Salad
This salad simply screams “May” – and not just because of the tickle-your-tongue arugula and plump strawberries. It’s sprinkled with a summery Meyer lemon vinaigrette made with avocado oil.

Side
Need a simple side dish? Look no further than roasted radishes. They’re delicately seasoned with thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper – rightfully keeping the vegetable the centerpiece – and their playful pops of purple are so radiant, you’ll think you’re looking at an edible crayon ad. (It’s good, just trust us on this one.)

Entrée
With a tantalizing combination of peach and Portobello, it just feels wrong to refer to this recipe as only a “sandwich.” Starring three May seasonals, give this grilled Portobello and peach sandwich a try.

Dessert
If you’ve never let rhubarb delight you with tanginess, there’s no time like the present. And blended alongside lemon, underneath a crisp lattice crust, this pucker-your-mouth tart is the epitome of summer indulgence. Especially if you nosh on it in a hammock with a cocktail.

Image: Regular CSA Box, Week of May 6 – 12, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from Suzies Farm’s photostream.

Chili pepper
How much heat can you take? The hotter the pepper, the greater the health benefits may be – and that’s all thanks to capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, which boosts body temperature and metabolism. Translation? It could help with weight loss. Capsaicin is also known for lowering the risk of ulcers. Savor it: Burmese chile pepper sauce

Ginger
Stomach soothing, cold relief – what could we possibly tell you about ginger that you don’t already know? For one, the root may help soothe arthritis pain, ease achy muscles, and calm down cramps. Savor it: Chinese ginger wine soup with black sesame oil and egg

Turmeric
Like the younger sister of The Most Popular Girl in School, turmeric is sometimes known as ginger’s pungent, yellow cousin. But turmeric has so much more to offer! In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the sassy spice has a component called curcumin, which may delay liver damage and reduce chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Savor it: Turmeric-spiced eggplant with Israeli couscous

Cinnamon
One of our go-to spices, cinnamon is like a familiar friend with a hidden talent (or many). We know it can relieve indigestion and improve appetite, but studies have also shown that cinnamon can help stabilize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Savor it: Baked Cinnamon Apple Crisps

Image: Spices, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from chooyutshing’s photostream.

Almond milk
Creamy and dreamy with a light sweetness, it’s hard to believe almond milk is the lowest-cal member of the dairy-free posse (it is, however, higher in sodium than other milk subs). It’s also generally fortified with decent doses of Vitamins E, A, and D. Thanks to its creamy thickness, almond milk is excellent in smoothies, coffee, and pancake batter.

Try it: Papaya chia seed pudding with almond milk

Coconut milk beverages
Even if you’re not coco-loco, give coconut-based milk a try – many sippers report the milk has no distinct coconut flavor. A great low-cal and low sodium option, it can be easily substituted for milk in recipes, and is a terrific thickening agent.

Try it: Soft and chewy coconut milk bread

Rice milk
Calorie-wise, this option is almost on par with 2 percent milk at 120 calories and 20-ish grams of carbs per cup. And in moderation, it’s a good workout booster. “It offers carbs to fuel and fluid to hydrate, and like a sports drink, it’s a good source of electrolytes,” says registered dietitian Nancy Clark.

Try it: Banana chocolate rice milk smoothie

Hemp milk
The flavor of this versatile seed is more distinctive, which plays better with some recipes than others. Either way, it hovers around 100 calories to the cup and is happily low-carb. It’s also an omega-3 powerhouse.

Try it: Fresh peach hemp protein smoothie

Image: got milk, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from plasticrevolver’s photostream.

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about Angelina Jolie recently. On Tuesday, May 14^th, she announced that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy after learning of her high risk of breast cancer. Through gene testing, Jolie had discovered that she carried the defective BRCA₁ gene, which, along with other factors such as family medical history, significantly increases the chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

Jolie’s decision to share her story serves as a great reminder to encourage everyone to seek out information and act consciously when it comes to health matters. We visited one of our ZocDoc doctors, Dr. Yael Fuchs of Gramercy Gynecological Health, to learn more about the breast cancer gene. Check out our video below!

Heart health
That galloping herd of corgis does more than just fill your heart to the brim with affection. It might actually make your heart healthier! The CDC says pets can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels – all of which can lower the risk of heart attack.

Exercise motivation
This pet perk applies mainly to dog owners (because jogging with cats isn’t really a thing). Caring for a puppy that depends on you for daily walks may help you stay committed to an exercise regimen.

Immune health
Though adults with long-developed allergies probably should sidestep animals, pediatrician James E. Gern, MD, found that children with pets at home are less inclined to develop allergies. “If a dog lived in the home, infants were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies – 19 percent versus 33 percent,” said Dr. Gern, who conducted the research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. “They also were less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals – a sign of stronger immune system activation,” he said.

