Honey for Health

Home and Herbal Remedies for Hemorrhoids Treatment

2008-08-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hemorrhoids are the inflamed condition of the veins inside or outside the rectum also known as piles. It is associated with pain, itching and bleeding. Piles can be defined as the enlarged and swollen blood vessels in or around the anus region. The condition is common among all age groups but the most sufferers are women during their pregnancy time.

Causes of Piles

* Constipation
* Pregnancy- due to increased blood flow.
* Overeating of low fibre diet
* Heavy lifting jobs
* Chronic diarrhe
* Excessive intake of spices and condiments.

Home Remedies for Piles

* Dry figs are most important food remedy for piles. 3-4 figs should be soaked overnight in water and taken empty stomach in morning along with the water in which they were soaked.
* Mango seeds are effective remedy for bleeding piles. The seeds should be dried and powdered and can be taken in the doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without honey.
* White radish is considered highly valuable in the treatment of piles. Grated radish mixed with honey can be taken.
* White radish juice with a pinch of salt is beneficial. It should be taken in doses of 70-90 ml in the morning and evening.
* Make a paste of well-grounded radish with milk and apply over piles to get relief from pain and swelling.
* Cold-water treatment helps the veins to shrink and tones up the walls. The treatment should be taken twice in a day by sitting in a tub filled with cold-water up to the chin level.
* Cold compress applied to the rectal area for about an hour before going to bed at night is very beneficial.
* Yogic kriyas like jalneti and vamandhouti are beneficial.
* Various yogasanas such as sarvangasana, vipritakarani, halsana and gomukhasana are useful. Sarvangasana is beneficial as it drains the stagnant blood from the anus.
* A cup of milk boiled with mashed banana and taken thrice a day is beneficial.
* The jambul fruit is also effective food remedy. The fruits should be taken with salt every morning for 3-4 months in the season.
* Make a mixture of half-teaspoon fresh ginger juice, half-teaspoon fresh limejuice, a tablespoon honey, and a half-teaspoon mint leaves and take this mixture once in a day.

What Our Ancestors Can Teach Us About Natural Supplements

2008-08-13T03:04:00.000-07:00

Humans have existed on our planet for much longer than pharmaceutical companies; thus, it makes perfect sense to ask the question, “Are there natural healing methods, like those of nutritional supplements and vitamins groups, which work just as well for some individuals as prescription drugs?”

The answer is a resounding YES.

Though advertising agencies working on behalf of popular medicines would have you believe otherwise, there are many natural healing methods that work to heal some common conditions, including depression, high blood pressure, acne, high cholesterol, and weight problems. Below, we’ll look at a few “miracle ingredients” that are found in nature, and vitamin nutritional supplements, but not in a laboratory.

Soy

There’s a reason you’re seeing a great deal of soy on the market; it’s because the general population has finally embraced this natural healing ingredient and nutritional supplement. Not only is it valuable if you’re embarking on a vegan or vegetarian diet (it packs a punch with protein and “good” fats), but it can round out any other diet rich in vitamins and minerals too.

It’s also excellent for people with allergies to milk; ironically, many individuals don’t realize that they have those reactions to dairy products! Thus, they assume their discomfort, bloating, irritability, depression, energy loss, and weight gain must be attributed to something else and they wind up overmedicating when all they needed to do was substitute soy products for milk-based ones. Truly, this is one natural healing method that has far-reaching implications, whether in the diet or as part of a nutritional supplement or multi vitamin(http://www.mitamins.com).

Fish

Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are natural healers in their own rights. Though they might contain more calories than their white, flaky counterparts, the oils in their bodies can help keep high blood pressure and high cholesterol at bay.

Studies have shown that people who adopt a diet that includes several servings of heart-healthy fatty fish per week tend to lose weight, lower their cholesterol levels, lower their high blood pressure, and (in some cases) experience less “brain fog” (often a symptom of depression and lethargy). The next time you head to the grocery, opt for some bluefish instead of hamburger for a natural healing method that tastes wonderful and will make your body feel amazing day after day. Alternatively, if you just can’t stand the taste of fish, the healthy oils contained in fish can also be bought as nutritional supplements(http://www.mitamins.com). They can also be incorporated into a general, daily, multi vitamin or dietary supplement(http://www.mitamins.com).

Honey

It’s sweet. It’s delicious. It’s also a powerful weapon against scars and infection when it comes to smaller cuts. Honey contains natural healing properties that make it a perfect (and less expensive) alternative to creams and ointments. Even the Egyptians knew of honey’s power, and would create poultices from this ingredient to use as a natural healing method.

The next time you have a surface cut or scrape on your body, rub a little honey on it before applying a bandage and see what happens. The honey will act as a natural healer, keeping infection at bay and allowing your body to heal itself rapidly.

Additionally, many people with skin problems such as eczema and blemishes swear by homemade masks created from honey and oatmeal. They might look a bit silly when applied, but they serve to help exfoliate and soothe irritated skin as a natural healing method.

Remember – our ancestors lived with many of the conditions that still plague us today, without suffering vitamin deficiencies. Don’t dismiss their natural healing methods or natural “nutritional supplements,” as they just might be what you need to solve your health dilemmas.

by mitamins

Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

2008-08-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose.

Causes of diabetes

Hereditary or Inherited Traits : It is strongly believed that is due to some genes which passes from one generation to another. It depends upon closeness of blood relationship as mother is diabetes risk is 2 to 3%, father is diabetic risk is more than the previous case and if both the parents are diabetic, it has much greater risk for diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus:Polydipsia is a classic finding with diabetes mellitus — a consequence of the hyperosmolar state. Other characteristic findings include polyuria, polyphagia, nocturia, weakness, fatigue, and weight loss. Signs of dehydration may occur.

Hypertension : It had been reported in many studies that there is direct relation between high systolic pressure and diabetes.
Obesity: is also one of the major factors causing diabetes. Excessive body weight as compared to the height of an individual, serves as a predisposing factor for diabetes mellitus. It is commonly seen in patients at 40 years of age suffering from Type 2 Non-Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Due to extra amount of fat in the body, the insulin does not function properly in the body. Normally, the main function of Insulin is to allow the sugar present in the blood to enter the muscle and tissue cells. But due to increased fat in the body, the muscle and tissue cells become resistant to insulin, leading to high blood sugar level in blood (hyperglycemia) and finally diabetes.

Number of genes:Many genes are involved in controlling our fuel intake and regulation. A mutation in any one gene will probably not lead to diabetes, but mutations in several genes could add up to pose an increased risk.

Symptoms of diabetes

• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Unquenchable Thirst

Treatment of diabetes

Diabetes Exercise
Exercise techniques to enhance your life! Information on the best exercises for people with diabetes and motivational advice.

Medications. Insulin and oral diabetes medications deliberately work to lower your blood sugar. But medications you take for other conditions may affect glucose levels. Corticosteroids, in particular, may raise blood sugar levels. Medications such as thiazides, used to control high blood pressure, and niacin, used for high cholesterol, also may increase blood sugar. If you need to take certain high blood pressure medications, your doctor will likely make changes in your diabetes treatment.

Insulin injections:Even when diabetes pills do work, there may be the need to take insulin. And, because diabetes pills may help the body use insulin better, some physicians combine them with insulin injections in people
Controlled diet:Food raises blood sugar levels. People with diabetes have the same nutritional needs as anyone else, that is to say, a well-balanced diet.

by petersams

Diabetes and high blood pressure

2008-08-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know that people with diabetes are more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A good percentage of overweight people are likely to have a few metabolic problems at once, this in turn can lead to other problems like heart disease. The term Cardiometabolic Risk means that if you have one of these problems you are at higher risk of having others. If you feel you are overweight it is best to go and check yourself out at you local G.P. and see if you have any of the following problems:

High Blood Pressure - high blood pressure and diabetes have always been linked together. If you have high blood pressure you are more likely to get heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. At least 35% of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.

Blood fats - Your body stores fat for future energy. A lot of these fats are good for the body but fats such as Triglycerides can lead to a heart attack if levels are to high.

Insulin resistance - Insulin helps the cells in the body to use sugar, Insulin resistance occurs when the cells no longer respond well to insulin.

Obesity - If you are overweight you are more likely to get type 2 diabetes. A body mass index of 25 is considered overweight, a BMI of 30 is considered obese.

If you have pre-diabetes and are afraid of developing type 2 diabetes there is some good news. You will have to make some changes though, your diet will have to change as well as doing more exercise. By having a better diet and doing 30 minutes a day of light exercise you are likely to make a 60% reduction in your chance of getting type 2 diabetes. A good nutritional diet is best, by eating healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, whole grain foods, dried beans, fish, light meats, non-fat dairy products and lots of water, this will help reduce the risk. Base your diet around these foods and as always eat in moderation, eat to much of anything and you are going to gain weight.

Submitted by Ianben

Sign of High Blood Sugar

2008-08-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

The tell tale signs of high blood sugar are pretty much exclusive to the domain of unfortunate individuals known as diabetics.
The disease furthur divides into sub catagories of type 1, type 2 and gestational but never the less, the signs remain the same across the board. Anyone who is a diabetic will more than likely have experienced the signs of high blood sugar more than once so they will read nothing new here, except maybe a little extra clarification.

To anyone who has been feeling a little strange and whose family has a history of diabetes, you will do well to have yourself checked out by a professional, just to be on the safe side.
The tests are relatively inexpensive, quick and painless, so there really is nothing to worry about but on the upside you could be saving yourself a lot of trouble in the future by getting yourself looked at now.

So, what are the signs of high blood sugar? There are quite a few but the main ones are the real alarm bells as so to speak.

