From the Herb Basket – 32

Hopefully, warmer days are ahead for us and we’ll be outdoors more often, enjoying spring activities.

Here are some tips for health, beauty and glowing skin:

Spice things up. Flavor evening meals with oregano, basil or rosemary instead of salt. You might snore a lot less if you restrict salt intake with dinner. Excessive salt causes a buildup of fluid that settles in the neck area when you lie down. This in turn puts pressure on your airway. Curbing the salt could ease the pressure that triggers snoring.

A little sprinkle: Triglycerides are a kind of fat found in the blood. High triglyceride levels are associated with certain types of heart disease. A 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon on oatmeal or stirred into yogurt breaks down triglycerides so they don’t build up in the bloodstream. Adding cinnamon daily to your diet could lower triglycerides by around 25% in a month. Check with your doctor though before adding cinnamon to meals.

Science has shown that garlic’s sulfur compounds increase the production of virus-killing antibodies by about 50%, — within 48 hours. Add a clove or two of garlic to your sauces, stews, and salad dressings. Let chopped garlic rest for 10 minutes before cooking to enhance its potency.

Just two Brazil nuts daily boost thyroid production of its most energising hormone [ T3 ] by about 80%. The Brazil nut’s secret? It’s rich in the mineral selenium, which most of us don’t get enough of. Just munch on a few each day. Chop them up and add to salads, cooked oatmeal, or baked goods.

Go Rosemary: Adding dried or fresh rosemary to meals can actually help you feel younger. The herb is brimming with antioxidants, which enhance memory and stimulate the brain. To get these benefits, add 1/2 teaspoon of this wonderfully fragrant herb to salad dressings, marinades or soups daily.

Dynamic duo: Olive oil’s antioxidants and lavender essential oil combined will help hydrate dry skin. Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 3 drops of lavender essential and apply to feet, elbows, and hands. Wrap the dry areas with a warm, damp washcloth. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.

Mood booster: Drinking just 2 cups of chamomile tea each day boosts the production of “feel-good” hormones like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Try Tazo Calm Chamomile Herbal Tea. Or Sleepy Time tea.

Blessed Be, sweet ones.

~ Meadow Walker

Image courtesy of food.com