Most of us truly enjoy adding lots of spices and herbs to our cooking. It may or may not surprise you that spices not only add flavor to our meals but also offer incredible health benefits.

Did you know that herbs and spices are not the same thing? I never knew this till quite recently. I thought the answer was far more exotic, but in actuality it is quite simple.

Herbs are simply the leaves of the plant while spices come from the roots, bark and seeds. Some plants can be used as both, like cilantro. Cilantro is what we call the leaf of the cilantro plant, while coriander is the name of the seeds.

Next time you add a spice or an herb to your cooking routine, you can think of the wonderful health benefits you are enjoying.

You may grow your own spices and herbs or use the dry version, the most popular for ease and shelf life. Having an herb garden is a fun hobby and provides you with fresh herbs, always superior in taste and texture.

Here are 10 of my favorite herbs and spices, but the actual list is much longer.

Basil

Many people use basil in their daily food preparation. This herb is often associated with tomatoes as the two love each other. Basil livens up many Italian dishes as well as casseroles, soups and salads. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals.

Coriander / Cilantro

There is definitely a difference in texture and taste between coriander and cilantro. Coriander comes from the seeds and cilantro from the leaves of the same plant.

Cilantro is commonly used to flavor many Mexican salsas, soups and other dishes, while the coriander seeds are a different and tasty addition to soups, salads and curries.

Adding chopped cilantro to a healthy dip of sour cream and a little mayonnaise will greatly increase the flavor. Cilantro is rich in Vitamin K and potassium and is reported to help strengthen the bones.

Cumin

Another popular spice for Mexican dishes, soups and stews is Cumin. Try adding a teaspoon or more of cumin to deliver a pungent and delicious taste to chili and curry dishes. Cumin is an excellent source of B vitamins and is an aid to digestive health.

Fennel

A fresh fennel bulb, has a distinct licorice flavor. It looks like celery but possesses a totally different taste. I add this particular spice along with other herbs in curry dishes and sometimes soups and salads.

Fennel has a lot of dietary fiber, acts as a diuretic and can help keep balance in your digestive system. Try some Fennel tea when you have a stomach ache or constipation, and I have proof that it really works.

Garlic

I absolutely love garlic, though it often does not love me back, given its ‘bad breath’ fame! Garlic adds a lot of culinary excitement to a variety of dishes, both in flavor and depth.

It is reported to be a great boost for the immune system, containing anti-bacterial properties as well as lots of vitamins and minerals.

Ginger

Ginger is mostly known for its anti-nausea support. It often helps you avoid that really sick feeling during a long car ride or boat ride if you are susceptible to motion sickness. I grate or slice fresh ginger root and add to many sauces, curries, soups and stir-fries. It is loaded with lots of vitamins, minerals and vitamin B complex.

Oregano

There are several types of oregano available. If you have a green thumb you might want to experiment growing a few different types. It is very hearty and grows easily, and you’ll always have some handy to spice up your cooking.

Oregano is integral to Italian and Mexican dishes. It can be used for respiratory issues and also aids digestion. Happily, many farmers are getting on the bandwagon and are now using oregano for their animals in lieu of traditional antibiotics.

Rosemary

I love the aroma of chicken baking with lots of Rosemary spread all over. The flavor it adds to meat, pork, lamb and many veggies is delightful. This spice blends well with a variety of other spices.

Rosemary possesses anti-inflammatory properties, aids digestion and circulation, as well as a host of other conditions. To boot, it is reported to nourish dry and dull hair.

Tarragon

Tarragon is the main spice in Béarnaise sauce. This aromatic herb is popular in meat dishes and herb butters. It is rich in antioxidants and minerals, as well as vitamins A and C. It is considered an herb as the leaves are primarily used.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an amazing spice that fights inflammation, offers brain support and can ease aching muscles. To get the most benefit from Turmeric there should be a large percentage of curcumin in the blend you purchase.

Check the Turmeric you buy as there are many blends on the market and most lack curcumin. Purchase a well-known brand and best choose organic. I use fresh, raw turmeric root in cooking or purchase the best organic brand. When using Turmeric always add black pepper as it activates the potency of this herb.

What are some spices you use in different dishes? Have you made any unique discoveries about spices and herbs? Please share in the comments below!

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

I stood, wobbling on inline skates, in the bright Colorado sunshine, balancing precariously on the asphalt of a large movie theatre. Good thing the lot was empty as I needed plenty of room.

I had brought pads,
but my teacher was so confident that I would never, ever, ever fall that she
insisted I leave them in the trunk.

Be careful who you
listen to: your intuition or an overconfident teacher.