1. Continual tingling sensation in your hands and feet, mark my words, you will know if you have it. It feels like a heart beat in your hands. That sounds a little ridiculous but if the time comes, you will know.

2. Teeth remain sticky no matter how much you clean them. This is due the excess sugar continually circulating in your system and pouring out into your saliva.

3. Blurry or misty vision with a tingling sensation around the eyelids. Again, this has to do with the excess sugar flooding your body and literally finding its way everywhere.

4. Another symptom of high blood sugar that should be kept vigilance over, is poor healing. As your blood thickens, the smaller capillaries closer to your skins surface have a hard time receiving fresh blood and so healing is hampered. Diabetics are known for experiencing trouble with there feet. Small cuts and sores can take a lot longer to heal with advanced complications leading to gangrene and amputation.

5. The number one tell tale sign of high blood sugar, Frequent thirst. This is probably the most noticable of all the symptoms. It is not just a need for an extra glass or two of water, like how you feel on a hot day. This is far more ravenous. Continual need for liquids throughout the entire day and night, an insatiable beast that knows no bounds. This will be extremely appararent if or when the time comes.

Types of Diabetes

2008-08-13T02:48:00.000-07:00

There are two different types of diabetes; Type I and Type II. Type I Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and very young adults. Type I Diabetes differs from Type II in that a person with Type I Diabetes does not produce insulin at all and insulin is needed to take sugar from the blood into the cells. Type I diabetes years ago used to be called Juvenile Diabetes as it was diagnosed in children at early ages. The symptoms of Type I and Type II Diabetes are very similar, frequent urination, frequent thirst, excessive hunger are three of the most common symptoms.

A person with Type I Diabetes must be on insulin for the rest of his or her life. This does not mean that they cannot lead a long, productive life. In fact, people who are diagnosed young in life become accustomed to the treatment and are generally more compliant than those who are diagnosed with Type II diabetes later in life and who tend to ignore many treatment options.

Years ago, a child who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes had to inject himself every day with insulin to remain alive. Today, however, insulin pumps are available that make daily injections a thing of the past. A person with Type I diabetes, as is the case with those with Type II diabetes, has to watch their diet and avoid certain foods high in sugar and starch.

In 1981, the Glycemic Index was developed at the University of Toronto that rated those foods diabetics should avoid on a scale system. Some foods were very high on the scale and took a longer time to process in the system, causing more strain on the kidneys and adverse affects on insulin. Other foods were low on the scale and digested at a slower pace. For years, it was commonly assumed that sweets were the cause of diabetes and that these were the only foods to be avoided. With the advent of the Glycemic Index as well as other medical studies, it became apparent that sweets were not the only foods to avoid. As a matter of fact, a baked potato, often seen as a nutritional substance, is actually more harmful than a candy bar to a diabetic.

Carbohydrates are the bane to diabetics, and this is the food group rated on the Glycemic Index. People with Type I and Type II diabetes must limit their intake of carbohydrates. Certain carbohydrates, those rated low on the Glycemic Index, can be taken in smaller quantities. Those on the high scale should be avoided at all cost.

People with Type II diabetes are generally diagnosed later in life. This condition often effects older people and those who are obese. The incidents of Type II diabetes has mirrored incidents of obesity in the United States and most in the medical community agree that there is a clear link to obesity and the development of this disease. People with Type II diabetes do not process enough insulin to break down the glucose in their system and cause their kidneys to work overtime in getting rid of the waste. While some people with Type II diabetes are prescribed insulin, most are started on a regiment of medication and a good low GI diet and more exercise.

Physicians generally hope that by taking medication as prescribed, exercising, eating the right foods and monitoring their blood glucose levels, they can avoid the use of insulin. In many cases, patients are very successful at maintaining good blood sugar levels by modifying their diet, exercising and losing weight. Others who are not successful usually end up taking insulin.

As with both Type I and Type II diabetes, there are complications. These complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and skin disorders can be avoided if patients comply with the instructions of their physician, learn about their disease and do all they can to manage it. Diabetes is far from a death sentence. With proper maintenance, those with Type I and Type II diabetes can live long and happy lives.

Help Yourself to a Good Night's Sleep with Natural Remedies by Keira Adams

2008-07-27T00:09:00.001-07:00

Do you have trouble dropping off to sleep? Is your mind going over the occurrences of the day? Are you panicking that you don't have enough time to do all you have to do tomorrow? Are you faced with a deadline to get a job done? Are any or all of these things keeping you from getting good nights sleep?

If so, there are numerous natural sleep remedies which can help you so let's take a look at them in detail.

A cup of chamomile tea, which is made from an herb effective in treating insomnia, enjoyed before bed time will soothe and calm you. The well known combination of milk and honey, although old, is a great way of activating the sleep process, as does drinking a glass of lukewarm milk.

The central nervous system can be depressed by the herb lavender in a similar way to antidepressants and a cup of mint tea can put you to sleep quicker than you can blink.

Lemon balm tea works as a fast stimulant to get you relaxed and induce a calm sleep. Don't let the word stimulant worry you. There are many stimulants which work in the opposite way to those that fill you with energy.

Although herbs have a great value as aids to sleep there are other things you can do to ensure restful and unbroken sleep. Try not to nap during the daytime, cut out the caffeine before going to bed and avoid alcohol and medications which are known to disrupt your sleep patterns.

The fault could possibly lie with the mattress you are using. Is it old and past its best? If this is the case then treat yourself to a new one or even buy a topper for your existing mattress from anywhere selling bedding and blankets.

Doing a spot of yoga prior to going to bed can be of great value. All you have to do is sit quietly and calmly for fifteen minutes, allowing your body to relax completely before you retire. Gentle background music or sounds of nature may be just what you need to prepare you for sleep so give this a try too.

Get rid of any anxiety you are feeling by letting go of the stresses of the day. Think peaceful thoughts about a time and place where you were at your happiest.

Press the off button on the TV remote or try reading a book you have unsuccessfully attempted to get into before. If it is so boring, you are sure to begin to feel sleepy. Lay back in the darkness and relax. Forget about tomorrow. You can think about what awaits when you wake in the morning after a great night's sleep.

Chinese Medicines For Aging by David Klein

2008-07-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

Aging is a natural process. But that doesn't mean you would just have to sit back and let it take its toll on your face. There are ways you can delay the signs of aging. And it is all but a matter of using the right procedure for it. When it comes to aging, it is best that you use the most natural of ingredients available to you for a no side effect guarantee. Most Chinese medicines used for aging are derived from nature itself. You are free to try it and make wrinkles disappear from your face.

Duanwood Reishi is a Chinese herb that you will find as the main ingredient of most Chinese formula for aging. Its anti-aging properties can help subtract years from your face with regular use. But aside from that, this herb can also increase your vitality, as well as improve your mental focus. It can also make your immunity stronger and initiate spiritual growth from inside you. Duanwood Reishi as a part of most Chinese anti-aging formulation is usually sold in the form of tincture or oil extract. Only a few drops per day are needed to enjoy its anti-aging abilities.

Cordyceps is another Chinese herb popularly used against aging. It is a substance that can rejuvenate the body and replenish the Yin and Yang Jing. It works by restoring the energy that is deeply embedded in the system to withstand the effects of both aging and stress. Aside from that, Cordyceps is a lung tonic that increases both the capacity and the efficiency of the organ. This herb is a tonic mushroom that can modulate the immunity system agents. It usually comes in the form of capsules. Just two to three capsules twice a day is enough to make you look beautiful and young for a long, long time.

The Chinese Mountain Ant extract is another Chinese medicine for aging. It can prolong one's life with increased vitality, fertility, and virility. This tonic is actually used in many Chinese beauty products. This extract is very rare in the West as they can only be processed and manufactured in the Asian regions. Aside from its aesthetic effects, this tonic can also calm anxiety, improve digestion, and promotes a restful sleep.

More Chinese medicines for aging are:

Cure Aging With Acupuncture

A Chinese formula that is used to help people stay healthy and remain energetic as they were in their prime years.

It is consumed to regenerate the cells and promote longevity. A combination of various Chinese tonic herbs, these work by rejuvenating all the organs keeping them alive and healthy. These can be taken for long durations with no worry about side effects. It contains Shen, Qi and Jing which is what we need to remain young.

Chinese Food items For Aging

If a person were to include mushrooms, sesame, honey, lotus root, melons and wheat in their diet on a regular basis they could beat the age battle and remain in their youth.

Apart from this strawberries, soya nuts are also natural anti aging food items that can be included.

Bath and massaging For Aging

Relaxing in a herbal bath with a paste made using lily buds, mung beans, resin, sandlewood and monkshoood is an ancient beauty remedy to fight any signs of aging.

Massage using pearl powder is also very effective.

These Chinese herbs and medicines for aging are now widely accepted and used all over the world. The potency of Chinese medicine is slowly penetrating the Western part of the world. It is now up to you to prove its effectiveness on your skin.

How Honey Bee Make Honey

2008-07-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Healthy Lifestyles, Science Says Honey Is Best for Burns

2008-07-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Healthy lifestyles can be considered quaint when we have new chemical plants making highly expensive new cures, sometimes for maladies not worth the effort. And the discovery that honey will cure a burn up to four days faster than the most powerful new cures for burns.

So, using honey on a burn as the most effective is the tip of the iceberg of healthy lifestyles. It is your entire approach to life: how much you respect and love your inner being to care deeply and gently for you.

When it comes to scientific thinking before science there are surprises. Now even centuries after Egypt had faded as the power and the center of the civilized world, some of their knowledge knew better than we.

