You may be thinking, what is tryptophan?  Or, you’ve heard about foods high in tryptophan such as turkey which is often blamed for the “I need a nap” feeling after a big Thanksgiving feast. Stay tuned for an explanation – after a brief 411 answering the question I asked, and a chart of tryptophan food sources. Tryptophan is one of...

by Annie Siegfried, MS, RDN Is type 2 diabetes preventable? Lifestyle and diet changes can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Prevention is key: If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes—high blood glucose levels that don’t get to the threshold of a diabetes diagnosis If you’re currently at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes because of excess weight or obesity,...

by Anna Rios, RD Fatigue is a common problem that many people struggle with. Energy levels are directly related to dietary habits and nutrition. Eating a balanced diet and including mostly whole foods can help improve energy levels. It’s a different way, perhaps to think about eating: focusing on foods to increase energy and motivation including fruits that give you...

It’s no secret that fruit, both fresh and frozen, can help provide key nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Dried figs are the perfect snack to incorporate into your diet for their nutritional benefits, but especially for their sweet taste. Learn more about figs and blood sugar, and the glycemic index of figs. California dried figs are a sweet and...

by Carolyn Williams, PhD, RD The idea of brain healthy foods and how the foods we eat influence our brain health is a newer area of nutrition research. However, there’s growing evidence to suggest that not only do foods and nutrients play in the health of brain cells and their communication but potentially play a much bigger role than we...

If you want to thrive like ancient Olympic athletes, you need to eat like one too. Do you know what Ancient Greek athletes ate before competitions? A handful of dried figs. It’s no wonder consuming foods in a Mediterranean diet can be increasingly beneficial for one’s health: it seems like they had it all FIGured out. If you’ve ever wondered...

“Calcium builds strong bones…” a phrase we have all grown up hearing but why is calcium important and what foods contain calcium? Are there fruits high in calcium and when thinking where we can get it in our diet, how can we start including those foods today? What is Calcium and Why is It Important? Calcium is a mineral found...

by Carolyn Williams, RD Incorporating figs into meals and snacks is an easy and delicious way to your boost intake of fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron, but what many don’t realize is that eating figs is also a great way to reduce inflammation and lower disease risks. Thanks to their unique combination of nutrients and bio-active compounds, dried figs...

What are the Health Benefits of Dried Figs When you eat Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Figs, you help yourself to the health benefits of dried figs. Dried figs are an excellent source of dietary fiber and are full of essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium. What Nutrients are in Dried Figs The nutrients in dried...