For thousands of years, cultures around the world have used herbs and spices in meal preparation.  Along with adding wonderful flavours and aromas to common everyday foods, herbs and spices contain a wide range of healing and medicinal properties. 

Consuming herbs and spices is an excellent way to support your health naturally, bypassing the harmful side effects of conventional pharmaceutical medications.
 
The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the world's population depends on plants to treat common ailments.  Why not join the billions of people worldwide that are leveraging the power of herbs and spices to support their health and well-being?  Whether your preference is for some mild seasoning that subtly enhances your meal, or a stronger flavour that takes centre stage, there's an herb or spice that will appeal to your taste buds — here are 5 to consider. 

One of the great things about the human body is that it is an excellent communicator.  As you eat, drink, move, and engage with the world around you, your body responds.  If something isn't quite right, your body will find a way, whether subtly or dramatically, to let you know about it. 

This is excellent news, as it provides you with an opportunity to assess what is happening and make changes to improve the situation. 
 
One of the areas where your body sends clear, unmistakable messages to you is pertaining to your diet.  Here are 5 ways your body will let you know that your current diet isn't working for you and needs some changes.

There can be a lot of conflicting information when it comes to diet and nutrition, but there's one thing everyone agrees on:  leafy green vegetables are good for you, and the vast majority of us would benefit from getting more of these powerhouse, nutrient-packed foods in our daily diet. 

Leafy greens (e.g.:  spinach, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, etc.) provide a wide array of nutritional benefits.   These vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrient, polyphenols, antioxidants, and fibre. In short, they have all the good stuff your body needs for health and vitality.  And leafy greens are typically low in calories, so they're ideal for anyone trying to manage their weight. 

With all the myths and misconceptions about healthy eating, it's easy to feel a little apprehensive about trying to eat more healthfully.  If you think you need to resort to extreme measures or overhaul your entire diet overnight, that can seem overwhelming and  put you off before you've even started. 

And if you're anticipating that you'll need to cut out all your favourite foods or follow a set of rigid food rules, that's not very motivating or appealing, either.

In reality, healthy eating is not a rigid set of one-size-fits-all rules.  It doesn't have to be extreme in any way, and it shouldn't leave you feeling hungry or deprived from eating foods you enjoy. 

Here are 5 common misconceptions about healthy eating that hold people back from making changes.

The Christmas season offers a great opportunity for fun, festivities, and family, but the holidays can also leave you feeling tired and worn out as you head into the New Year.  January 24th is considered the most depressing day of the year, but the entire month of January can be hard to get through if you're feeling low, sluggish, and burned out.
 
The following tips will help you stay on track throughout the holidays, so you can be at your best and truly enjoy the season—without crashing afterwards.

Do you struggle with food cravings?  Do you find that once you start eating certain foods, it's incredibly hard to stop and you can't help but overeat?  Do you feel as if you're addicted to certain foods?  If you answered yes, you're not alone. 

But before you start getting down on yourself for your lack of willpower and self-discipline, consider what you're up against. 

There's a good chance the foods you're eating aren't "normal" foods.  You're probably eating hyper-palatable foods (HPF) that have been expertly manufactured to get you addicted and eating more.

Worldwide, a growing number of people are turning to surgical interventions to get rid of excess weight.   When routine diet efforts fail and the weight isn't budging, weight-loss surgery can start to look like a viable solution.  But is surgery really an effective solution when someone is battling a weight problem?  

The broad term "weight loss surgery" includes a variety of surgical procedures, most of which revolve around the same principle:  reducing stomach size so the person can't eat as much and feels full sooner.  Some of the ways this can be achieved include: 

For many people, store-bought cakes and pastries, donuts, muffins, cookies, and sugary drinks are their go-to choices when they're looking for a snack.  These foods are generally easy to access, and they're convenient in that they don't require any preparation.  They taste good, and they provide an energy boost, albeit short-lived.

However, these foods are  also highly processed, and when they start to make up a large or regular part of your diet, they detract from your overall health and well-being.

As the days get shorter and the weather cools, many people lose their taste for light summer salads, and start gravitating towards traditional comfort foods like potatoes, pasta, cakes, and cookies.  But over time, overindulging in these foods can throw off your eating plan, and you can quickly find yourself carrying around some extra unwanted pounds . 
 
To protect both your health and your waistline, try replacing those summer salads with these hearty fall vegetables.  They provide a variety of nutrients, offering protection against cancer and other diseases.  And there are plenty of options for preparing them, so they can easily be adapted to anyone's taste.   

There's no one diet plan that's going to be a perfect fit for everyone.  We all have different needs and preferences, and there can be all kinds of limits on what foods we have access to.  Having said that, there's plenty of evidence suggesting plant-based diets support overall health and longevity, while decreasing your risk for a wide range of diseases. 
 
Whether you're considering switching to a vegetarian diet for improved health, due to ethical concerns, or for any other reason, here are 7 tips to help you make the transition in a healthy way.