In the U.S., turmeric is mainly known as a spice and curcumin is rarely heard of. Surprisingly, these two things aren’t only related, but curcumin is a substance that comes from turmeric. It may be a bit confusing at first distinguishing the two, but turmeric tends to be orange while curcumin is usually yellow. Although the two aren’t exactly the same, they are incredibly similar and since curcumin originates from […]
Category: Healthy Foods
What is Oatstraw Tea?
Even though I’m currently on summer break, there has rarely been a day where I can take a real break. At this point in my life, I’m an extreme busybody and rarely have even a few minutes to relax. And ironically, when I do have a rare moment of peace, I feel guilty that I’m wasting time instead of doing something productive. As one can probably tell, I am a […]
The Durian Fruit
While durians are seldom exported from four specific origins: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Thailand, I grew up thinking they were a common American fruit. Although foggy, I still retain a few memories of observing my dad buy one or two durians. My dad is a Taurus, which in astrological terms translates as: my dad has an innate love for food. He takes me out to try new restaurants […]
What are Probiotics and their Possible Benefits?
Many of my best friends love kombucha and drink at least one bottle every day. But personally, I knew that the first time I tasted kombucha would also be the last time. Kombucha is a fermented tea that not only has the same health benefits of tea, but also provides beneficial probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms (mostly different strains of bacteria) that assist with digestion, helping to destroy disease-causing microorganisms, […]
The Benefits of Bitter Melon
Ever since I was little, my grandma has cooked her famous dish of bitter melon for my family. She would bring out a plate containing thin slices of bitter melon and we would eat it with a side of white rice. Back then, I had never heard of bitter melon because we referred to it solely as “kǔ guā” (which means bitter melon in Chinese). Until I was in high […]