grapefruit is a nutritious member of the citrus family. It comes from sunny Barbados and is thought to be the result of the natural cross pollenization between the orange and the Asian pomelo. Today the greatest quantity of grapefruits is produced by the United States, followed by China and South Africa. Here are 6 health benefits of grapefruit that may make you want to include it in your diet on a regular basis.

Many people know about the healing benefits of turmeric: with the active ingredient curcumin, it is a potent anti-inflammatory, a digestive aid, a powerful anti-oxidant and may help to prevent cancer and other diseases. Turmeric is available loose as a spice, in pill form and as an extract. But did you know that one of the most effective ways to take turmeric is as a tea? Served hot or cold, turmeric is a refreshing addition to your daily routine.

Red Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum), commonly known as Ling Zhi in Chinese, is a herbal mushroom known to have miraculous health benefits… Regular consumption of red Reishi can enhance our body’s immune system and improve blood circulation, thus improving better health conditions. Generally, Reishi is recommended as an adaptogen, immune modulator, and a general tonic. Red Reishi is also used to help treat anxiety, high blood pressure, hepatitis, bronchitis, insomnia, and asthma.

If you drink coffee, tea, or iced tea then you’re already familiar with the power of infusions to pack in flavors, caffeine or medicinal components. According to Wikipedia.org, an infusion is “the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). An infusion is also the name for the resultant liquid….

“It may be tiny, but it’s mighty: The flax seed carries one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet. And while it’s not technically a grain, it has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids in flax leaves grains in the dust. Additionally, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. And its combination of healthy fat and high fiber content make it a great food for weight loss and maintenance — many dieters have found that flax seed has been a key to keeping them feeling satisfied. Flax seed is high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese…”

“Many public health organizations-including the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society-recommend legumes as a key food group for preventing disease and optimizing health. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends 3 cups of legumes per week…”