Our traditional winter seasonings

The traditional winter foods are flavoured with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and honey. They are also rich in chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, almonds and chestnut.  These spices, nuts and dried fruits raise the festivity.

Inspect the health benefits of these spices:

Cinnamon	Nutmeg	Cloves
Protects healthy heart  and brains. Benefits for dental health and hygiene. Fights infection and diabetes. It has anti-inflammatory properties. It contains antioxidants, which can help lowering cancer risk.	Nutmeg is a pain relief It is liver and kidney detoxifier. Benefits for dental hygiene and health. Nutmeg can also help for digestion related problems.	Cloves reduce inflammation, fight against upper respiratory infections. Improve digestion. Enhance sexual health.

Honey is a traditional winter sweetener.  It is a natural treatment for our winter flu, reducing cough and throat irritation.  It helps regulate blood sugar. It provides antibacterial and antifungal effects. It helps to fight against cancer and beneficial for healthy heart.

Versatile Lavender

By Jackson Charles Brown

Lavender has put its mark in the culinary industry. Crème brulee, custards, and ice cream contain its perfume, and biscuits and fruit salads contain its simplicity. On the shelf it is right next to saffron, but lavender is so much more than an ingredient. It is also a medicine that has a value incalculable.

Amongst the essential oils, lavender is the most versatile oil. Consumers of essential oils probably have it in their cabinets because of its versatility. Since lavender is the most versatile amid the other essential oils, the consumers of it are just as varied. The elderly with aches and pains, athletes, pregnant women, and anyone that is stressed can use lavender. Lavender can be used for skin, calming nerves, soothing muscles, aiding digestion, and decreasing inflammation.

Mild skin problems can be solved with it. Lavender helps skin heal through tissue growth, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. It is great for troubles like acne, blotches, stretch marks, scars, burns, eczema, insect bites, and itching. Eradication of lice can also be done with lavender. For these purposes use two to three drops of lavender on irritated, injured, or infected area and rub into skin.

Everyone experiences stress for one reason or another. It helps relieve stress by providing better sleep; therefore, lavender is great for insomnia patients. Stress can also be caused through anxieties and nervousness; it can also reduce these causes along with depressive moods and irritability. It reduces blood pressure, which is great for relieving migraines. To reduce stress massage, diffuse, or bath with lavender.

Lavender is also great for digestion difficulties. Because it is an antispasmodic, it increases gastric juices and intestinal flow. It also reduces flatulence, nausea, and digestive spasms. For relief mix two drops of lavender with one spoonful of vegetable oil or honey or one half spoonful of sugar. Drink this mixture three times a day.

Athletes enjoy it because it relieves muscle, tendon, and joint pain. It does this through soothing pain, relaxing muscles, and reducing inflammation. Cramps and rheumatism can also be relieved with lavender. Massaging two to four drops of lavender with one spoonful of vegetable oil is the best way to relieve pain. The second best thing would be to take a lavender aromatic bath.

Lavender oil is anti-bacterial and antiviral oil. Because of this, lavender is great of curing infections. Lavender works on respiratory infections like bronchitis, coughing, laryngitis, and some tonsillitis. Urinary infections can also be relieved with lavender oil by drinking two drops three times a day.

Because too much of a good thing can be bad, prolonged or over use can be harmful. It is not recommended that women in their first quarter of pregnancy use lavender. Use of lavender for children under the age of three months is restricted.

Rainshadow Labs Specializes in Intuitive Essential Oils aromatherapy essential oils, essential oils and wholesale soap making supplies. We are passionate about Oraganic Essential Oils and soap and candle making, and we love to help people feel and look young again. Come visit anytime.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jackson_Charles_Brown/606833

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A Healthy Breakfast   by Dominic Reigns

The most undeniable fact which many of you will accept is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Since ages, people highlights the importance of breakfast at the start of the, in order to keep you moving and active for the entire day. A healthy breakfast in the beginning of the day not only provides energy but many health benefits are also linked with it. These health benefits range from healthy weight management to better performance of mind and body. Many researches have been carried out to gauge the effectiveness of having a healthy breakfast, which have proven to be beneficial for people at different age. One of the researches have shown that students who eat healthy breakfast, tends to perform better in their studies and sports in comparison with others who do not do so. Such students display more alertness in their class rooms with better eye-hand coordination, problem solving skills and concentration. Some of the amazing health benefits of eating healthy breakfast are discussed over here:

Performance:

The cognitive performance of individuals gets improved by eating breakfast daily. Especially younger children have exhibited high test scores and achievements in their studies. Another significance of having breakfast is that employees are found with decreased ratio of absenteeism and less tardiness at workplace. At workplace, the decision making and problem solving abilities of individuals are also improved in those who consume healthy meal before going to work.

Concentration:

A well balanced breakfast enables individuals to display better concentration towards their tasks. Including low-glycemic diet in your breakfast will help individuals in improving memory and also reduce signs of frustration among individuals. People can include oatmeal, scrambled eggs or a handful of walnuts in their breakfast menu that are preferred by many individuals.

Body weight:

It is possible to maintain a healthy weight by eating breakfast. Findings from various studies have stated that people who skipped their morning meal are more likely to overeat during their day which eventually leads towards weight gain and increased body mass.

Remember that healthy breakfast does not mean that you eat processed food containing high amounts of calories. It should be well balanced and contain foods that fulfill daily requirements of your body. You should try to include fruits, vegetables and dairy products in your diet which contain high amount of nutrition and fewer calories. Diet containing more fiber is also good as it will help you in digestion and also help in eliminating fat from your body.

http://goarticles.com/article/A-Healthy-Breakfast/9851161/