Welcome to Choose to Bloom
A plant-based health and wellness resource
Pico: A Bowl of Brightness
Salsa, including pico de gallo, isn’t just a condiment—it’s a celebration. A handful of fresh ingredients, chopped and tossed together, becomes something far more than the sum of their parts. Tomatoes, peppers, onion, cilantro, and lime: each ingredient has its own story, its own nutrient gifts, and
Universal & Unique: Why Nutrition Isn’t Quite One-Size-Fits-All
The other day, I was laughing with my mom about how different our food quirks are. She can sip ginger tea all day without trouble, but cinnamon sets her off. Me? Black pepper makes me cough, and oats (that excellent superfood!) are off-limits. Then there’s my friend who can’
Hibiscus Tea: A Tart Tradition with Heart Health Benefits
When I brew a cup of hibiscus tea, I’m struck by its jewel-like color—deep ruby red, almost glowing. It feels like holding a little potion in my hands. But beyond its beauty and refreshing tartness, hibiscus may also give our arteries a helping hand. Blood pressure and stroke
Bling, Beauty, and the Truth About What's Valuable
My dentist recently handed me a $6,850 treatment quote, and somewhere between the words' bone graft' and 'custom abutment,' I found myself thinking: maybe I should get a gold tooth. Or, if I really wanted to lean into myth, go full George Washington and whittle
Don’t Dismiss New Symptoms: Advocacy, Side Effects, and Building the Right Care Team
It's Personal. When my mom began feeling dizzy and depressed, it seemed easy to assume why. She has inclusion body myositis, a progressive muscle-wasting disease. Of course, she might feel down — living with a chronic condition is hard. But she had never been depressed before, and the timing
Peppers: Heat, Health, and Harvest
At this time of year, farmers' markets burst with color: baskets of shiny bell peppers, strings of drying cayennes, glossy poblanos, and the occasional habanero daring you to pick it up. Peppers are one of the most visually striking displays of the late-summer harvest. Some invite you in with
What’s at Your Farmers Market? A Tour by Region and Season
My first visit to an Arizona farmers’ market coincided with Hatch chile season. Not only were there bins and bins of the long green peppers, but several stands had homemade roasters—oil drums repurposed into rotating baskets over flame. The smell was irresistible, and customers left with bags of freshly
Peaches (and Their Cousins, Plums): More Than Just Sweet
My friend in Portland recently told me she’s been buying peaches at her local farmers market, and I could practically smell the fragrance through the phone. I miss that kind of fruit. Living in Phoenix, I don’t get the same experience — farmers' markets here don’t brim
When to Make Adjustments: Listening to Your Body With Reason and Calm
A few weeks ago, I decided to add digestive enzymes to my routine, despite typically avoiding supplements other than D and B12. I wasn’t struggling with digestion, but since I was working through some dental issues, I thought they might offset some not-ideal chewing. At first, nothing seemed unusual.
Jicama: The Crunchy Root That Loves Your Gut
The first time you bite into jicama, you might be surprised. It looks like a potato, but the flavor and texture are closer to an apple crossed with a water chestnut—crisp, juicy, slightly sweet. Peel away its rough brown skin, and you’ve got one of the most refreshing,
Keeping a Diet Diary
Keeping track of what we eat—either for a short, focused period or on an ongoing basis—helps us understand our nutrient intake, eating patterns, and how food impacts our body and mind. Food logging can: * Reveal nutrient gaps or excesses so we can adjust before problems arise. * Identify connections
Flax Seeds: Science in a Spoonful
Why Flax Deserves Attention Flax seeds aren’t flashy. They’re inexpensive, widely available, and unassuming. But pound for pound, they’re one of the most studied plant foods for cardiovascular and digestive health. Fiber and Bowel Health Two tablespoons of ground flaxseed contain about 4 grams of fiber, a