Did you know that the scent of peppermint can curb your appetite and relieve a headache?

It's true.

Curb Appetite: In a study from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia - People who regularly smelled peppermint ate 23 percent fewer calories per week.

Relieve Headache: In this double-blind study, researchers found that an ethanol solution containing 10% peppermint oil was as effective in relieving headache pain as 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. In another study, 32 people with headaches massaged peppermint oil on their temples. The results showed that the peppermint oil significantly relieved their pain.

I love all things peppermint. Here are some ways you can introduce the scent of peppermint into your daily life...

Peppermint Oil - Keep some in your purse or at your desk and smell it periodically throughout the day.

Enjoy a cup of Peppermint Tea.

Carry some peppermint gum or mints with you.

Grow your own peppermint.

Have a candy cane.

Bath & Body Works even has a Twisted Peppermint Christmas edition. You can get lotion, shower gel, body spray, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.

Another way to curb your appetite with peppermint is to brush your teeth. I know that sounds strange, but if you are in between meals and feeling hungry, try brushing your teeth. It really works.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan, Capessa Health, Women4Hope