But in the past centuries when tombs were uncovered it was found that amidst all the dust and crumbling heirlooms, sealed jars of honey were found. When tasted and tested the honey still tasted and tested as fresh after having been sealed for thousands of years.

And since then we have imported gun powder from the east and built empires everywhere that have come and gone as have the tides of Canute.

And grand advisers and wise men have made their fortunes finding new potions that would cure many matters that ail us. And through history one constant issue is burns to the body whether by poor housing and candles, or mobs with torches.

So many potions have been devised over the centuries to deal with injuries and burns, and any study of evolving science shows this. Almost with hilarity from a century ago were the many remedies that often contained opium as well as horse manure.

Now a study comes to us that suggest that antique science books may have had it right before we got to this century with all our brilliant science bringing us sterile modern gauze, and antibiotic creams with exceptional new high power capacities to heal? Surely.

Well, wrong. In a review of 15 studies, New Zealand researchers found that burned skin covered with honey healed as much as four days faster than skin treated with antibiotic creams and sterile wound dressings.

Lead study author P.C. Molan, Ph.D says honey is ideal because it rapidly soothes the pain, promotes healing, and prevents further damages.

The next burn in your family deserves that you cool the skin with cold water and then spread ample honey on some clean gauze and apply it to the burn. Change the dressing twice a day. And if it is more severe, of course, see your doctor. If you lived in ancient Egypt, this knowledge was available at your local wise man, even if he might have killed you in some other remedy.

I also put honey in my tea, as one way to get some of the healing power inside as well. Solid honey has more anti oxidants, and could be melted down easily for application, although liquid honey would be quicker in an emergency. Best to keep some of both around for the security of your healthy lifestyles. Here's to your good health.

Author: Derek Dashwood

Like Your Tea Sweet? Add Honey Instead of Sugar

2008-07-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

Most people think of honey as the sweet, sticky stuff you put on toast or drop into hot tea, but in recent years, researchers have been exploring its potential and health benefits in other ways.

One of life's purest pleasures is a cup of steaming tea. Some like it pure but most like it sweet. Adding sugar is by far the most common way of sweetening tea. Common table sugar (sucrose) is comprised of fructose and glucose. While sugar satisfies a natural craving, it is not without its downside.

Sugar is the quintessential source of energy and most foods, when digested, are metabolized by the body as basic sugar(glucose). It is a major source of calories in the diet. The body will save the excess energy in sugar as fat. While some stored fat is necessary, too much is undesirable and pose several health concerns especially for diabetics. Sugar also supports the growth of the bacteria that causes tooth decay.

A healthier alternative is honey. Honey is one of the oldest sweeteners used by man and was highly valued by ancient Egyptians for its medicinal and healing properties. It is a sweet, usually viscous, liquid made by bees from flower nectar and stored in the cells of the hive for food. Consumed fresh or after processing, it is usually used as a nutritive sweetener.

"Honey is the ultimate in products derived from herbs. It's like liquid gold. Fashioned through an ingenious alliance between animal and plant kingdoms, honey delivers a diverse array of phytochemicals in one package. This bounty arrives courtesy of the industrious honeybee, who visits some 2 million flowers to manufacture just one pound of honey" said Dr.Gina Mohammed, a plant physiologist in Sault Ste Marie, Canada. "Honey blends exceptionally well with black and flavored teas and enhances its fragrance", added Kim Yong, founder of Your Tea Place, an online tea site which focuses on tea and health.

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, shows that the level of antioxidants of honey is comparable to that of many fruits and vegetables. And while you are unlikely to devour a cup of honey in lieu of broccoli, the golden liquid may be a respectable alternative to sugar and a healthy supplement to your diet. It has been found that honey lessens the ill effects of radiation therapy in patients with cancer of the head and neck, improves oral health, preserves food, boosts antioxidants and enhances athletic performance.

Researchers at the University of Illinois studied 25 healthy men who consumed various combination of hot water, buckwheat honey, black tea and sugar. They found that serum antioxidant capacity increased by 7 percent within two hours of ingesting 2 cups of hot water containing about 4 tablespoons of honey. Those antioxidants also help your arteries as it reduces oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (known as "bad" cholesterol), a benefit which likely thwarts development of atherosclerosis. The findings also show that many varieties are full of phenols and flavonoids - known cancer fighters even more powerful than vitamin E.

So the next time you're having a cup of tea, do your health a favor by added a spoonful of honey, nature's liquid gold.

Author: Kim Yong

Honey Lowers Cholesterol

2008-07-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

A Honey Spoonful a Day Keeps the Free Radicals at Bay!

There have been many reports that honey lowers cholesterol.

Now, what exactly is cholesterol? It is a type of lipid or fat produced by the liver needed to make vitamin D and some hormones, build cell walls, and create bile salts that help you digest fat. Our liver produces enough of this waxy substance (about 1,000 milligrams a day), so we don't have to worry if there is need to get supplements. In fact, many foods contain cholesterol and sometimes it's hard to ensure that we don't get an excessive intake of cholesterol that could lead to serious health problems. Eggs, meats, and whole-fat dairy products (including milk, cheese, and ice cream) are loaded with cholesterol, whereas vegetables, fruits, and grains contain none. Because cholesterol can't travel alone through the bloodstream, it has to combine with certain proteins, which pick up the cholesterol and transport it to different parts of the body. When the cholesterol and protein are combined, a lipoprotein is formed. Most cholesterol is LDL/bad (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol which can narrow the arteries and clog the blood vessels that supply the vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys and intestines. This is why it's so important to start paying attention to our cholesterol levels by maintaining a healthy weight, keeping an exercise regime to strengthen your heart, avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat and trans fat and following a low fat diet that contains many low-cholesterol foods such as fruits, veggies, whole grains (like breads and cereals), legumes (beans), and fish. When you eat more of these carbohydrate-rich foods, you will eat less of the foods higher in fat and cholesterol.

Honey and cholesterol-free recipies are often associated in the world of healthy foods. Not only is honey free of cholesterol, it has been reported that adding small amounts of it in the daily diet could even help keep cholesterol levels in check. High in minerals such as potassium, calcium and sodium and B complex vitamins, honey is known to be a cholesterol fighter - honey lowers cholesterol in our blood. The antioxidants in honey prevent cholesterol from being moved out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels. Daily consumption of this natural sweetener could raise blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in the body.

It is believed that honey contain about the same range of antioxidants as green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach and also comparable to fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries. And the antioxidant level in mead , a wine made with honey is believed to be comparable to white wine in terms of its antioxidant capability. Generally, it's been known that dark honey lowers cholesterol more effectively than lighter honey. For instance, Buckwheat honey contains the highest levels of antioxidants. The intake of honey and cinnamon, mixture also has been reported to have innate healing characteristics that appear to help diabetics control both blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

So, see if honey lowers cholesterol by kick starting your day with this honey and lemon cleansing tonic: mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast. Incorporate honey in more places where you might be using table sugar, and use it often as a home remedy, in no time, you may find a significant increase in the amount of antioxidant chemical compounds in your body.

Author:Ruth Tan

Honey And Skin Care

2008-07-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Honey has been consumed and used as a natural remedy and in skin care for centuries. Bees have been in our planet, for around one hundred and fifty million years. There are several references to the consume of honey by humans in Egyptian hieroglyphics, Old Testament and the Coran.

Greeks, Persians, Egyptians and Romans, all new about the nutritional properties of honey, and just to use it on rituals and ceremonies. Celtic tribes just to elaborate an ointment with honey, for skin care and to alleviate pain.

Honey's main composition is 80% sugar and also minerals and trace elements such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, amino acids...It also contains vitamins C, B and water.

Honey and skin care benefits

Honey is not only used to improve health, it has many benefits for the skin, too

* Regenerates the skin, due to its antioxidant power.

* Honey acts as an humectant, moisturizing the skin and leaving it soft and supple.

* Is still used in some places to help heal skin wounds.

* Honey is being incorporated by skin care companies, to many cosmetic products in order to diminish wrinkles and hydrate the skin.

* Apart from honey, other products produced by bees such as wax, pollen, and royal jelly are also used in skin care products.

* Honey is also used to heal cracked lips.

Honey and skin care recipes

1- Feed your skin mask

Mix one banana with one spoon of cream, one egg yolk and one spoon of honey. Apply this mixture over the face and neck. Leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

2- Rejuvenate your skin

Mix one spoon of lemon juice with one spoon of honey. Apply it over the face and neck. Leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

3- Diminish under eye bags

Mix one spoon of honey with four spoons of water. Wet some cotton with this solution and place it over the eyes for ten minutes. Rinse off with cold water.

4- Good for acne

Place five spoons of warm honey over the affected area. Leave it on for fifteen minutes and rinse off with warm water. Avoid oily skin care products and use natural toners such as rose water.

5- Honey and skin care exfoliator

Mix one spoon of honey with chopped almonds. Rub the skin gently with this mixture. Rinse off with warm water.

6- For fine lines and acne

Mix two spoons of honey with one spoon of almond oil. Massage the skin with this mixture for three minutes. Then, leave it on for twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water, and then cold water.

7- Hair mask for dry hair

Mix few spoons of honey (depending on the length of your hair) with warm olive oil. Massage the hair, specially the scalp and ends with this mixture. Cover the hair with a plastic bag or foil paper. Leave it on for about twenty minutes. Wash as normal, adding some lemon juice to the last rinse.

Author:Blanca Ciotoiu

Is Honey a Cure for Acid Reflux?

