A Tasty Way to Reduce Wrinkles

By Kelley Herring

Do you want people to do a double-take when you reveal your real age? Then do this: Eat cinnamon and cloves.

Recent research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that these spices - which are often used in holiday goodies - not only provide antioxidants but also significant protection against the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

And "AGE" is certainly an apt acronym. You see, AGEs trigger the body's defense arsenal and lead to inflammation and tissue damage. This results in lines on your face, inflexible arteries, and a host of other metabolic consequences.

So, how do you get the most out of these age-defying spices?

The first rule is this: The fresher the flavor, the more benefits. The researchers found a direct correlation between the phenol content in the spices and their ability to block AGEs. And since phenols are destroyed by light, heat, and exposure to air, keep your spices in a cool dark place for maximum potency.

Plus when you bake with these spices, make sure you use a safe sweetener too (i.e., one that does not spike blood sugar and promote AGEs), like erythritol or stevia.

[Ed. Note: Survive the holidays with nutrition expert Kelley Herring's brand-new recipe e-books, Guilt-Free Desserts and Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres. You'll find 60+ healthy recipes you can easily make at home.]

It's Fun to Know: The Origin of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, as we celebrate it today, did not originate with the special event we know and love. There were several "thanksgiving" feasts held in early colonial days, including the most famous one at Plymouth.

Most historians agree that the holiday grew out of a combination of the religious tradition of New England Puritans, which was more a day of prayer than of feasting, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England.

Thanksgivings were celebrated sporadically (on different days of the year) throughout the colonial era and in the early days of the United States. Abraham Lincoln officially decreed the last Thursday of November to be a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. His proclamation played a dual role. It was also a call for unity during the Civil War.

(Source: History.com)

Word to the Wise: Postprandial

Something that's "postprandial" (post-PRAN-dee-ul) - from the Latin for "a late breakfast or lunch" - happens or is done after a meal.

Example (as used by Sylvan Fox in Newsday): "When I wake up in the morning, I can have my usual breakfast - a slightly bizarre concoction of three kinds of cold cereal topped with grapes and a cup of decaf - and then stagger back to bed for a postprandial snooze."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2524, 11-27-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.