My Unfortunate but Illustrative Story

Let’s set the
stage. I’m about as graceful as a dyslexic camel who’s had several bottles of
vodka. You put me on skates at 62, which I was at the time, and this is a setup
for comedy.

The first few
minutes went well. I work hard at my balance, am not a horrific athlete, but
learning to skate this late? Well.

My teacher, pleased
with my progress, turned her back on me for a moment.

Right about then, I
windmilled my arms, my feet went flying, and I went down hard on my coccyx.

I let fly with some
colorful verbage that drew the attention of a few folks who were on the nearby
path. They were skating. I was hurting.

She apologized. I
got back up. Breathed. We tried again.

As soon as I built
up some momentum, for some reason, she turned her back on me once again. I
windmilled and fell.

This time, too
hard. I had really hurt my pelvis. As I lay there looking up at the fluffy
clouds, with this woman standing next to me, mad that I had fallen on her
watch, I considered what I had just done.

The word (stupid)
comes to mind.

I laughed, cried,
laughed, and cried again. Screamed when I tried to move. Laughed again.

When I went to my
sports chiropractor, he intoned that I would develop arthritis in both my hips.
I had lost about 30% of my range of motion (ROM).

Not one to accept
such proclamations, I went home, dug out a set of yoga DVDs (Shiva Rea, which
is on the background as I write this), and went to work.

Three weeks later,
he was shocked. I had gained even more ROM than from before the accident. Nice
outcome, but I sure paid for it. The gift of my dumb move: I am now a serious
yoga practitioner.

Health Condition Matters

As I age, and I am now 69, I do pretty extraordinary adventure travel. A couple of years ago I spent four weeks in the extreme Canadian wilderness. On that trip I met two friends, 65 and 67 respectively, who had taken on far more than they could handle.

One hated horses.
Why she would sign up for a wilderness trip involving horses when she hates
them is beyond me. She couldn’t ride, wasn’t in shape for the extreme
conditions, brought clothing that belonged on a cruise ship, and got herself
injured almost immediately.

She claimed all
kinds of athletic ability that she clearly did not have. May have once had, but
not now. That’s a mistake that many of us make.

Her friend, who
does yoga, is not a rider. She is a rookie, and holds her reins the way a
socialite might hold an expensive pair of evening gloves. She adores horses,
and insisted on riding Riley, a huge half Percheron, who is also green. Because
of that, dangerous, if you’re not a skilled rider.

At one point, Riley
took off at a hard gallop. I was right on their heels, watching this sweet
woman be whipped around like a Raggedy Ann doll.

As we zigzagged
through the dense forest, the inevitable happened. She was thrown hard into the
dense bush. Riley disappeared. I pulled to a stop a few feet away, blew my
whistle for help.

She was covered in
grass, a few scratches. Hurt her back a bit. Again, she does yoga, and kindly,
let me remind all of you, this can indeed save you even if you don’t insist on
riding a green horse. She was monumentally fortunate.

About Comfort Zones and Boundaries

I am all for pushing our boundaries. But let’s not be foolish. Age, disease, illness, sarcopenia, lung capacity loss all weigh in what you and I can do now.

If we train regularly,
we can stave off, but not prevent, the inevitable declines of age. What’s so
very important is to do an honest self-assessment. If your adventure is
physical, get a checkup. Understand your limitations; we all have them, and
likely a few more at this age.

If you insist on
taking on an adventure, the way these two women of age did, it would make sense
to do some serious preparation. As in, learning far better riding skills, and
not demanding a horse just because you happen to like his looks.

For example, there
are horses I love to look at and admire but which, even though I am an advanced
rider, I know damned well would not be a good idea. This is how people get
badly injured or killed.

Both of these women
presented a liability to the others in the group, and to the guides, who had 23
horses, seven riders and a massive number of moving parts to manage in the
middle of some 60 million hectares of pristine wilderness. No roads. No phones.
No nothing. You see what I mean.

Know Your Limitations and Work on Them Wisely

This isn’t so much
a criticism of these women. Both made it out all right. It is, however, fair
warning to all of us to perhaps be a touch more mindful when the passion hits
to push our boundaries to a new level.

It is also a
statement of the hubris to which we are all subject when we are not honest
about what we can and cannot do as we are today, right now. As I age, I note,
not without some sadness (and humor, let’s be fair), that there are some things
that are best left to others. Like, inline skating, for example.

That said, the
beauty of our bodies is that if you work at it (and again, I will support
Gentle Yoga), begin where you are, and take steps that better fit your
personality and your fitness level, it’s amazing where you can go.

Erase your
boundaries. Please. But let’s be mindful so as not to erase ourselves along the
way.

What big
adventure, change, or challenge did you take lately? What did you do and how
did you prepare? What tips might you have for others considering taking a risk?
Please share with our community!

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.