Category Archives: Writing samples

New article for HealthCastle.com: Mint – Health Benefits and How To

A notmint teae: This article was inspired by the mint tea I fell in love with in Amsterdam. Whereas mint tea in North America is likely made from dried mint in a teabag, mint tea in the Netherlands is made from big, beautiful spears of fresh, bright-green mint – and it is delicious. I will definitely be trying this with mint from my garden this year.

Mint: Health Benefits and How To

(HealthCastle.com) Mint is delightful fresh green herb with many variations, all of which are very easy to grow at home. In fact, mint is so incredibly prolific that if you’re not careful, it can take over your entire garden. Mint can also be bought fresh in the produce section of the grocery store. You may associate mint flavor primarily with chewing gum or mint candies, but these sugary (or artificially sweetened) products don’t capture the appeal (or health benefits) of fresh mint, which can be used in everything from drinks to desserts to savory dishes to tea…

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New article for HealthCastle.com: Top Vegetarian Sources of Vitamin B12

(HealthCastle.com) You probably know that vegetarians have to seek out alternatives to meat sources of protein and iron, and that vegans need to find non-dairy calcium options. But you may not have thought about the need for vegetarians to manage their Vitamin B12 intake. B12 is an important vitamin that’s involved in maintaining healthy nerve cells, creating energy, and producing DNA. Because Vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods and fortified foods, vegetarians – and especially vegans – are at risk for deficiency of this critical B vitamin. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to fatigue, constipation, weight loss, and confusion, among other symptoms…

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New Article for HealthCastle.com: Mexican Travel – Top 5 Vegetarian Foods

(HealthCastle.com) Traveling as a vegetarian can present some challenges. In Mexico, much of the traditional cuisine is meat-heavy. It’s generally easy to find vegetarian food in upscale restaurants that cater to a tourist clientele, but where’s the fun in eating all your meals in tourist restaurants? Fortunately, some Mexican classics work very well for vegetarian travelers, or can be made vegetarian with a few simple tweaks. Here’s what to look for on your next Mexican vacation…

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New article for HealthCastle.com: A High-Fat Diet May Worsen Asthma Symptoms

(HealthCastle.com) There’s big news on the nutrition front for those who suffer from asthma. Two recent Australian studies have shown that those who eat a diet high in processed foods and saturated fats are more likely to suffer from asthma symptoms – and get less relief from ventolin inhalers. Here’s what the researchers found, and what it means for your health…

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New article for HealthCastle.com: How to Choose the Right Potato for Your Dish

(HealthCastle.com) February is Potato Lover’s Month. What better time to focus on this sometimes under-appreciated vegetable? (Yes, vegetable.) Potatoes are surprisingly nutritious – they are a good source of both Vitamin C and potassium – and can be a very healthy addition to any meal.  Did you know that there are officially seven types of potatoes? Let’s explore which types of potato work best for different dishes…

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New article for HealthCastle.com: Easy-Pack, Security-Approved Vegetarian Food for Air Travel

(HealthCastle.com) Back in the good old days of air travel, when most flights of more than a couple of hours included a meal, it was easy for vegetarians to find food in-flight. All you had to do was request a vegetarian meal when you booked your ticket, and not only were you assured a vegetarian meal on the plane – you actually got your meal delivered to your seat before they started wheeling the cart down the aisle to dish out the standard-issue fare…

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New article for HealthCastle.com: Salmon – Health Benefits and How To

(HealthCastle.com) Salmon is quite simply one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It’s great for light but substantial meals, especially if you’re trying to reduce your meat intake, and you can eat it in a wide variety of ways, from sushi to canned to grilled to baked. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week, particularly fatty fish like salmon. Let’s take a look at the nutrition data to find out why…

Read the rest at HealthCastle.com.