Adding fresh herbs to your barbeque recipes adds low-calorie flavor -- and makes grilling safer.

Photo: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

Grilled food is simply delicious and compared to other cooking methods like frying, it's generally healthier. But grilled food is not without a caveat. When the high heat from the grill hits the meat, cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are formed.

According to a post at CafeMom, a tasty trick can minimize the chances of HCAs forming. Just use antioxidant-rich herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage or oregano in your marinade before grilling. Besides adding a layer of safety, marinading your meat makes it tastier. In addition to the fresh herbs, other healthful ingredients for your marinades include olive oil, fresh citrus and balsamic vinaigrette.

Remember, meat isn't your only option for the grill -- try grilling an all veg dinner or try some of these creative grilling ideas. AOL Health has more tips for safe, healthful and tasty grilling.

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!

"Snap out of it!" exclaimed Cher's character in "Moonstruck" when she slapped Nicolas Cage's character across the face. Do you remember that? Such a classic moment in film. I find myself at times saying it out loud in the midst of my very human moments -- the moments that have me frozen, unmotivated and well, basically lazy, the moments that prevent me from focusing on what's good for my health in body and mind. Yes, I can have very human moments. Such is life, right?

How do you get out of a slump so bad that you make a beeline for a fast food joint after work versus taking time out to find or prepare a healthier alternative? Or the kind of slump where you just feel like plopping on the sofa instead of going to the gym -- day after day?

We all need a little "Snap out of it!" help now and then. Today, help is here!

Here are 5 things you can do to get out of a slump:

• Try Something New -- Look, if the idea of going back to the same old workout routine is making you cringe, then maybe it's time for a change. If you have the freedom to do so, join a different gym. Look around for other types of fitness-oriented classes different than what you normally try. Have you ever been in a spin class? Why not give it a try? How about boot camp class? Talk about a way to get inspired! Or how about bringing it home? Instead of investing in a gym membership, invest in a new piece of cardio equipment, like a treadmill. The point is, if the "same ol, same ol" isnt' working for you anymore, then make a change.

Source

You've got to have something sweet this holiday season, right? Well, go for it, then. You might just want to redefine "sweet" if you choose to fit into your skinny jeans this December.

Try some festive snacks like dried fruits and nuts, say the experts at the American Cancer Society -- they happen to believe diet plays an integral role in cancer prevention, you know. Fresh fruit is another great choice.

If sweets aren't your thing but seasonal indulgence is, try some live herbs or olive oil to spice up your nutritional meals. And consider giving all of the above as gifts this year. Nothing says you care like a package of healthy food.

Source

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.

Source

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.

My son has ADHD and we're constantly working on better ways to manage his symptoms. We do what we can nutritionally -- limiting sugar and caffeine, increasing natural sources of omega 3 and 6, and so forth. Also, my son stays really physically active (which is probably the most effective tool in managing ADHD symptoms). Also, my son is making big efforts to control his symptoms by doing things like taking deep breaths to help him focus. Any control we can gain over his symptoms brings us one step closer to reducing or eliminating the medications he's currently on.

When you're a parent of a child with ADHD, everyone has an opinion. Some people feel it's all a myth. Others think that he just eats too much sugar (which he doesn't). I've had people recommend giving him coffee, others tout eliminating red dye, and others think he needs stricter discipline. Unless the recommendations are coming from a doctor, I usually just smile politely and continue doing what I know is best for my son. But when people recommend natural supplements, I sometimes sit up and take notice. By nature, I'm wary of supplements. After all, "natural" doesn't always equate to "healthy." But if something is proven safe, effective, and is milder than a prescription med, then I think it's worth a try. But, as I stated, it must be safe and it must be effective.

A recent study proves that, despite hopes, St. John's Wort isn't effective in managing ADHD symptoms. In the study, a group of children with ADHD started with a placebo pill for a week. Then half the group took St. John's Wort for eight weeks, while the other half continued taking the placebo. No statistical difference was noted between the placebo and the herb.

