A good reason to keep the candy canes

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Candy Canes Fight Germs, Settle Stomachs Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News e-mail share bookmark print To email this article, type in your friend's name and email address, your name and email address, and a message. Then click "submit." Friend's name: Friend's email: Your name: Your email: Optional Message: Message Sent! email sent - confirmed close Yahoo! Buzz del.icio.us Digg Mixx MySpace Newsvine Reddit close Candy Canes A New Use for an Old Favorite | Discovery News Video I knew there had to be a good reason to eat the candy canes. Dec. 24, 2008 -- New studies on peppermint, the key flavoring in traditional candy canes, reveal the herb may do everything from kill germs to treat digestive troubles. Some researchers now advise consumers to eat a tablespoon or more of fresh peppermint, and other green herbs, daily. Peppermint oil, found in most candy canes, also appears to have health benefits. A recent British Medical Journal study, led by McMaster University researcher Alex Ford, concludes that peppermint oil should be the first line of defense against irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterized by abdominal pain and irregular bowels that affects between 5 to 20 percent of the population. Peppermint oil, and other potent essential oils, may even one day be wafted in their vapor form over food to prevent the growth of bacteria.