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Diabetes


Yuvarlakia: The Greek Meatball Soup made Vegan
This is a reall winter warmer. Traditionally made with meat, this recipe inspired by the Greek chef Akis Petretzikis, has a lemony broth that is both hearty and comforting, and the juicy mushrooms & millet balls are packed with incredible herbaceous flavor.
Gil Barzilay
Dec 30, 20252 min read


Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): Eating Yourself Sick
What are UPFs according to the classification?
NOVA Classification
Most research uses the NOVA classification, which groups foods by the purpose and extent of processing, not just nutrients. In NOVA, UPFs are Group 4: industrially manufactured products made from combinations of refined ingredients (starches, sugars, oils, protein isolates) plus additives, with little (or no) intact whole food remaining.
Gil Barzilay PhD Dipl CM
Dec 24, 20254 min read


Hearty Harira Soup, My Best Winter Warmer
As the winter continues, I made a Moroccan Harira soup and added more healthy elements to it, and apparently, my family chose it as one of the 3 most delicious soups I've made! Vegeterian Moroccan Harira Soup The classic recipe has thin flour noodles, brown lentils and some flour. I replaced it with gluten-free bean noodles, black lentils, which I find healthier, and chickpea flour (also gluten-free). Of course, I also added winter roots - parsley, celery and carrots. There

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Dec 17, 20252 min read


A Quick Green Soup for a Healthy Winter
Green Healthy Winter Soup Indeed Green is the color of Spring and the Wood element. What if we adopted some liveliness to grey winter and zest it up with some ginger & garlic. We move the Qi and stregthen our immune system. By the way, any additional greens are welcome! What's in it? 2 leeks (white part only), sliced 4 zucchini or courgettes, diced 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons oliv

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Dec 8, 20251 min read


It's Ginger Time: The tiny root that you shouldn't skip
For me, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the 5 things I would take with me to a deserted island (along with lettuce, mung beans, millet, green tea, dark choclate).
Gil Barzilay PhD Dipl CM
Dec 8, 20253 min read


Qigong: What is it, who is it suitable for and what the research says
צ’י קונג (Qigong) הוא תרגול עתיק ברפואה הסינית שמטרתו לטפח את אנרגיית החיים (Qi). הוא משלב תנועה עדינה ומודעת, נשימה, מדיטציה והקשבה פנימית, כדי לשפר את הזרימה האנרגטית בגוף, להרגיע את מערכת העצבים ולחזק את מערכות הגוף השונות. במשך מאות שנים נעשה בו שימוש בסין הן לשמירה על הבריאות והן כחלק מטיפול במחלות כרוניות ואקוטיות.
Gil Barzilay
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Greek-style Millet Stuffed Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the Mediterranean kitchen’s great gifts-full of antioxidants like lycopene, gentle acidity, and natural sweetness that deepens beautifully when baked. Using tomatoes in the season is a blessing.
Gil Barzilay
Oct 26, 20252 min read


Golden Tofu “Scrambled Egg” – The Perfect Vegan Breakfast
Easy to make protein and health filled vegan breakfast
Gil Barzilay
Oct 20, 20252 min read


Seasonal Chia Magic: One Super Seed, Three Seasonal Breakfasts
If there’s one ingredient that deserves the title “tiny but mighty”, it’s chia seeds. These little black pearls are packed with fiber, Omega-3s, Calcium, Magnesium and antioxidants, and they form a satisfying gel that keeps you full for hours. From a traditional point of view, chia helps moisten dryness in the lungs and intestines, making it a great ally for the autumn and winter seasons when dryness prevails. The best thing? You can create endless versions of chia pudding de

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Oct 16, 20252 min read


Oven-Roasted Okra with Mustard, Lemon & Dill
Okra is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and fiber, known to support blood sugar balance and healthy digestion. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, okra helps moisten the lungs and intestines , making it especially beneficial in the autumn , a season associated with dryness. While okra is often cooked with tomatoes, this recipe offers a refreshing twist that highlights its soothing, hydrating, and gut-friendly qualities. What's
Gil Barzilay
Oct 16, 20252 min read


Which milk substitute is better and which brand is recommended?
Cow's milk is not what it used to be when I was a child. In recent decades, cow's milk has become a more industrialized product, with widespread use of antibiotics, growth hormones and possibly pesticides to increase productivity. To that you may add packaging. In addition, about 65% of the world's adult population suffers from some level of lactose intolerance, which leads to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea after consuming dairy products. It should al