2008-07-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Acid reflux is a very serious condition, one that is typically more dangerous than even the patient understands. Most who have this condition know that it's painful and can interfere with eating and digesting, but few realize how it can lead to ulcers and abrasions in the esophagus; these can cause internal bleeding, difficulty in eating and swallowing, and in some extreme cases, even cancer of the esophagus. If you have acid reflux you may have tried many medications to no avail and may be wondering if there is some natural cure that will work and that won't have all the side effects of those harsh antacids and other prescriptions.

There are some natural things you can do to help treat and even cure your acid reflux. For many people just making a few changes in the diet and in your lifestyle can help tremendously. Avoiding foods that are high in acid content, such as red meat, alcohol, fried foods, and citrus fruits, and propping yourself up at night when you go to sleep can cut down on many cases. But sometimes even making these changes isn't quite enough and you need to do something a bit more proactive to address your acid reflux.

Believe it or not, drinking plenty of water is one good way to address your acid reflux. The water will help to dilute the acid in your stomach and will also help with digestion. Sometimes it's not just what we eat but how much we've eaten that causes our flare-ups. When the stomach is overly full the contents, including the stomach acid, have no place else to go but back up the esophagus. Water helps us to feel full so we won't eat as much and helps the food to break down quicker so it can move through the digestive system quicker. Also, many wonder if honey is a cure or treatment for acid reflux and the good news is that many sufferers report that it may very well be. Honey is very thick and has a tendency to coat the stomach and digestive system overall. Not only will it quell acid flare-ups it can also help with digestive disorders as well. Honey seems to help food to break down and coats the small and large intestine, which means that digested food moves through quicker and easier.

If you have a hard time just eating plain honey on a spoon to treat your acid reflux think of ways you can incorporate it into your diet every day in small ways. Use it in tea rather than sugar. Put some on your toast in the morning. Add it to a peanut butter sandwich instead of jelly. Drizzle some on a muffin for a midday snack. And whatever you do, pay attention to whether or not it seems to be helping with your acid reflux; every person's system is different so what works for one person might not work for you. On the other hand, if it does give you a measure of relief, then enjoy it!

Author: Nazima Golamaully

The Best Home Remedy for Cellulite - Honey Massage

2008-07-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Honey massage is one of the best and most effective remedies for cellulite. It has been tested by many women of different ages and they all have had great success with it. Honey massage is an amazing rejuvenating treatment that also helps to cleanse your body from the toxic cellular waste products and lose inches around your thighs.

Cover your problem zone with a thin layer of honey (you will need about 2 tea spoons of honey for your hips and buttocks). Press your clean DRY hands to your skin covered with honey and tear them away.

Easy at first, tearing away your hands will become more difficult with every move because the tension force increases.

The massage is slightly painful, yet very effective. When you press your hands on honey and "unglue" them, you get a vacuum effect that destroys cellulite. Honey massage improves blood circulation in your skin tissue and muscles and has a positive effect on your entire nervous system.

After the massage your skin should be red with a burning sensation. Also, you can get small bruises that will go away fast. Continue until honey turns white under your hands. The white pellets hold the cellular waste products and excess salts that have been released from your body during the massage.

The total time of the massage should be 5 to 10 minutes. Then wash your skin with warm water and follow with your body moisturizer or anti cellulite cream.

Do this massage every other day for 1 month (you will need 15 procedures). You will start seeing the result after only the second procedure.

Another way to massage your cellulite zone is to use a cup or a glass jar. Cover your problem zone with a thin layer of honey and apply the cup to your skin using circular motions. Your skin is going to be sucked into the cup and you will get a vacuum effect. Tear away the cup from your body and apply the cup again to your skin using circular motions.

If your skin is not sucking into the cup in some places, just press the cup to your body and push more skin under the cup using your finger.

Do not overdo it because this massage can leave bruises on your skin. Do this massage at least twice a week for 4-5 weeks.

Warning: Do not try honey massage, if you have varicose veins on the cellulite spot, you are pregnant or you are allergic to honey.

Author: Yulia Berry

Honey: Another Long Forgotten Cough Suppressant

2008-07-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Most of us can attest to the fact, that having those old annoying cold symptoms of a stuffy head, sore throat, and that general run down feeling is almost bearable compared to the uncontrollable coughing that often disrupts normal routines and prevents night time rest. An old natural folk remedy, however, has recently been rediscovered in helping to reduce your child's cough due to a cold, or an upper respiratory infection.

As you have probably heard recently, OTC (over the counter) cough and cold syrups, for children under the age of 2, have been voluntarily pulled from the market by the manufacturers of these products.

Coincidently, following a petition filed by concerned pediatricians and public health officials, who have been questioning the effectiveness of these particular preparations for years, a FDA advisory panel also issued a warning statement to parents that these OTC formulas should be avoided in children under 6.

The serious health risks that may occur from using these products comes from unintended overdoses, or accidental ingestion. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) endorses the FDA warning in children under age 2 because previous research studies have already shown that these products are not only ineffective, but youngsters simply react to drugs differently than adults.

As a concerned and loving parent, this is surely a piece of important information that can help protect against your child from having an unnecessary, adverse reaction to a drug, but it actually makes some good common sense too, does it not? Imagine the possible affects that any artificial chemical could have on a small body mass that weighs about 1/4 of an adults.

As a parent you may be franticly searching for a safer, more effective, alternative method in helping to reduce your child's cough the next time relief is needed. After all, a better night's sleep is what you want to be able to give your child, as well as one for yourself, right?

Before opting to take the path of least resistance by shopping the shelves of the nearest pharmacy, remember OTC cough syrup preparations only treat the symptoms and not the cause. They may make some pretty tempting promises, but there are plenty of other, more natural, alternative remedies that help relieve a cough while promoting the body's, own, natural ability to heal itself.

Well, at last, here comes some good news. And, while there will always be some naysayers and critics in any crowd, this study at least enlightened some people, to the fact, that a natural method can, realistically, compete in reducing a common symptom of a cold.

Recently, a medical university study lead by Dr. Ian Paul, director of pediatric clinical research at 'Penn State', further explored the effectiveness of an old folk remedy, honey, at reducing children's coughs due to colds or an upper respiratory tract infection. Several years prior to his honey study, he was also involved in a clinical study that proved that over-the-counter cough medications were no more effective at reducing a cough than a placebo. Out of frustration, he was determined to find safer alternatives.

Paul's honey study selectively used 105 children, ages 2-16, with coughing symptoms that prevented sleep due to upper respiratory tract infections. Doses ranged from 1/2 teaspoon for children 2-5, one teaspoon for 6-12 year olds, and 2 teaspoons for 12-18 year olds.

Out of this group, 35 of the study group received the honey treatment for coughing. The parents of these kids reported that coughing episodes were relieved enough that the children slept better, than the group of children that were not given any treatment. In comparison with the group that received OTC cough syrups, the children that used honey faired slightly better in the reduction of symptoms.

Statistically, the differences may not have been that noticeable, but consider how rather small and unpolished the study was. Obviously, the results were promising enough that more alternative studies, like this one, should be done.

It is also important to help spread a note of caution, here, that giving honey to an infant is never recommended. Children under the age of 1 pose an uncommon risk of developing infantile botulism. Honey can, sometimes, contain a rare form of bacteria that an infant's internal system is not capable of fighting off, resulting in a paralytic illness that can lead to death.

Paul's study also used 'buckwheat' honey, a notably darker colored, a rather molasses like, or malty tasting, type substance than the lighter colored, more popular varieties. This type of honey was chosen for it's known antimicrobial properties, and higher antioxidant, mineral content. In other medical studies this particular honey was also shown to help heal wounds effectively.

Buckwheat honey is thought to help calm a cough because of it's natural sweetness, causing an increase, and swallowing, of saliva produced in the mouth, thus, keeping the throat more coated and protected.

Another, often overlooked, natural cough expectorant is water. Remember to have your child to drink plenty of water during the duration of an upper respiratory tract infection, colds, or any other type of temporary sickness. Water works rather diligently at breaking down the excess mucus. Once the cough becomes productive in the loosening of phlegm (never try to suppress a phlegm type cough), the sufferer can begin to eliminate it, in time, from the body.

As you will discover, upon investigating, there are many different ways a parent can safely offer, natural and alternative approaches to dealing with an irritating cough in a child. You will also be clearing your conscious, and giving yourself a better nights sleep in the process.

More natural tips on treating coughs, and other ailments, due to the common cold and upper respiratory tract infections can be found by objectively searching the internet.

Coughing is the body's natural, defense mechanism in being able to clear out air passages of irritating excess mucous, other foreign secretions, or objects. This is an important body healing process. A certain amount of this action is normal and to be expected, and should not be prevented with artificial chemicals, that at best, have been clearly shown to be ineffective. Another point to consider, is that multi-symptom formulas are often mixed with a host of other chemical ingredients in the sugary base that you may, or may not, need.

Author: Brenda Skidmore

Honey for Healing Wounds and Burns

2008-07-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Honey is one of the most remarkable products you can use on any wound or burn. This is a treatment that has been studied in many countries around the world and the results have been the same. By applying a small amount of honey to a wound or burn and it will heal faster and better than anything else you can apply to it.

The best part is that you will not have any of the side effects that can be associated with the use of other topical treatments.

Honey has an osmotic effect and that is that it absorbs moisture that occurs in the wound naturally. Honey is a naturally occurring anti-bacteria agent that varies in its properties from location to location. This is noted because the makeup of the honey will change from location to location depending on the flowers that are indigenous to the area.

The process works in the following manor. You apply honey to a dressing and then apply it to a wound or burn. At this point the honey will begin to do what it naturally does, heal the wound or burn.

