Hey There Honey!

   Honey has been utilized as a natural sweetener for centuries, dating back as far as 2100 B.C. Mead, which is made from honey, was once referred to as the "nectar of the gods." Honey has also been honored as a form of currency, tribute, and offering throughout history. It's even been used to make cement, varnishes for furniture, and also has many medicinal purposes. Let me show you a few! 

Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral: 

   Honey has all of the above qualities making it a powerhouse against disease and infection. You can take honey to prevent and help cure illness, treat athletes food and other fungal infections, and even use it directly on a wound or burn to help increase healing! It's gentle and tastes delicious too! 

Honey helps soothe and heal sore throats and upper-respiratory infection:

   Due to honey's antimicrobial properties, it makes it the perfect antidote for a sore throat. Not only will the sweet, viscous liquid coat and soothe the throat, but it will help fight off infection naturally too! There have also been reports that honey will reduce the frequency and severity of coughs due to upper-respiratory congestion. 

                                             Honey as cancer prevention: 

    While honey will not cure cancer, there is significant evidence that it can help to prevent it. Honey has carcinogen-preventing, anti-tumor properties due to large amounts of flavonoids. These are antioxidants which can help reduce the risk of some cancers and even heart disease.

Bonus - Honey for hangovers:

   If you sometimes indulge a little too much on the weekend, you may end up with the dreaded hangover the following morning (or afternoon as the case may be). Well, here comes honey to the rescue! Honey is super gentle on your tummy and also contains a mix of natural sugars, including fructose. Fructose has been known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a sort of 'sobering' agent. This will help speed up your recovery and increase overall well-being. 


   I hope you have learned some new things about this old standby sweetener. Honey is one of my favorite foods, and I always have a large supply. When using honey for medicinal purposes, it's best to use local, raw honey as it has the most healing powers. Happy health and as always, stay clean!

 

Treating Colds and Allergies

Last week our household was struck with the dreaded summer cold. Nothing kills a warm summer day faster than wanting to go out in the sun but already feeling hot and clammy, or wanting to run around outside and feeling achy and stuffy and tired. Here are a few home remedies that can help you get back on track to feeling your best.

Gargling salt water helps to kill bacteria in your mouth and throat and loosens any phlegm that contributes to your throat feeling scratchy. It also helps dull the pain of a sore throat. Some people also gargle warm mouthwash with similar results.

Ginger root, when grated and steeped in warm water, makes a spicy tea that helps to calm your nausea from a runny nose. It's also anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and boosts your circulation, which helps to ease irritated noses, sore throats and headaches.

Turmeric tea is a lighter summer alternative to the healing turmeric milk recipe featured here a couple weeks ago. The bitter, sweet and sour flavors compliment each other interestingly and feel great on your nose and throat. Squeeze half a lemon, a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon turmeric into a mug and stir together to make a syrup. Slowly pour hot water until your mug is full, then let steep for 5 minutes for full healing effects. Fresh turmeric, like fresh ginger, is a knobbly root that can be found in the produce section of most stores and Asian grocers. However, powdered turmeric works just fine too.

Keep exercising. This may seem counter-intuitive, but studies have shown that aside from preventing sickness, exercising actually helps you to feel better during sickness. Exercising at the same intensity as you normally would when you have a cold surprisingly doesn't inhibit your performance in any area. It doesn't seem to cure colds faster, but participants who exercised found that they felt better and more energetic sooner than participants who didn't. Studies haven't been done yet with sickness beyond colds. However, use caution if your cold involves fever or chest congestion as intense activity may exacerbate more serious ailments.

Drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest. This goes without saying, but don't oversleep either. Sleeping too much can be just as detrimental as sleeping too little. Get in a solid 8 hours and always have a glass of water nearby.


If you are struck with the same misfortune I was, hopefully these tips will help you get back on your feet again. Until next time, keep it clean! :)

Terrific and Talented Turmeric!

   Turmeric is an ancient Indian spice with uses dating back to 2500 years ago. It was believed to be first utilized for it's dying properties and then later was incorporated as a spice and also used for cosmetic purposes. In many Indian cultures, turmeric was used as a substitute for the much more expensive saffron, due to it's amazingly similar deep yellow color. Today, turmeric still has many valuable qualities and benefits.

   As stated above, turmeric has a bright yellow color that is gorgeous when used as a natural dye for cloth. All you have to do is add a few shakes of dried turmeric to some hot water and let the item sit for a few hours. For deeper color, you can rinse, dry, and re-dye the cloth. I added a cap full of vinegar to my turmeric bath as well to help the color stick. The color will fade over time, especially when exposed to the sunlight, but you can always re-dye it to suit your liking. It's much better than using commercial dyes that contain questionable chemicals, in my own opinion. :)
   Turmeric also has many medicinal purposes. It is known for it's anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial purposes. This makes it great at combating acne, psoriasis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. I like to mix a little turmeric with some honey and avocado for a hydrating, acne-fighting face mask! Turmeric is a natural pain killer and can help detoxify your liver. It is used to help aid weight management and even helps fat metabolize! It is useful in disinfecting cuts and burns, and also helps to heal and remodel damaged skin. There is even great promise in using turmeric to help prevent and treat cancer!
   How do you obtain these benefits? Some people take supplements of turmeric but that's not always necessary. It could be as easy as sprinkling some turmeric into an egg salad or incorporating it into a traditional Indian curry. You can also make a tea using the root itself or a powdered form. A popular way to drink turmeric in India is making a warm turmeric milk. To make this you add 2 cups organic milk (dairy or non-dairy), 1 tsp. turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp. ginger powder, 4 crushed black peppercorns, a dash of cinnamon, and a dollop of honey or other sweetener (if you chose). It is a delicious and warming "health drink" that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic practices.
   As you can see, there are many uses and benefits of this miracle root. If you've never tried it before, I definitely suggest giving it a shot in any of the above ways! Have fun and stay clean for now!