A food staple for nearly half the world population, rice is embedded in the cuisines of many cultures. The Chinese word for “meal” literally translates to “eat rice.” Emerging research shows that rice, both white and brown, is a source of resistant starch, which increases total dietary fiber and lowers the glycemic response due to slower digestion.

The Tohono O’odham people have been farming and cultivating prickly pear (or I’ipai in O’odham), agave (A’ud), tepary beans (Bawi) and cholla cactus buds (Ciolim) in this dry Southern Arizona desert for centuries. The name of the tribe means “Desert People,” and bringing back local culture from farm to plate is one mission the Tohono O’odham Community Action organization has been working on since 1996.

For more than 5,000 years, ayurveda has been practiced to promote wellness in India. Its practitioners consider ayurveda to be a sacred system that unites natural elements, spirituality and diet. In short, nourishment of the body is tethered to nourishment of the mind and soul.

From reduced gym membership fees to discounts on healthy foods to exclusive travel deals, financial incentives can be an attractive motivator for making healthy choices. But the most successful incentivized health programs don’t focus on monetary reward alone; they also embrace positive reinforcement, shared goals and the spirit of community.

Left unchecked, chronic stress can contribute to everything from anxiety and muscle pain to high blood pressure, depression, heart disease — and even obesity.

Hens' eggs are sold in myriad qualities and sizes that are ranked according to USDA standards. While inspection for egg safety and wholesomeness is mandatory, grading for quality is voluntary. If an egg producer chooses to have eggs graded, it pays the USDA for the service.

Traditionally used in cheese making to separate curds from whey, cheesecloth is a multipurpose tool in both the kitchen and around the house. Chefs and home cooks appreciate that it does not change the flavor of food and it stands up to any liquid: hot, cold or acidic.

While shell and yolk color may differ between chicken eggs, the difference in color bears no relation to the flavor, nutritional value or quality of the egg. The egg’s size and shell color is determined by the breed of the hen.

From mirepoix in France to refogado in Brazil, foundational trinities of aromatic vegetables bring flavor to soups, stews, sauces and other dishes worldwide. Aromatics are vegetables that deliver deep, rounded flavor and aroma when heated or crushed.

For centuries, before modern conveniences like refrigeration, many cultures used the sun and air to dehydrate foods as a way to preserve the bounties of hunts and harvests. The dehydration process took days and was not always sanitary. Today, however, dehydrating food can be easy and safe.

"Green bags" (which actually come in many colors) sold on infomercials are composed of zeolite, a silicate compound with a porous chemical structure. Companies that manufacture these bags claim the porous structure absorbs ethylene, the ripening agent released by fruits and vegetables, thus extending produce life.

Soil — a dynamic and complex system of minerals, air, water and organic matter — is the lifeblood of anyone’s farm and of everyone’s food supply.