This is accomplished through several things. First the honey will reduce the inflammation and easy the pain and discomfort that comes with the wound or burn. This is not just something that happens at the surface but also deep within the wound.

The next thing that happens is that the honey's natural acidic level will prevent most bacteria from growing in or on the wound or burn. Then the honey's osmotic ability absorbs the moisture that bacteria need to grow in, thus preventing bacteria from growing.

This osmotic effect also makes it impossible for the dressing to stick to the wound or burn. There by eliminating the painful dressing changes that tear the wounds open and damage the new tissue that is forming under the dressing.

This process will render the wound or burn sterile within a couple of days and keep it sterile as well. This means that the wound or burn can heal from the inside out and with the minimal amount of scaring. By using regular bandages and dressings you have painful dressing changes.

The new tissues are damaged and lead to scaring, this is prevented by the use of honey as a topical agent for wound and burn therapy.

The quality of the research continues to improve and with each research project that is done a deeper and greater the understanding of the benefits of honey become. Honey has been proven over and over again to be a good natural healer for wounds and burns. The results will vary from person to person and with the type of wound or burn.

Honey and Weight Loss

2008-07-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Honey and weight loss are often linked together. Do you know why honey is a smarter choice than table sugar if you are watching your weight and diet?

Refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins and are often called empty calories. They draw upon the body's nutrients to be metabolized into the system, and when these nutrients are depleted, metabolizing of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher cholesterol and promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid on the organs and tissues. The good news is that honey, the natural sweetener, on the other hand, contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals essential for its metabolism and hence is helpful in preventing obesity. It is believed that drinking lemon juice with a little honey the first thing in the morning is an effective anti cellulite treatment as it helps to increase body metabolism. If you are thinking of shedding weight and speeding up your sluggish metabolism, try this honey and lemon diet tip. Yet another very popular recipe associated with honey and weight loss is a drink that combines honey and cinnamon. Many people have found this home remedy very effective in losing pounds. The steps are easy: mix a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder (or ground cinnamon) into a paste in a cup and pour a cup of boiling water. Stir and cover for half and hour. Filter away any big particles before consumption. Take it in the morning with an empty stomach about half an hour before breakfast.

For people who tend to overeat or feel discomfort in the stomach after meals, honey can be taken for better digestion. Honey is a simple carbohydrate that one safely take during fasting because it contains easily digested sugars. Foods that are rich in sugars or complexes of sugars are carbohydrates. How the sugars are arranged will determine whether we call a food a source of simple or complex carbohydrates. When sugars are bound into rows, as they are in starches such as whole grains and legumes, they are called complex carbohydrates. It takes the body a much longer while to digest the sugar from a complex carbohydrate.

The latest theory based on the hibernation diet also builds a link between honey and weight loss. It suggests taking a generous spoonful or two of honey at night, either as a warm drink or straight from the jar, and promises to help us sleep and lose weight at the same time by fuelling the liver, speeding up fat-burning metabolism and easing stress hormones.

And if you are considering artificial sugar or sweetener like Aspartame to help you lose weight, you are completely on the wrong track. It might trim you off from a few calories but it gives you a phletora of other serious health problems.

Author: Ruth Tan

Stay Young With Honey

2008-07-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Honey is the best and greatest antioxidant in this world. Many Studies are conducting several researches on the beneficial properties of honey that have been established protecting skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. Honey also can helps in the skin rejuvenation. Some Free radicals that can result from your body metabolism are responsible for aging. Being a natural and superb antioxidant, honey is able fights the free radicals. Honey also can decelerate aging. To reap many benefits of honey, you can either consume honey or apply it topically.

Honey has high sugar content. It is moderately high acidity and therefore low pH. Honey also has low protein quantity. You can have a wonderful anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agent in honey by Adding to these its antioxidant property and the presence of Hydrogen Peroxide in it, and to feel relax and look young, you should have to maintain your face, your skin and your hair, also your lifestyle. Honey will also help you do your young appearance extremely well. You may not have either the time or the mood to spend a lot of money to go to a spa, but with honey, honey can provides you with an easy and effective alternative.

In history, we know that Cleopatra apply honey and it has been used for enhancing and maintaining one's youthful looks and beauty. As grow for ages or affected by exposure to unfavorable environmental factors, including pollutant, weather changes, and lifestyle, your skin tends to lose its elasticity, softness and supple character. Honey, as a nature resource, is a good natural product that performs with excellent properties. Honey can restore these very qualities to the skin. Honey also has the capability of retaining and maintaining the moisture in the skin. It inhibits scaling and smooths the wrinkles of your skin. Because of this, the skin looks naturally young. Beside for skin, Honey can be used as a hair conditioner too. You can combine half cup of honey with a quarter cup of olive oil. Add a few drops of the oil of rosemary then apply it to your hair and hair roots. Leave it for about 30 minutes and then you may rinse well. You may also use a good shampoo to wash your hair if you want to leave the smell. Immediately, you will be left with excellently hair.

Author: Wina

Honey Mixture Improves Skin Conditions and Health

2008-07-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Honey Hair Conditioning Treatment. This great formula combines the benefits of honey and olive oil for lustrous, silky, healthy hair and scalp. Simply combine 1/2 cup honey and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup olive oil (depending on the dryness of your hair and scalp). Saturate hair and scalp with this conditioner, then put on a shower cap and allow the conditioner to remain for 30 minutes before you shampoo and rinse as usual.

Anxiety and Nervous Tension: Honey is said to calm a nervous, high strung person. It can also help you sleep at night. For insomnia, take 1 Tablespoon of honey at dinner. If that doesn't work, try mixing 3 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 cup of honey in a jar. Take 2 teaspoons before bed. If you don't fall asleep within the hour, take 2 teaspoons more. An old ayuverdic remedy has men taking the same dosage (2 Tablespoons of honey) before bed to treat impotence.

Flu Bath: Combine a half-cup of Epson salts with two tablespoons of coconut oil. Add a quarter cup of honey, combine well, and then add fifteen to twenty drops of essential eucalyptus oil. Add to very warm bath, soak in it for at least half an hour.

Milk and Honey Bath: Dissolve a half-cup of honey in one quart of very warm water. Gradually stir in one cup of dried milk powder, stirring until powder is completely dissolved. Add to bath water.
Antibacterial properties: Honey is high in sugar, low in protein and quite acidic. These factors combine to make honey free from contaminants itself and help it to kill the contaminants it comes into contact with. The main antibacterial agent in honey is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is released when honey touches the skin. This is produced by the enzyme glucose oxidize which is introduced into honey by the bee. However various types of honey will contain slightly different antibacterial substances.

Honey Relieves Coughs: Here's a recipe from the book, Folk Medicine by DC Jarvis: boil a whole lemon slowly for 10 minutes. Cut the lemon in 2 and extract the juice. Add juice to a 4 oz glass. Then add 2 Tablespoons of glycerine and fill the remaining glass with honey. Dosage: 1 teaspoon during the day. Stir with spoon before taking. If you have a nighttime cough, take 1 teaspoon right before retiring and then another one during the night. If your cough is severe, take concoction every 4 hours starting with when you wake up. As the cough gets better, you take less and less.
Vitamins: Honey contains vitamin B, copper, iron, potassium, and calcium to name a few. It also has lots of minerals, these varying depending on where the honey came from.

Honey-Apple Toner: This sweet alpha-hydroxy miracle will help to firm, smooth, and moisturize your skin. In a blender or food processor, combine 1 peeled, cored apple with a tablespoon of honey and pulse until smooth. Apply pulp gently to face and allow to remain for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Honey Shiny Hair: Mix 1 teaspoon honey, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and 1 quart of warm water. After shampooing, simply pour through hair. Let your hair dry as you normally would; you don't need to rinse it out.

Author: Peter sams

20 Amazing Facts on Honey Bee

2008-07-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Some honey bee facts really deserved to be shared, after all so many healing and health-promoting opportunities for us humans start with this little busy creature. As you read the following 20 truths about honey bee, you will be so intrigued just like me by this tiny fellow's extraordinary abilities.

1. The honey bee has been around for 30 million years.

2. It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man.

3. Honey bees are environmentally friendly and are critical as pollinators.

4. They are insects whcih are scientifically known as Apis mellifera.

5. They have 6 legs, 2 compound eyes made up of thousands of tiny lenses (one on each side of the head), 3 simple eyes on the top of the head, 2 wings, a nectar pouch, and a stomach.

6. The honeybee's wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.

7. A honey bee can fly for up to six miles, and as fast as 15 miles per hour, hence it would have to fly around 90,000 miles - three times around the globe - to make one pound of honey.

8. The average honey bee will actually make only one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

9. It takes about 556 workers to gather 1 pound of honey from about 2 million flowers.

10. It takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bee's flight around the world.

11. A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip.

12. A colony of bees consists of 20,000-60,000 honeybees and one queen.

13. Worker honey bees are female, live 6 to 8 weeks and do all the work.

14. The queen bee lives for about 2-3 years and is the only bee that lays eggs. She is the busiest in the summer months, when the hive needs to be at its maximum strength, and lays up to 2500 eggs per day. Click here to learn more about the Honey Bee Life Cycle,

15. The male honey bees are called drones, and they do no work at all, have no stinger, all they do is mating.

16. Each honey bee colony has a unique odour for members' identification.

17. Only worker bees sting, and only if they feel threatened and they die once they sting. Queens have a stinger, but don't leave the hive to help defend it.

18. It is estimated that 1100 honey bee stings are required to be fatal.

19. Honey bees communicate with one another by "dancing".

20. During winter, honey bees feed on the honey they collected during the warmer months. They form a tight cluster in their hive to keep the queen and themselves warm.

