Chef Scipione in the News

Swordfish Faggioli Created By Chef Michael Scipione - Cento

Top 13 Calming Foods

  • Asparagus

    Naturally will increase Folate (Vit B9) levels – Crucial for mental and emotional health.

  • Avocado

    Helps block absorption of certain fats that cause oxidative damage.

  • Berrries

    Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry and Blueberries helps keep blood pressure and cortisol levels at bay after a stressfest.

  • Cashews

    Are high in Zinc, a compound which the body can  not store, low levels of zinc are linked to depression. Also a great source of protein , however snack in moderation as they are high in calories.

  • Chamomile Tea

    High in antioxidants and will help promote a more restful sleep.

  • Dark Chocolate

    High in antioxidants, will help lower blood pressure, raise polyphenol and flavonoid levels.

  • Garlic

    Also high in antioxidants, help combat free radical damage caused by increased cortisol levels when under stress. Garlic, which is high in the compound Allicin can help ward off heart disease, cancer and the common cold.

  • Cooking tip

    Saute garlic in broth as opposed to oil, this will help stabilize the potency.

  • Grass Fed Beef

    High in Vitamin C, E and Beta Caretine. GFB is free of homones, anti-biotics and other drugs. According to the British Journal of Nutrition, GFB is lower in saturated fat and has shown to improve blood levels of Omega-3 and lower the pro inflammatory fatty acid levels associated with Omega – 6.  It has been shown to lower chances of cancer, cardiovascular disease and depression.

  • Green Tea

    Loaded with the amino acid Theonine, it is a brain booster helping to enhance mental performance.

  • Oatmeal

    Steel cut oats is my preferred choice, this helps produce serotonin levels with its high content of anti-oxidents it’s a major mood enhancer. Another component in SCO is beta-glucan (soluble fiber) and increases satiety.

  • Oranges

    High in Vitamin C which contribute to a strong immune system and one of the top portable foods you can take anywhere with you.

  • Oysters

    High in Zinc which promote a more restful sleep, containing more than half of the RDA recommendation per serving.

  • Walnuts

    High in Alpha-linolenic acid, Omega -3, polyphenols which help prevent memory loss. According to Tufts University, consuming walnuts showed some signs of reversed signs of aging.

The Health Benefits of Sweet Potato

Although they're soft and creamy enough to be put in pies and called dessert, sweet potatoes are also a surprisingly nutritious vegetable. 

 

Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A, vitamin B5, B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and, due to their orange color, are high in carotenoids," said San Diego-based nutritionist Laura Flores. Plus, they're fat-free, relatively low in sodium and have fewer calories than white potatoes — although they do have more sugar. 

 

Sweet potatoes are one of the best sources of vitamin A; a large one contains more than 100 percent of the daily recommended intake, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Vitamin A is an antioxidant powerhouse, and is linked to anti-aging benefits, cancer prevention and the maintenance of good eye sight.


Sweet potatoes are a great source of B6 vitamins, which are brilliant at breaking down homocysteine, a substance that contributes to the hardening of blood vessels and arteries, according to the Harvard University School of Public Health. Sweet potatoes' potassium content is also helpful for your heart, as it lowers blood pressure by maintaining fluid balance, as explained by the American Heart Association. Potassium is also an important electrolyte that helps regulate your heartbeat, controlling blood sugar and maintaining energy.

 

For as sweet as they are, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index (which means they release sugar slowly into the bloodstream). "Sweet potatoes — unlike other starchy foods that elevate blood sugar rapidly after [they're consumed] due to their metabolism into sugar — will help steady the levels of blood sugar," Flores said. This means you won't get blood-sugar spikes, but you will get a steady amount of energy. Flores noted that this regulation occurs even in people with type 2 diabetes. 

 

Furthermore, the Beauregard sweet potato, an orange-skinned variety grown in North Carolina, is similar to a white-skinned variety used in Japan to make a dietary supplement called Caiapo, which is marketed to control blood glucose in people with diabetes, according to an article in Perspectives, the magazine of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. 

 

Researchers have found that the Beauregard "has essentially the same protein patterns" as Caiapo.

According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, sweet potatoes contain magnesium, the go-to mineral for destressing. It promotes relaxation, calmness and a good mood, as well as artery, blood, bone, muscle and nerve health, according to Psychology Today.

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Due to the color-pigmented vitamins, sweet potatoes are high in anti-inflammatory benefits," Flores said. One sweet potato contains about half of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Vitamins A and E also support a healthy immune system and are powerful disease-fighting antioxidants. While orange sweet potatoes contain more vitamin A, purple sweet potatoes are packed with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is responsible for red, blue and purple colors in fruits and vegetables. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, pigment-related antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial to overall health and help mitigate inflammatory disorders.

Vitamin A may help protect against sun damage, according to a 2004 study in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, and vitamins C and E are well-known for their beauty benefits. They encourage healthy, glowing skin and collagen growth.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sweet potatoes are a good source of dietary fiber, which helps the body maintain a healthy digestive tract and regulates digestion.

Orange sweet potatoes have been shown to have anti-carcinogenic properties,” Flores said, and the NIH reports that some studies have suggested that beta-carotene may reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women and ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. 

 

However, purple sweet potatoes may be even more effective than orange sweet potatoes in staving off cancer. "Purple sweet potatoes have been shown to have better cancer-fighting abilities, with a positive effect on cancer cell growth," Flores said.

If eaten in moderation and prepared in a healthy way (that means not just indulging in sweet potato fries), sweet potatoes are a nutritious, delicious food that should pose no significant health risks. But for a vegetable, they are high in carbohydrates (about 23 grams per medium sweet potato) and calories (about 100 calories). For comparison, one serving of broccoli has about 45 calories.

 

They may also cause some interesting skin-related side effects. "While there aren't any severe health problems associated with sweet potatoes, they are high in vitamin A, which the body stores," Flores said. "When levels get too high, you may notice your skin and nails looking a little orange." This side effect should decrease if you cut down on sweet potato consumption.

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, people with a history of kidney stones may want to avoid eating too many sweet potatoes, as the vegetable contains oxalate, which contributes to the forming of calcium-oxalate kidney stones.