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Sep 24, 20252 min read


Tabouleh-like Salad: A springtime healthier version with millet
Tabbouleh - a Mediterranean classic that is both refreshing and healthy salad. However, in its original version it's not suitable for celiac patients nor diabetics, as bulgur wheat contains gluten and raises sugar blood levels. Here, I've replaced it with my beloved millet, on which I have elaborated elsewhere, added roasted almonds and pickled lemon in addition to the usual greens. A wonderful salad to accompany a spring meal. What's inside? 1 cup millet A bunch of parsley

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
May 12, 20251 min read


The magic of white roots: a soup to strengthen the lungs and immune system
Turnip is a root vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They contain a high amount of vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system, along with dietary fiber that contributes to digestive health and balances blood sugar levels. In Chinese medicine, turnips are seen as a "sweet-spicy" food that helps move Qi (energy) and strengthen the lungs, and symbolizes the peak of winter. To this soup, I added more white friends such as parsley root, celery root, Jerusale

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Jan 15, 20252 min read


Buckwheat, Shiitake Mushroom and Sweet Potato Stew: A nutritious meal in 30 minutes
Don't have a lot of time to cook, but still want something nutritious and delicious? Shiitake mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and immune-supporting compounds, helping to reduce inflammation and promote heart health. They also aid in lowering blood lipids and cholesterol levels. Buckwheat is particularly wonderful in winter (warming) and is gluten-free, rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like magnesium, which contribute to balanced blood sugar levels and metabolic healt

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Dec 21, 20242 min read


Eat the Rainbow: A Purple-Green Salad That Will Protect Your Heart
A warm colorful salad of roasted beets and purple cabbage, sprouts and herbs that is a feast for the eyes and palate and suitable for any meal. The salad is very easy to prepare, it just requires a little time because of the roasting of the beets :) Health benefits: Purple-black vegetables contain anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that protect against the oxidation of LDL ("bad cholesterol"), improve blood vessel elasticity, reduce inflammation, reduce blood clots

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Dec 5, 20242 min read


A healthy winter stir-fry of Bok Choy Mushrooms and Tofu
If you are looking for a warming, light and healthy recipe for the winter, this stir-fry is a perfect solution. The combination of Oyster & Agaricus mushrooms, tofu and bok choy creates a dish full of flavors and nutrients that will warm you from the inside. Health benefits: Tofu: Rich in plant-based protein, provides essential amino acids, and contains calcium and iron, which are essential for bone health Bok choy: A great source of vitamins A and C, improves the immune syst

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Dec 5, 20242 min read


Black Lentils, Cauliflower & White Sweet Potato Salad,
A salad which is actually a meal by itself, filled with: Wonderful legumes-black lentils (aka as Beluga lentils). Bursting with protein and fiber, calcium, iron and potassium. They are also rich in anthocyanin , the antioxidant that is responsible for the color in purple foods (berries, pomegranate, etc.), and is linked to a variety of health benefits such as "cleaning" of blood vessels, prevention of cancer, dementia, and anti-inflammatory activity. Cooking lentils in water

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Oct 24, 20242 min read


An All Green Detoxifying Spring Salad
I wrote about the wonderfulness of this pulse in another recipe. This ultimate very green salad that both cleanse and nurtures in terms of protein, complex carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Like its little sisters (mung beans, black lentils), it contributes to lowering triglycerides and cholesterol , diabetes and may contribute to weight loss . I've also added celery and fennel which contribute to cleansing (=detox, for those looking for an accessible spring cleaning). W

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Apr 4, 20231 min read


This is going to be the healthiest tastiest cabbage and beet cabbage winter dish
I already talked about cabbage in a previous post (roasted cabbage), as a wonder vegetable from the cruciferous family that is rich in...

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Feb 1, 20232 min read


Millet Tortillas by Ada
Many ask me what else can we eat for breakfast besides porridge? By and large, porridge , of any kind, would be my first choice and my recommendation to 90% of my patients. But what can we eat when we're bored? In the past I recommended healthy pancakes and now, Ada, a dear friend, has prepared sprouted millet tortillas that are snatched even before you finish making them (as breakfast or lunch/dinner). She chose millet because she knows how much I praise its qualities as

גיל ברזילי Dr Gil Barzilay PhD
Jan 28, 20231 min read
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