Working on your holiday menu already? If so, you might want to add peppermint to your shopping list. I'm not talking candy cane peppermint, though -- although a touch of it might do you some good. I'm thinking more like the healthy herb peppermint.

Nothing like a hot cup of peppermint tea while you sit by a festive roaring fire. It's good for the soul, for sure. And good for the body too, especially for upset tummies.

Reader's Digest (December 2008) lists this recommended recipe for a terrific tea: Steep two peppermint tea bags in a cup of boiled water for 15 minutes, keeping the brew covered so the essential oils don't evaporate.

Want more holiday diet tips? Head on over the Holidash by clicking on the link below.

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When you cook, do you stick to the standard salt and pepper? Or do you get more creative, adding fresh herbs and spices to your meals? There are benefits beyond great flavor ... so the next time you cook, be sure to spice it up.

Using spice has been linked to weight loss, and using herbs and spices in place of salt can benefit your blood pressure. In a recent study, researchers found that many herbs and spices can protect tissues from damage and inflammation -- both of which are problems caused by high blood sugar. So frequent use of certain spices and herbs may help those who are living with diabetes.

Spices and herbs are high in antioxidants. While it's not clear how much of each item is necessary to protect tissues, incorporating these ingredients in your meals in small amounts certainly can't hurt. The spices and herbs researchers found to be beneficial include cloves, cinnamon, allspice, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, marjoram, sage, and thyme.

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I'm not personally a fan of canned soups -- too much sodium for me -- but RealAge says there's a way to make these soups healthier, once you find a low-sodium variety, that is. The secret? Throw some veggies in the mix. The specific veggie RealAge recommends: Fennel.

Fennel, a spice, herb, and veggie all rolled into one, works well in all kinds of soups -- chicken noodle and tomato are two. Loaded with anitoxidants, fennel can also help knock out foodbourne bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella.

Next time you're pressed for time and find yourself grabbing for the can, make sure you have some fennel on hand. Find it in your produce section -- looks like celery stalks -- or grab some spicy fennel from the spice aisle.

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When you think about the herb, thyme, what comes to mind? Probably rich, French country dishes, with so many calories and so much fat that it makes your hips bigger just thinking about it!

If you avoid cooking with this fragrant herb, though, you are missing out on thyme's amazing health benefits, like antioxidant power and antibacterial properties. Thyme is such a flavorful herb -- wouldn't it be nice to enjoy it in some healthy dishes?

Remember, you can substitute fresh thyme for dried in almost any recipe (just use a little less) to get more of the beneficial oils in the herb.

Basil is one royal herb. The leaf, Greek for "king," has become a must-have in kitchens across the globe because of its versatility and clean taste. If it hasn't yet made it to your kitchen, give it a try. Here's how.

• Add whole or snipped leaves to salad

• Lay leaves on a frozen or homemade pizza
  

• Chop and add to tomato or spaghetti sauce

• Snip and stir into scrambled eggs before cooking

• Finely chop and stir into a base of mayonnaise and sour cream and use as a sauce for fish

• Place a few leaves in a bowl of salt -- after a few days, the salt will take on the flavor of the basil and can be used for seasoning

• Add leaves to bath water for a refreshing soak

Keep in mind these great stats: Basil contains one calorie per five leaves and is almost entirely void of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, and sugar. It's also chock full of protein, Vitamin E, Riboflavin and Niacin, Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, and Manganese.

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Herbs are amazing things, and they can do so much for us besides just seasoning our food and brewing us a good cup of tea -- they can also go a long way towards helping to relieve stress and improve your mood. Stressed out? Annoyed? Worried about finances? The right herbs can help. According to Natural Health elm, for example, can help you get perspective, beech can increase your tolerance, and mimulus can help ease anxiety.

I can be really moody so some of these may soon be finding their way into my medicine cabinet!

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The ancient Ayurvedic herb Holy basil is finding new friends here in the States. Its cortisol-reducing properties and stress-relieving effects are quite the hit with our ever-growing tense and obese population, and some even say it has other healing properties like helping manage diabetes and blood sugar levels.

So it seems Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, may be worth looking into. One suggestion, however, is that despite the name "basil" it's not something you probably want to sprinkle on your spaghetti or into any other cooking (it has a sharp clove-like flavor).

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One of the great joys of cooking ultra-flavorful dishes these days (or reviving bland foods) is to add herbs. I add herbs to almost everything I eat except fruit. From whole-grain muffins to fresh broccoli, herbs make everything taste good and are quite a bit more healthy that loads of salt.

Wouldn't it be nice to grow your own herbs? Many people I know do this in windowsills and other lightful areas in their homes. I tell you what -- those folks never have a bland-tasting meal that I've ever seen.

Get a nice foot-tall terra cotta pot, some sunlight, water and soil and you're prepped for growing a small (but fruitful, heh) mini-herb garden right inside your home. Try that fresh dill on salmon and thyme on top of red potatoes. Oh my -- my stomach's already rumbling!

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Here's some good news in the wake of the frustrating stuff we just heard about Vitamin C: Echinacea does help prevent and limit colds. Over the years it seems the data has gone both ways, with people saying first it was great for colds and then later saying it was worthless. But now, as the result of researchers reviewing over 700 separate studies from years past they've determined that yes, echinacea does indeed have a substantial effect on preventing colds and limiting their duration (once they've already been caught).

Of course there are still those out there who argue against this current research's methods and flaws, but since echinacea is a fairly safe supplement to take anyway I'm going to be positive and assume the best!

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Frustratingly enough, the jury is still out on this one. But in reading this article it does sound more promising than not. St. John's Wort, otherwise known as Hypericum Perforatum, has been used for more than 2400 years -- maybe even by Hippocrates himself. And in the majority of studies performed in both past and recent years there has been at least some relationship shown between taking the herb and experiencing a decrease in signs and symptoms of depression. There have been contradicting studies also, but they seem limited to how St. John's Wort affects people with minor symptoms compared to more serious ones.

Although it is generally mild and safe as far as herbal supplements go, don't take it too lightly. St. John's Wort can have some significant side-effects like dizziness, photosenstivity, and even decreased fertility. And never, ever, take St. John's Wort if you're already taking other meds for depression.

Bottom line? St. John's Wort may be right for you, but be sure to check with your doctor first.

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