Want to lose weight? Plant an herb garden
Now that the winter solstice has passed I’m holding on to the fact that each day is now a little bit brighter than it was the day before. Spring and summer are not far off now and I’m looking forward to the warm weather and reworking my garden. Gardening is some of the best exercise that I get every year because I am forced to go outside and haul, dig, drag and pull at least once a week once the weather is nice. Not only does it help me stay in shape, but I save money growing my own herbs and I get to force everyone to admire my handy work when I’m finished. I love cooking with fresh herbs. So, I’ve always known that herbs were great for health and wellness if you grow them yourself, but the author of “Eat This, Not That” gave me a new way to appreciate my hard work. According to their article on herbs, just eating them can help you lose weight:
Fight Fat with Flavor
Use these special spices to boost both flavor and health benefits
Want to amp up your nutrition and the flavor of your meals? Fresh herbs are the perfect prescription. They’re packed with nutrients that have been shown to boost brainpower and protect your health. But the best part? They make any meal taste better. And surprisingly, that can actually benefit your waistline. That’s because much of a person’s eating satisfaction is derived from flavor intensity and the visual impact of a meal, not necessarily the amount served, explains Brian Wansink, Ph.D., director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. So forget mounds of mediocre food. Instead, downsize your dinner—and your gut—by infusing them with the fresh flavor of the World’s 9 Best Spices.
Here’s a list of the spices and their significance, click on the title for a link to the original article with suggestions on how to cook with these herbs:
- Basil: Rich in antioxidants that mop up cell-damaging free radicals inside the body. This can help prevent a host of unwanted conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and high cholesterol. Basil also contains oils that prevent bacteria growth and inflammation.
- Peppermint: The menthol in peppermint clears phlegm and mucus from the bronchial tract to facilitate easy breathing. And also for soothing indigestion, gas, menstrual cramps, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Sage: Known to strengthen memory. The rosemerinic acid in these plants also works to preserve your body by protecting your cells from oxidative damage and alleviating the effects of asthma and arthritis.
- Rosemary: Call it the smart spice. Many people swear by rosemary’s ability to increase cognitive functioning, and researchers in California have identified carnosic acid as an active ingredient in rosemary that can offset cognitive degeneration, protect against Alzheimer’s, and prevent stroke.
- Thyme: Extremely rich in iron, which is crucial to your body’s ability to transport oxygen. Just 2 teaspoons contain 20 percent of your daily intake. Plus, seasoning with thyme helps protect food from bacterial contamination.
- Cilantro: My favorite herb helps burn fat!?! I can’t even tell you how excited I was to read this; In mice studies, coriander seeds, from the cilantro plant, encouraged the pancreas to produce more insulin-the hormone that helps shuttle glucose into the cells to be burned as energy. This prevents excess blood sugars from being stored as fat. Cilantro leaves have the same benefits.
- Tarragon: By increasing the secretion of bile and acids into the stomach, tarragon improves gastric efficiency and whets the appetite. Because of this, it’s best used early in the meal as an appetizer.
- Oregano: A USDA study found that when adjusted for weight, it had four times the antioxidant activity of blueberries. That means big cancer-fighting potential for your next pizza or pasta sauce.
- Parsley: Highly concentrated with luteolin, a powerful flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers at the University of Illinios found that luteolin decreased inflammation in the brain, which helps prevent decline in cognitive functions.
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