- Are you f
amiliar with star anise? Although it has a similar taste to anise, which is oftentimes used in pizzelles or biscotti, it comes from a different plant. Anise has a licorice flavor and is used in French, Italian and Greek foods and liquors. Star anise also has a licorice flavor but is used mainly in Asian dishes. I learned recently that star anise has many therapeutic benefits. Used as a tea it can provide relief from nausea, diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, coughing and even insomnia. It’s also a diuretic. You can purchase the tea ready to use or make from the seeds. Add one tablespoon of crushed seeds to two cups of boiling water and let simmer for five minutes.
- Don’t toss the parsley garnish. You see, parsley is more than just something to make a dish look attractive — it’s full of antioxidants and supports telomeres. Used daily it provides protection against cancer, Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration and cataracts. It’s also great for your skin because of the high Vitamin A content. So throw some in your smoothie, your salads and any dish you can think of … you’ll be glad you did.
- Scientists have discovered that, with training, we can rewire the neural pathways in the brain which can lead to a happier life. It takes conscious effort, but every time you change your emotion from anxiety, anger or fear to compassion, joy or gratitude you create new emotional pathways. There are several ways to do this. One is when you start to feel angry or have a negative emotion, take a few breaths and cultivate passion for others. Doing this every time will start a new pathway and habit. Daily meditation of 5-10 minutes and a gratitude journal are also ways to rewire your brain. Feeling happy is the best anti-aging medicine. It just makes sense — when you feel good you look good.
Have a great week!
To a healthy more beautiful you!
Sandy DeRose
References:
Sun JY., Et. al. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of 3,4-oxo-isopropylidene-shikimic acid. Pharm Biol. October 2016.
Tang EL., Et. al. Petroselinum crispum has antioxidant properties, protects against DNA damage and inhibits proliferation and migration of cancer cells. J Sci Food Agric. October 2015.
Patt Lind-Kyle. Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain: Applying the Exciting New Science of Brain Synchrony for Creativity, Peace and Presence. July 2010.
Sylvia Huang. How to Rewire Your Brain for Happiness. World of Psychology. 2016.