Warm fuzzies
Need we say more? Cuddly kittens and affectionate puppies bestow their love freely, which can help their humans develop self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and overall happiness by boosting the brain’s production of serotonin and lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Image: Cute, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from hoangnam_nguyen’s photostream.

Immune health
When scientists at the University of Frankfurt tested the blood of professional city choir singers before and after an hour-long rehearsal, they found that levels of an anti-stress hormone and proteins that function as antibodies spiked significantly after practice was over.

Asthma and bronchitis
You know that big breath you take before you belt it out big time? Turns out the deep breathing and muscles engaged during singing can help people with asthma and bronchitis. Carrying a tune might even help with snoring.

Chronic pain
A 2004 study published in the Journal of Music Therapy concluded that communal crooning helped people cope with chronic pain. Research also corroborates singing’s benefits for those with Alzheimer’s, helping to alleviate loneliness, improve self-esteem, and possibly even stave off memory problems.

Image: Daily Photo #149 – March 3rd 2011 – The Duet, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from William Doran’s photostream.

Leafy greens
You just can’t get away from these guys, can you? You may want to double down on kale, broccoli, chard, or bean sprouts. They’re all overflowing with two pigments your retina just can’t get enough of, zeaxanthin and lutein.

Bilberries
The bilberry is the blueberry’s European cousin, and it offers such serious vision benefits that WWII pilots snacked on them to better their night vision. Research later found that the bilberry’s special powers are thanks to anthocyanins, which help deliver blood and nutrients to the eyes and may help prevent or slow cataracts and blindness due to macular degeneration. Not sure how to get your hands on bilberries? Blueberries and blackberries are heaped with anthocyanins, too.

Nuts and seeds
Almonds, walnuts, and peanuts are positively packed with vitamin E, which is shown to protect eye cells from UV damage, preventing cataracts and other types of blindness. One study found that just a couple of servings of nuts on a weekly basis reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 35 percent.

Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for vision maintenance and restoration. Without enough vitamin A, photoreceptors in the eye can start to deteriorate. Bonus: they sometimes look like Buzz Lightyear!

Image: Incognito, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from KayVee.INC’s photostream.

Why can’t you starve on a beach? Because of the “sand which” is there! Ha!

Okay, we’re really sorry about that. Snacking is serious business, and sandwiches are one of the best tools in your arsenal. They’re quick, easy, nutritious, and – as you’ll see below – extremely yummy:

You will need:
1 can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped onion
Lime juice
Salt and pepper
Bread of your choice
Fun sandwich toppings (spinach, tomato, cucumbers, etc.)

Directions:
1. Drain chickpeas and remove the outer skin.
2. Using a fork, mash the chickpeas and avocado together.
3. Add cilantro, onion, and lime juice.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Spread the resulting paste on your bread of choice and add your favorite toppings!

The relationship between sleepless nights and weight gain has been documented before. But the new research suggests the pounds can creep up incredibly fast – like, almost immediately. The study’s goal was to learn how a week of poor sleeping affects behavior, physiology, and weight.

Curiously, the participants who slept less – only five hours a night – burned more calories than participants who got a generous nine hours of sleep. On the other hand, they ate more – six percent more, to be exact. By the end of the week, they gained an average of two pounds. Once they started sleeping more, the weight came right back off.

Why do pounds pounce when we don’t get enough sleep? Scientists say when we’re sleepy, we gravitate toward carb-laden foods for a quick energy boost. The change in sleep patterns can also confuse our internal clock and metabolism.

So is losing weight as easy as hitting the hay? Not exactly.

“It’s not so much that if you sleep, you will lose weight, but if you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly,” said Dr. Michael Breus.

Want to speak with a doctor or a sleep medicine specialist about weight gain or sleep? We’ve got you covered.

Image: Cat dreams, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from maury.mccown’s photostream.

When researchers looked at a one-inch hair sample from nearly 300 people between 65 and 85 years old, they were able to determine levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And while blood tests can only show stress levels for a precise period in time, a hair analysis is a true almanac of cortisol levels, revealing months of data in just an inch.

The study also found that individuals with higher levels of cortisol face a bigger risk of cardiovascular disease. By looking at trends in cortisol levels – rather than just a snapshot via a blood sample – scientists are better able to evaluate a person’s actual risk. The study’s participants who had higher cortisol levels were increasingly likely to have health histories featuring heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and periphery artery disease.

“The data showed a clear link between chronically elevated cortisol levels and cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Elisabeth van Rossum, one of the study’s lead authors. “Additional studies are needed to explore the role of long-term cortisol measurement as a cardiovascular disease predictor and how it can be used to inform new treatment or prevention strategies.”

Concerned about your stress levels? Talk with a doctor or a psychiatrist.

Image: Styled, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from evilpeacock’s photostream.