Here’s a neat article about 10 superfood spices and herbs that are easy to include in your diet. I’ve been trying to eat whole foods as much as possible instead of using vitamins to make up for eating badly.

Some people are intimidated by fresh herbs. They’re pretty easy. Just pull off the leaves, discard the stems, and chop a little for big flavor, a lot for milder flavor. This is because the oils usually carry most of the flavor, and all natural oils evaporate. So the more you chop, the more the oils dissipate.

I don’t use all of the herbs listed in the article, but some are quite easy to use regularly. I grate a teaspoon of ginger and add boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain and add honey for ginger tea in the morning. I coat chicken breast with a simple combination of salt and dried thyme just before cooking, or sometimes substitute oregano, rosemary, or basil, for a fantastically easy and flavorful effect. Cayenne, cumin and turmeric go into mulligatawny stew.

Parsley and cilantro aren’t on the list, but they also have great health benefits. You can chop them fresh and top your sandwich, potatoes, soup or salad. I think you’ll be surprised at the punch of flavor they add. Cilantro is a nice balance to anything with a spicy heat, for instance on top of curry, or in guacamole. You can slip parsley in with whatever you are putting into your juicer or smoothie for a superfood boost. Among other things, parsley is rich in vitamins C, A, and K. You can read more about parsley’s benefits here.

I want to try to start using more cinnamon and cloves because of their great health benefits, but am not quite sure how to make that happen yet.

Ideas, anyone?