YOU, HEALTHIER & HAPPIER

The key to feeling amazing? Enjoying your favorite fall spices!

- BRENDA KEARNS

Boost joy with nutmeg sniffs

It’s easy to feel gloomy when the days are cold and the skies are dreary. Thankfully, breathing in the comforting aroma of nutmeg can cheer you up in minutes, plus help prevent the winter doldrums if you do it daily. Brazilian researchers credit myristicin, a sweet-smelling nutmeg compound that soaks easily into brain cells and prompts the release of the happiness hormone serotonin. To infuse your home with this lovely scent, gently simmer 1 tsp. of ground nutmeg in 2 cups of water on the stove.

OR SPARKLE: Working a little glitter into your day (by choosing a sweater with a pretty sheen, wearing a glittery bracelet or reaching for a coffee mug with a glossy finish) can cheer you up in seconds. A French study found that looking at materials that reflect light stimulates key brain regions that quickly increase your focus and good cheer.

➤ Keep your heart strong with a sprinkle of cinnamon