Of these honey bee facts, No 19: Honey bees communicate with one another by "dancing" is perhaps the most memorable. And the most incredible to me is No 2: It is the only insect that produces edible food for man! The more I learnt about honey's great creator -the honey bee itself, its highly organized society, how it acts with such intricate cooperation, and the various bee products, the more I admire and respect this amazing creature. It is no wonder why sometimes the colony is called a superorganism.

"Unique among all God's creatures, only the honeybee improves the environment and preys not on any other species." ~ Royden Brown

"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live?" ~ Albert Einstein

Author: Ruth Tan

7 Question About Honey

2008-07-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here are seven questions which are frequently asked by people who are exploring honey use.

Question 1: Can diabetics use honey? I have been told that diabetics can use honey. Is that true?

Ans: This kind of honey information is important for diabetic patients who try to take care of their diet. Commercially honey is sometimes adulterated by glucose, starch, cane sugar, and even malt. Hence it is better to be avoided by the diabetics. And whether raw honey is is okay for diabetics, this is better to be advised by the doctor personally attending to the patient.

Question 2: Both honey and table sugar contain fructose and glucose. So, chemically they have the same basic sugar units. Is it correct?

Ans: It is true that both honey and table sugar have the same basic sugar units. However table sugar, or sucrose, has glucose and fructose hooked or amalgamated together, whereas if you look at honey properties, fructose and glucose remain in individual units.

Question 3: Invert sugar is sucrose broken down into glucose and fructose. So, honey is an invert sugar. Is it correct?

Ans: This statement is correct. Chemically, honey is invert sugar. It has a mishmash of both glucose and fructose. The only difference is that honey is honey bee-processed, whereas invert sugar (e.g candies) is man-made!

Question 4: Honey contains more calories than table sugar. Does it imply that it is therefore less healthy to eat honey?

Ans: We all know that any excessive intake of calories in any form is not good. Yes, honey has more calories, but we actually need to use less of it since it is sweeter than table sugar. As a result, in the long run, you may in fact consume even less amount of calories that you would with table sugar. Moreover, unlike table sugar which is empty calories, honey has nutritional value.

Question 5: Compared to table sugar, honey is sweetener. This is because it has more fructose which does not convert to energy as efficiently as glucose. So does this mean honey is less healthy?

Ans: Yes, honey contains more fructose, but precisely because it is sweeter, you need less of it.

Question 6: If spores are harmful to babies, why aren't they removed in the pasteurisation process of making commercial honey?

Ans: All new mothers, please take note of this honey information. Pasteurisation cannot remove spores as they are very resistant to killing by physical and chemical agents. To kill spores which are harmful to babies, processors must heat the honey to at least 250 degrees Fahrenheit, under pressure for at least three minutes, but this cannot be done as honey burns under this high temperature, its flavor changes and some health beneficial honey properties are also destroyed. This explains why for so many honey FAQs concerning whether it is okay to feed infant honey, the answer is also a "NO".

Question 7: I was told that honey does not spoil. What if I mix it with water and leave it? Will it go bad?

You will learn from most sources of honey information that "honey does not spoil" and it has no expiry date. Nothing will grow in naturally antibiotic and antiviral honey as long as the moisture content remains under 18%. Natural, raw honey varies from 14% to 18% in moisture content. However, when water is added to honey, natural airborn yeasts can become active in the honey water. So your honey water will turn bad eventually.

By Ruth Tan

Honey as Gift

2008-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Honey as a gift? Isn't honey sort of, well,...ordinary? And doesn't all honey taste the same?

Yes, No and No.

A quality honey won't come as as a bland mix from made by bees fed sugar water. As a present or treat, why not pick a honey from hives where honey bees have grazed on one type of flower, giving a honey with distinct flavor, colour and possibilities.

Premium honey is more expensive, but you are paying for a unique yet versatile product. There are hundreds of honeys out there and even the same flower will produce subtly different honey flavors from different hives. !

There are three main kinds of honey, light medium and dark. Generally, the darker the color the stronger the taste. Whatever the type, undiluted honey stored properly capped in a cool dark place will keep indefinitely. If it crystallises, stand the jar in warm water with occasional stirring until the honey clears.

Here are just some of the more popular and widely available specialized honeys.

Light Honey:

Clover- flowery and great in hot drinks like tea. Look out particularly for White Clover. Simmer clover honey diluted (with herbs like mint or rosemary),to make superb pouring sauces over baguettes and burgers.

Alfalfa-Its mild flavor goes well in custard tarts and making softer cookies and moist cakes

Sage-No, this honey doesn't taste of sage (very mild), but still goes well with cheese and crackers, or drizzled on to a salad with vinegar and virgin olive oil as a sweet and sour dressing. Another honey like Tupelo that doesnt granulate readily. so it will stay pourable a long time.

Medium Honeys

Tupelo. A popular choice, Tupelo honey has a deep long lasting flowery/herbal taste, and sits well on a biscuit. High in the sugar fructose, so it's unlikely to 'go gritty' on you. Also Tupelo is the honey likely to be most suitable for diabetics

Blueberry Lovely lemony smell and fruity taste. A great topping for scones or blended with yoghurt as a snack.

Orange blossom Sweet tangy citrus fruit taste. Versatile and ideal in a frosty smoothie, creme fraiche, trickled over crepes or Roquefort cheese, or spread on toast.

Dark Honeys

Buckwheat. Strong flavor with plenty of malt and molasses. and healthy anti oxidants. The natural base for a barbecue sauce or mustard dressing. Or Make your own honey glazed ham.

Avacado Honey - A rich smooth taste. Marries effortlessly with peanut butter, and as a fish glaze.

Eucalyptus - Mild Herby flavor and menthol aftertaste and scent. Complements lamb dishes.

Wildflower.Blend from varied wildflower sources Powerful floral flavour which like its color can vary a lot. Gives zest to marinades and dressings

More honey hints

Like a really distinctive honey flavor? Try these:dandelion, chestnut, goldenrod,black sage, spanish needles.

You can buy your specialized quality honey additionally as honey comb ( chewy!), spun or cream honey ( honey blended with comb for easier spreading) or raw and unpasteurised honey for full goodness. Just check your local food markets, delicatessens and health stores.

Never feed any honey to a child under one-it can make them very ill. From then on, a specialized honey - especially if seasonally wrapped, with plenty of handy honey hints-makes a healthy delicious unusual and long lasting gift for almost anyone at Christmas...or any time of year!

Author: Mick Madigan

Information About Bee Pollen Infertility Treatment Tips

2008-07-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

You must avoid consuming pollens collected from industrious countries like China and USA because they are contaminated with pollution and population impurities. Some of these impurities include heavy metals like lead, toxins, harmful chemicals, and other dangerous elements found in the surroundings of the bees collecting the pollens. The pollens collected do not possess the healing properties of high potency pollens.

The best and high potency pollens that can cure your infertility problems can only be collected and manufactured in New Zealand, where the environment is pristine. New Zealand only has a handful of population, zero industry, and minimal pollution. The country also has high standards when it comes to manufacturing food supplements such as bee products.

As a tonic during radiotherapy: A clinical trial with uterine cancer patients which showed reduced side effects from radiotherapy was based on about two teaspoons of bee pollen three times a day.

Vitamins and herbs: Rachel Browne has suggested the following formula which seems to have helped her husband: multi vitamin (without iron but with zinc), 1 mg C, 1000 mg l-arginine, 200 IU E, Bee Pollen and Siberian Ginseng in 500 mg pills, 100 mcg selenium, high potency B-complex, and 250 mg l-carnitine. His multi vitamins have: 10000IU beta carotene, 400 IU D, 150 mg C, 100 IU E, 25 mg B1, 25 mg B2, 25 mg B6, 100 mcg B12, 100 mcg niacinamide, 50 mg pantothenic acid, 300 mcg biotin, 400 mcg folic acid, 25 mg PABA, 25 mg choline bitartate, 25 mg inositol, 25 mg calcium, 7.2 mg magnesium, 5 mg potassium, and 15 mg zinc.

Most physicians advise you not to be concerned unless you have been trying to conceive for at least one year. If the female partner is over 30 years old, has a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, painful periods, recurrent miscarriage, or irregular periods then it might be prudent to seek help sooner. Waiting only 6 months before having an initial consultation for women 35 years and older is often recommended since if a problem is found there is less time for correction. If the male partner has a known or suspected low sperm count, then it would also be prudent to seek help sooner than waiting a year.

Other than a worsening of allergic symptoms in those who are already allergic, there are few bee pollen side effects. Cold and flu prevention is a huge bee pollen benefit to anyone who is on this type of supplemental therapy. Bee pollen benefits relating to your sexual health are well documented as well. There have been many studies proving that bee pollen is very helpful in restoring the health of womens reproductive system. Bee pollen is one of the most popular energy supplements on the market. Bee pollen is not recommended for women who are or who may become pregnant.

Author: Peterhutch

Milk and Honey - Recipe for Good Health

2008-07-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

How about taking a glass of sour milk and honey at the start of each day?

Bifidobacteria is a group of good, friendly bacteria which are essential for life and good health and particularly important to the health and proper function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. One way to increase the Bifidobacteria populations in the intestine is by consuming foods containing prebiotics -- nutrients that stimulate the growth of probiotic Acidophillus and Bifidus bacteria. Research conducted at Michigan State University has shown that honey, a natural sweetener comprising vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and antioxidants, contains a number of fermentable carbohydrates including a variety of oligosaccharides that can function as prebiotics enhance the growth, activity and viability of bifidobacteria in milk, and fermented dairy products such as yoghurts.

