"I lost 22 lbs in a month"

Discover the essential oil secret that helps women like Anita Lesko melt 400% more fat-without dieting

- ALLISON NEMETZ

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas, which is a pretty magical thing all on its own. And there's now evidence that holiday scents can help us quadruple fat loss-with no bah-humbug diet required! "Your sense of smell is hardwired directly to the brain, and an immediate physical response is stimulated when you inhale something," notes Eric Zielinski, D.C., author of The Essential Oils Apothecary. "You can create a wonderful cascade of benefits." The doc often sees people greatly improve overall health and effortlessly drop 10 pounds in 30 days using his essential oil guidelines. As for Florida reader Anita Lesko, 65, "Aromatherapy helped me lose 98 pounds and reverse my diabetes," she says. Read on for Anita's inspiring story and to learn how aromatherapy might help you.

What sets essential oils apart from artificial fragrance? They're made by steaming or pressing plant matter like flowers and bark, so they contain no dangerous synthetic chemicals. "When fewer toxins get into the body, it's better for well-being and also makes it easier to burn fat," says Dr. Zielinski, known as Dr. Z. He adds that it takes up to 380 pounds of herbs or 100 citrus rinds to make an ounce of essential oil. "So one drop can contain enough bioactive compounds to help us relax, heal and trigger metabolic effects that aid in weight loss."

Essential oils can be inhaled, eaten or applied to skin. For best results, opt for therapeutic oil ($5 and up at superstores). They must be diluted or used in a well-ventilated area to avoid causing irritation. Dr. Z likes aromatherapy inhalers (kits on Amazon start at $10). You add 15 to 20 drops of oil to a cotton wick in a small glass tube; the tube fits inside a stainless steel container with a cap. Drop it in your pocket and sniff on the go! Festive scents are a great place to start...

Seasonal scents to try

• Peppermint kills hunger