Each November, as I begin to embrace the colder weather and longer nights, I am beckoned by comfort foods containing rosemary and oregano. I’ve attributed this “magnetism to herbs” to my Italian heritage and to a seasonal shift in my taste buds from sweet to savory. Recently, I have added rosemary to my routine in an unusual way, by dropping its essential oil onto my head.

Historically, the cold autumn weather would lay to rest the fruits of summer and, along with it, our sweet tooth. Our taste buds would shift from a hankering for ripe apples, pears and plums to the heartier carrots, squash and onions. However, with year-round availability of fruit and sweets – and sinister holiday treats – cravings for sugar intensify rather than wane.

One of my earliest memories of health was my dad’s diagnosis with familial hypercholesterolemia – a fancy way of saying that his high cholesterol is genetic. I remember dad wearing matching workout suits to the gym and dramatically changing his diet per his doctor’s orders. A six-month no-avocado, no-egg, no-elk diet cast an ominous cloud over the household...