Honey is known as a compound made up of fructose sugar molecules linked together in long chains -- fructooligosaccharide (FOS), which can also be in other plants such as Jerusalem artichoke tubers, onions, leeks, barley, rye, oats. FOS are also available as a nutritional supplement and the food industry is jumping on the band wagon by adding FOS such as honey to yogurts, and combining milk and honey to form healthy food. Benefits of FOS are numerous. They help carry moisture through the digestive system and therefore promoting healthy bowel movement. Growth of the beneficial bacteria encourages the production of short chain fatty acids, lowering pH, inhibiting unhealthy bacteria land detoxifying carcinogens in the diet. FOS helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels by reducing absorption of carbohydrates and fats into the blood stream, nourishes the cells in the gut which is important for digestive well-being and the prevention of constipation. Improving digestion is key to establishing good health. When in good health, we get rid of wastes and toxins through regular bowel movements and eliminate the build up of unhealthy micro-organisms and internal toxins, providing a strong and intact intestinal barrier to prevent the leaking of undigested food fragments into the blood stream. As more research becomes available and we learn more about bacteria and how they affect our health, the more important both probiotic and prebiotic products will become and the more of these home remedies such as milk and honey you will see on the supermarket shelves.

Honey also has a major role to play as a carrier of foods containing relatively high levels of vitamins and minerals, and has been shown to help the body absorb minerals such as calcium. Elderly people have higher risk for fractures from osteoporosis or low bone mass. One of the ways to avoid this is to consume adequate calcium, and make sure that it is absorbed. And researchers at Purdue University has shown in its preliminary findings that honey added to milk could enhance calcium uptake.

Many facial cleansing and skin moisturizing products have also included milk and honey as part of their ingredients to claim beauty benefits such skin hydration, smoothness, purification, anti-aging, and revitalization. A warm glass of milk with a teaspoon of honey is also known to be a good remedy for sleeplessness.

Author: Ruth Tan

Bee Pollen Infertility Treatment Tips

2008-06-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pollen is the male seed of flowers. It is required for the fertilization of the plant. Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature's most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. It is gathered with a special device designed to brush the material from their hind legs as they enter the hive. Bee pollen has been called nature’s perfect food and is said to contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids found in every plant from which bees collect pollen. It is used to increase energy, boost the immune system, and fight the effects of aging.

Bee Pollen contains all of the nutrients needed to sustain life. Bee Pollen has high concentrations of the B vitamin complex, and also contains Vitamins A, C, D, and E. Its composition is: approximately 35% protein, 55% carbohydrates, 2% fatty acids, and 3% minerals and vitamins. Bee Pollen is also used to bolster immune function, and for detoxifying the body. There have also been a number of clinical trials with respect to its promising ability to ward off cancerous tumors in mice. Bee pollen for arthritis treatment involves the reduction of excessive weight problems since these pollens correct the chemical imbalances of the metabolism.

Too much weight is one of the major causes for arthritis. Fat cells are extracted out of the body because of the rich lecithin content of these pollens. The pollens also act as natural suppressants to prevent one from compulsive eating or unnecessary food cravings in between meals. If the weight is corrected earlier, arthritis is prevented from developing.Bee pollen is touted as a general cure-all for many things and as a high source of nutrition. Its richness in these nutrients may help contribute to overall good health and energy. It seems to help prevent the symptoms associated with hay fever, like sneezing, eye-watering, runny nose and other allergy-related ailments.

Bee pollen has too been touted as an anti-aging supplementation, and its proponents demand that it can forbid the weight increase, decreased libido, sluggishness, and fall in muscle and rind color associated with aging. Bee pollen has been recommended for handling of just about everything, including sickness, insomnia, all types of transmission, suppressed exempt structure following chemotherapy, reduced libido, reduced blood force, anemia, eye disease, cancer, and impairment, to appoint a few. Bee pollen products are accessible at health-food stores, drugstores, mail-order suppliers, and at online distributors.

Author: Juliet Cohen

The Honey Bee

2008-06-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

It is well known by almost everyone that honey is a fundamental food source for the human body, whereas only a few people are aware of the extraordinary qualities of its producer, the honeybee.

As we know, the food source of bees is nectar, which is not found during winter. For this reason, they combine the nectar collected in summer time with special secretions of their body, produce a new nutrient - honey - and store it for the coming winter months.

It is noteworthy that the amount of honey stored by bees is much greater than their actual need. The first question that comes to mind is why do the bees not give up this "excess production", which seems a waste of time and energy for them? The answer to this question is hidden in the "inspiration" stated in the verse to have been given the bee.

Bees produce honey not only for themselves but also for human beings. Bees, like many other natural beings, are also dedicated to the service of man, just as the chicken lays at least one egg a day although it does not need it, and the cow produces much more milk than its offspring needs.

And He has made everything in the heavens and everything in the earth subservient to you. It is all from Him. There are certainly signs in that for people who reflect.
(Surat al-Jathiyah: 13)

EXCELLENT organization IN THE HIVE

The bees’ lives in the hive and their honey production are fascinating. Without going into too much detail, let us discover the basic features of the "social life" of bees. Bees must carry out numerous "tasks" and they manage all of them with excellent organization.

Regulation of humidity and ventilation: The humidity of the hive, which gives honey its highly protective quality, must be kept within certain limits. If humidity is over or under those limits, then the honey is spoiled and loses its protective and nutritious qualities. Similarly, the temperature in the hive has to be 32° C throughout 10 months of the year. In order to keep the temperature and humidity of the hive within certain limits, a special group takes charge of "ventilation".

On a hot day, bees can easily be observed ventilating the hive. The entrance of the hive fills with bees and clamping themselves to the wooden structure, they fan the hive with their wings. In a standard hive, air entering from one side is forced to leave from the other side. Extra ventilator bees work within the hive to push the air to all corners of the hive.

This ventilation system is also useful in protecting the hive from smoke and air pollution.

Health system: The efforts of the bees to preserve the quality of honey are not limited to the regulation of humidity and heat. A perfect healthcare system exists within the hive to keep all events that may result in the production of bacteria under control. The main purpose of this system is to remove all substances likely to cause bacteria production. The basic principle of this health system is to prevent foreign substances from entering the hive. To secure this, two guardians are always kept at the entrance of the hive. If a foreign substance or insect enters the hive despite this precaution, all bees act to remove it from the hive.

How do bees know that this substance is an ideal substance for embalming? How do bees produce a substance, which man can only produce in laboratory conditions and with the use of technology if he has a certain level of knowledge of chemistry? How do they know that a dead insect causes bacteria production and that embalming will prevent this?

For bigger foreign objects that cannot be removed from the hive, another protection mechanism is used. Bees "embalm" these foreign objects. They produce a substance called "propolis (bee resin)" with which they carry out the "embalming" process. Produced by adding special secretions to the resins they collect from trees like pine, poplar and acacia, the bee resin is also used to patch cracks in the hive. After being applied to the cracks by the bees, the resin dries as it reacts with air and forms a hard surface. Thus, it can stand against all kinds of external threats. Bees use this substance in most of their work.

At this point, many questions spring to mind. Propolis has the feature of not allowing any bacteria to live in it. This makes propolis an ideal substance for embalming.

And in your creation and all the creatures He has scattered about there are signs for people with certainty.
(Surat al-Jathiyah: 4)

It is evident that the bee has neither any knowledge on this subject, nor a laboratory in its body.
The bee is only an insect 1-2 cm in size and it only does that with which its Lord has inspired it.

MAXIMUM STORAGE WITH MINIMUM MATERIAL

Bees construct hives in which 30,000 bees can live and work together by shaping small portions of beeswax.

The hive is made up of beeswax-walled honeycombs, which have hundreds of tiny cells on each of their faces. All honeycomb cells are exactly the same size. This engineering miracle is achieved by the collective work of thousands of bees. Bees use these cells for food storage and the maintenance of young bees.

Bees have been using the hexagonal structure for the construction of honeycombs for millions of years. (A bee fossil has been found dating from 100 million years ago). It is astonishing that they have chosen a hexagonal structure rather than an octagonal, or pentagonal. Mathematicians give the reason: "the hexagonal structure is the most suitable geometric form for the maximum use of unit area." If honeycomb cells were constructed in another form, then there would be areas left unused; thus, less honey would be stored, and fewer bees would be able to benefit from it.

As long as their depths are the same, a triangular or quadrangular cell would hold the same amount of honey as a hexagonal cell. However, among all these geometric forms, the hexagonal has the shortest circumference. Whilst they have the same volume, the amount of wax required for hexagonal cells is less than the amount of wax required for a triangular or quadrangular one.

The conclusion: hexagonal cells require minimal amounts of wax in terms of construction while they store maximal amounts of honey. Bees themselves surely cannot have calculated this result, obtained by man after many complex geometrical calculations. These tiny animals use the hexagonal form innately, just because they are taught and "inspired" so by their Lord.

The hexagonal design of cells is practical in many respects. Cells fit to one another and they share each other's walls. This, again, ensures maximum storage with minimum wax. Although the walls of the cells are rather thin, they are strong enough to carry a few times their own weight.

As well as in the walls of the sides of the cells, bees also take the maximum saving principle into consideration while they construct the bottom edges.

Combs are built as a slice with two rows lying back to back. In this case, the problem of the junction point of two cells occurs. Constructing the bottom surfaces of cells by combining three equilateral quadrangles solves this problem. When three cells are built on one face of the comb, the bottom surface of one cell on the other face is automatically constructed.

