A Christmas Potpourri From NutraIngredients

Nutraingredients.com offers some Christmas cheer -- of sorts -- this week, in the form of several holiday-related stories worth reading.

1) Why are certain spices (such as cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and ginger) associated with Christmas? The historical reason is a mixture of scarcity and decadence, allied with the desire to treat oneself at Christmas.

2) While they delight most, the tastes and smells of traditional Christmas may produce hives, sneezes and cold sweats in others!

3) Finally, some sobering holiday-party advice: There is no compelling evidence to show that hangover cures or preventative remedies actually work, say researchers.