Source

Craving a juicy burger on the grill this summer? Grilling has come (no pun intended) under fire lately, due to a cancer-causing compound that's created when meat is grilled.

Source

My mom is one of those hard-to-buy-for types. She and my dad are, thankfully, in a position where if they need or want anything, they can go out and get it. But when birthdays and holidays like Mother's Day roll around, it leaves my siblings and me with very few options. This year, I think I'll try to give my mom something in keeping with her healthy lifestyle. If you're thinking along the healthy lines for Mother's Day gifts too, here are some ideas to consider:

• A day at the spa. Moms rarely take time for themselves. Give your mom a gift certificate for the spa and help her relax.
• Skin care. Whether you give a face mask, moisturizer, hand lotion, or cleanser, skin care gifts are always appreciated.

Source

So you're the type of person who fills your grocery cart with healthy foods -- fruits and veggies of every shape and color, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein. Your healthy choices are enough to make the check-out person feel guilty about the candy bar stashed beneath her register. But are you sure you're getting the most vitamins and minerals out of the foods that you buy?

Shape has a list of 9 common kitchen mistakes even healthy eaters make:

• Overloading on produce. It's best to buy fresh fruits and veggies within just a few days of using them. If you stock up on too many they'll lose precious nutrients as they sit on your counter waiting to be eaten. Or, worse yet, they'll end up going to waste altogether.
  
• Exposing foods to light. Opt for milk in cardboard boxes and don't store foods in glass canisters or see-through storage containers. Many foods are susceptible to a process called photooxidation in which light breaks down the nutrients.
  

Source

Medicinal herbs can be welcome relief for stress and it's side effects, including nervousness, anxiety and loss of sleep. Thus the market for consumption via herbal teas and supplements in pill or liquid form. Last week I wrote about the benefits of getting out in the garden to relieve stress. Then I got to thinking, why not include some stress-relieving medicinal herbs while you're at it?

Planting lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, passionflower, California poppy, and others in the relatively long list of herbs known for their calming effects would provide a constant supply of remedies and the peace of caring for them. Herbs that provide stress relief are often classified into various categories for treating related ailments, including anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and restlessness. There's also a breakdown of which herbs to use according to potency according to David Hoffmann's book Medical Herbalism. The same article describes such herbs as nervines: a plant remedy with some kind of beneficial effect upon the nervous system. Nervine relaxants are most important in times of stress and confusion, as they can alleviate many of the accompanying symptoms.

If you can't find appropriate plants or seeds at your local nursery, you can buy many of them online. There are also plenty of tips for growing herbs as well as ideas for growing indoors.

Source

Everyone knows a good bath can do wonders to relax and rejuvenate the body and spirit. Adding scented bath salts helps, too.

Did you know that you can easily make your own healing bath to combat whatever issues you may be having? DIY Life has posted about how to create a blissful bath, using herbs and essential oils targeted at fixing what ails you.

DIY Life links to a Third Age article which lists recipes and blends for muscle pain, colds and flu, insomnia and more. There are also good reasons to use Epsom salts in your bath, such as detoxification and replenishing your magnesium levels.

So learn how to make the perfect bath for you and begin healing.

Source

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!

Source

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).

Source

Traditional Chinese medicine is gaining momentum in the Western world, but it's still quite a stretch from the synthetic drugs that we are commonly prescribed. Would you balk if your doctor gave to snake skin flakes to relieve what was ailing you? I admit that I might -- out of doubt that it would work and pure shock that the doctor is offering something natural rather than something that's a product of the huge pharmaceutical industry. However, I would be intrigued -- if something natural can cure me, why I am constantly ingesting man-made chemicals?

Still, as CNN's Dr. Gupta has learned, natural remedies aren't all good -- some traditional Chinese medicines are made using endangered species and processes that can be harmful to animals. But I think a further look into natural medicine is in order because getting healthy the natural way is a lot more appealing to me than the alternative. Do you agree?

Source