As the bottom surface is composed of equilateral quadrangular wax plaques, a downward deepening is observed at the bottom of those cells made by this method. This means an increase in the volume of the cell and, thus, in the amount of honey stored.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF HONEY COMB CELLS

Another point that bees consider during the construction of the honeycomb is the inclination of cells. By raising cells 13o on both sides, they prevent the cells from being parallel to the ground. Thus, honey does not leak out from the mouth of the cell.

While working, worker bees hang onto each other in circles and congregate together in bunches. By doing this, they provide the necessary temperature for wax production. Little sacks in their abdomens produce a transparent liquid, which leaks out and hardens the thin wax layers. Bees collect the wax with the little hooks on their legs. They put this wax into their mouths, and chew and process it until it softens enough and so give it shape in the cells. Many bees work together to ensure the required temperature for the work place in order to keep the wax soft and malleable.

There is another interesting point to note: the construction of the honeycomb starts from the upper side of the hive and continues simultaneously in two or three separate rows downward. While a honeycomb slice expands in two opposite ections, first the bottom of its two rows join. This process is realized in an astonishing harmony and order. Therefore, it is never possible to understand that the honeycomb actually consists of three separate parts. The honeycomb slices, which started simultaneously from different ections, are so perfectly arranged that, although there are hundreds of different angles in its structure, it seems like one uniform piece.

For such a construction, bees need to calculate the distances between the starting and connection points in advance and then design the dimensions of the cells accordingly. How can such a delicate calculation be done by thousands of bees? This has always impressed scientists.

It is obviously irrational to assume that bees have solved this task, which man can hardly manage. There is such a delicate and detailed organization involved that it is impossible for them to carry it out on their own.

So how do they achieve this? An evolutionist would explain that this event has been achieved by "instinct". However, what is the "instinct" that can address thousands of bees at the same time and make them perform a collective task? It would not be sufficient even if each bee acted on its own "instinct", since what they do would necessarily have to be in concordance with each other’s instincts in order to achieve this astonishing result. Due to this, they must be ected by an "instinct" coming from a unique source. Bees, who start constructing the hive from different corners and then combine their separate tasks without leaving any gaps and having all the cells constructed equally in a perfect hexagonal structure, must certainly be receiving "instinctive" messages from the very same source!...

The term "instinct" used above is "only a name" as mentioned in the Qur’an, in the 40th verse of Surah Yusuf. It is of no use insisting on such "mere names" in order to conceal clear truths. Bees are guided from a unique source and thus they successfully come to perform tasks which they otherwise would not be able to. It is not instinct, a term with no definition, that guides bees but the "inspiration" mentioned in Surat an-Nahl. What these tiny animals do is implement the programme that Allah has particularly set for them.

HOW THEY DETERMINE THEIR ECTION

Bees usually have to fly long distances and scan large areas to find food. They collect flower pollens and the constituents of honey within a range of 800m of the hive. A bee, which finds flowers, flies back to its hive to let others know about their place, but how will this bee describe the location of the flowers to the other bees in the hive?

By dancing!… The bee returning to the hive starts to perform a dance. This dance is a means of expression, which it uses to tell the other bees the location of the flowers. This dance, repeated many times by the bee, includes all the information about the inclination, ection, distance and other details of the food source that enable other bees to reach it.

This dance is actually a figure "8" constantly repeated by the bee (see picture above). The bee forms the middle part of the figure "8" by wagging its tail and performing zigzags. The angle between the zigzags and the line between the sun and the hive gives the exact ection of the food source (see picture above).

However, knowing only the ection of the food source is not enough. Worker bees also need to "know" how far they have to travel to collect the ingredients for the honey, so, the bee returning from the flower source, "tells" the other bees the distance of the flower pollens by means of certain body movements. It does this by wagging the bottom part of its body and creating air currents. For example, in order to "describe" a distance of 250m, it wags the bottom part of its body 5 times in half a minute. This way, the exact location of the source is made clear in detail, both with respect to its distance and its orientation.

A new problem awaits the bee in those flights where the round trip to the food source takes a long time. As the bee, who can only describe the food source according to the ection of the sun, goes back to its hive, the sun moves 1 degree every 4 minutes. Eventually, the bee will make an error of 1 degree for each four minutes it spends on the way about the ection of the food source of which it informs the other bees.

Astonishingly, the bee does not have such a problem! The bee's eye is formed of hundreds of tiny hexagonal lenses. Each lens focuses on a very narrow area just like a telescope does. A bee looking towards the sun at a certain time of the day can always find its location while it flies. The bee is reckoned to do this calculation by making use of the change in the light emitted by the sun depending on the time of the day. Consequently, the bee determines the ection of the target location without mistake by making corrections in the information it gives in the hive as the sun moves forward.

METHOD OF MARKING FLOWERS

When a flower has already been visited, the honeybee can understand that another bee has earlier consumed the nectar of that flower, and leave the flower immediately. This way, it saves both time and energy. Well, how does the bee understand, without checking the flower, that the nectar has earlier been consumed?

This is made possible because the bees which visited the flower earlier marked it by leaving a drop on it with a special scent. Whenever a new bee looks in on the same flower, it smells the scent and understands that the flower is of no use and so goes on ectly towards another flower. Thus, bees do not waste time on the same flower.

THE MIRACLE OF HONEY

Do you know how important a food source the honey is, which Allah offers man by means of a tiny insect?
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the above, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities. Several kinds of hormones are also present in it.

From their bellies comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind… (Surat an-Nahl: 69)

We have made them (livestock) tame for them and some they ride and some they eat. And they have other uses in them and milk to drink. So will they not show thanks? (Surah Yasin: 72-73)

As Allah says in the Qur’an, honey is a "healing for men". This scientific fact was confirmed by scientists who assembled during the World Apiculture Conference held from 20-26 September 1993 in China. During the conference, treatments with honey derivatives were discussed. American scientists in particular said that honey, royal jelly, pollen and propolis (bee resin) cure many diseases. A Romanian doctor stated that he tried honey on cataract patients, and 2002 out of his 2094 patients recovered completely. Polish doctors also informed the conference that bee resin helps to cure many diseases such as hemorrhoids, skin problems, gynecological diseases and many other disorders.

Nowadays, apiculture and bee products have opened a new branch for research in countries advanced in science. Other benefits of honey may be described as below:

Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars (e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to function better.

Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.

Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar.

Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.

Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.

Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees inside the beehive. Inside this nutritious substance are sugar, proteins, fats and many vitamins. It is used in problems caused by tissue deficiency or body frailty.

It is obvious that honey, which is produced in much higher amounts than the requirements of the bees, is made for the benefit of man. And it is also obvious that bees cannot perform such an unbelievable task "on their own."

Author: Harun Yahaya

Healing Proprties of Honey

2008-06-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

The great healing power of honey had been discovered centuries ago. Its sugar content is so natural and its sources of nutrients are abundant enough for people to discover its use as great natural sweetener. In fact ancient people started to use honey in a variety of ways for medical and health aids.

HONEY'S NUTRIENTS and HEALING PROPERTIES

Honey's rich nutrients, enzyme and antioxidant content combined with its ability to thwart infections makes it a potent healer. For centuries, honey has been considered highly nutritious and of medicinal value. It is believed to be very beneficial for eyesight, reducing effects of poisoning, stopping hiccups, treating urinary tract disorders, worm infestations, nausea, vomiting, cleansing, healing wounds and many more healing properties.

Honey contain mainly carbohydrates, water, vitamins and minerals, including niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Honey is also rich in enzymes, antioxidants and other phytonutrients. It also contains flavonoids and phenolic acids which act as antioxidants, scavenging and eliminating free radicals. These antioxidants substances found in honey have been responsible for the wound-healing properties of honey. The wound-healing power of honey has been widely applied as antiseptic therapeutic agent for healing ulcers, burns and cuts for many years.

HOW HEALING of WOUND WORKS By USING HONEY

Due to its contents of glucose and fructose, which attract water, honey absorbs water from wound, drying it out so that the growth of bacteria and fungi are inhibited. Secondly, an enzyme called glucose oxidase found in raw honey, which if combined with water, produces hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic for medication benefits.

BEAUTY BENEFITS Of HONEY

The vitamins, minerals and amino acids found in honey make it a wonderful beauty aid. When taken orally for consistent period of time, honey nourishes the skin and the hair. In fact if taken for longer period of time, it helps our skin to glow more radiantly, helps to reduce wrinkles, thus making us look younger.

Honey is also an excellent moisturizing agent and natural cleanser and therefore, popularly used in wide skin-cleansing formulations. It increases exfoliation or renewal of the skin cells that makes the skin softer and younger.

Other supplementary products of honey which are royal jelly, propolis have been used in beauty saloon as facial mask that command great prices due to its effective results for a more glowing skin.

OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS Of HONEY

Due to its ready availability of carbohydrates, honey provides instant energy sources if taken prior to exercises which improves performances. It helps in muscles recovery faster if taken after an exercises program.

Honey also increases the growth and activity of good bacteria in the gut. Results from recent studies show that taking honey with dairy products such as yogurt can enhance growth and viability of bifidobacteria.

Honey is also used as anti-inflammatory treatment of sore throat.

HOW To TAKE HONEY As HEALTH SUPPLEMENT

Honey can be taken as it is in one tea spoon without mixing with water first thing in the morning or anytime in the day as you wish. For me I prefer to take honey as it is with royal jelly and propolis in the morning before breakfast and drink. It provides me with energy for the whole day with royal jelly as a good beauty aid and propolis a great antioxidant too. After a short period of time, my complexion improved tremendously with intake of honey and this motivated me to continue taking it knowing that it has high antioxidant and healing power too.

Author: Janice H.