The following story, "Someone Is Trying To Kill Me," is a classic reminder that the quality and quantity of ones life is in direct relationship to ones daily lifestyle and dietary choices.
This is the message of Dr. Robert and Shelley Young as they share their "New Biology" and the pH Miracle Lifestyle and Diet.
Health and vitality is a consequence of choice just like sickness and disease. When we begin to see the truth that cancer, heart dis-ease, diabetes, depression, heart attack, stroke, low energy, pain, obesity, etc., are the consequences of lifestyle and dietary choice then maybe we will begin to stop doing cancer, heart dis-ease, diabetes, etc. with our lifestyle and dietary choices.
As stated so eloquently by Robert Louis Stevenson, "There will come a time when we all sit down to the banquet of our consequences."
"The cure for all sickness and dis-ease will not be found in its treatment but is found in its prevention." Dr. Robert O. Young.
"If you want to be healthy and strong then you have to make lifestyle and dietary choices that will bring you those consequences," states Dr. Young.
"Life is all about choices that lead to consequences. We can choose health or we can choose sickness and disease. With each thought, with every move, with each word spoken and with every food or drink ingested we determine the quality and quantity of our life," warns Dr. Young.
And, now for our story . . . . . .
On the morning of his 42nd birthday, Crabwell Grommet awoke to a peal of particularly ominous thunder. Glancing out the window with bleary eyes, he saw written in fiery letters across the sky: "Someone is trying to kill you, Crabwell Grommet!"
With shaking hands, Grommet lit his first cigarette of the day. He didn't question the message. You don't question a message like that. His only question was, "Who?" At breakfast, as he salted his fried eggs, he told his wife, Gratia, "Someone is trying to kill me."
"Who?" she asked with horror? Grommet slowly stirred the cream and Sugar into his coffee and shook his head. "I don't know!" he replied. Convinced though he was, Grommet wasn't going to the police with his story. He decided that his only course of action was to go about his daily routine and hope somehow to outwit his would be murderer.
He tried to think on the way to the office but the frustration of making time by beating red lights and switching lanes occupied him wholly. Nor once behind his desk could he find a moment, what with handling phone calls, urgent emails, and the many
problems and decisions piling up as they did every day.
It wasn't until his second martini at lunch that the full terror of his dilemma struck him. It was all he could do to finish off his Lasagna Milanese. "I can't panic," he said to himself, lighting his cigar. "I must simply live my life as usual." So he worked until seven as usual, studied business reports as usual, and took his usual two capsules of Seconal in order to get his usual six hours of sleep.
As the days passed, Crabwell stuck fully to his routine. As the months passed by, he began to take a perverse pleasure in his ability to survive. "Whoever is trying to get me," he's say proudly to his wife, "hasn't got me yet. I'm too smart for him." "Oh, please be careful," she'd reply, ladling him a second helping of her tasty beef stroganoff.
His pride grew and he managed to go on living for years. But, as it must to all men, death came at last to Crabwell Grommet. it came at his desk on a particularly busy day. He was 53.
His wife demanded a full autopsy. But it showed only emphysema, arterioscleorosis, duodenal ulcers, cirrhosis of the liver, cardiac necrosis, a cerebrovascular aneurysm, pulmonary edema, obesity, circulatory insufficiency, and a touch of lung cancer.
"How glad Crabwell would have been to know," said the widow smiling proudly through her tears, "that he died of natural causes."
The moral of this story can be found in the words of Dr. Phil, "When we choose the behavior, we choose the consequences."
Have you visited The pH Miracle Living website or the Articles of Health website recently? Please do; there's lots of great information waiting for you. Please share this information with others that you know and love.
Not part of our healing alkaline community?
Visit our website at:
www.phmiracleliving.com
To learn more about the Science of Dr. Robert and Shelley Young go to:
www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com
'Miracles happen not in opposition to nature, but in opposition to what we know of nature.' St. Augustine
'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' ....Arthur C. Clarke
'There are only two ways to live your life. One, is as though there are no miracles. The other is as though everything is a miracle.' Albert Einstein
pH Miracle Living Center
16390 Dia Del Sol
Valley Center, California 92082 US
© Copyright 2008 - Dr. Robert O. Young
All rights are reserved. Content may be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, if correct attribution is made to Dr. Robert O. Young.
by: Sheryl Walters, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews) We all want to live long, healthy and happy lives. There are natural things we can do to improve our chances, none of which cost a lot of money or are particularly difficult to accomplish. It takes practice, repetition and consistency to make your daily plan for healthy living a success.
Be physically active. A daily routine that includes regular exercise is good for your sense of well-being and overall general health. It will help you sleep better, too. A regular exercise program will keep you flexible and strong. As we age, our bones and joints tend to become stiff and inflamed. Regular exercise keeps these aches and pains at bay. Exercise doesn't have to be painful to be good for you. Several periods of light exercise a week will serve you well. Consistency is the real key.
Eat a healthy diet. Be sure to include a variety of healthful fruits and vegetables in what you eat each day. Raw foods are especially good for you. They contain more fiber and nutrients because these things are lost by cooking. Eat complex carbohydrates and fresh, not dried or frozen proteins. Lower your fat intake if it is more than 30% of your daily intake. Three to five servings of carbohydrate in the form of starches and fruits should be included in each meal.
Drink alcohol only in moderation as alcohol can be very hard on the body in large quantities. Just one drink can cause cellular death in several organs such as the brain. Drink mixed drinks that contain fruit or vegetable juice as healthy diluents for the alcohol. Sip your drinks, don't gulp. Enjoy nonalcoholic drinks. Many restaurants that serve elaborate alcoholic cocktails will prepare them without the alcohol.
Learn how to manage stress. Failure to manage stressors in your life can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and a variety of emotional problems. Take time to relax and practice some form of stress reduction each day. Tai chi, a massage, deep breathing, listening to calming music or other sounds and meditation are all effective stress reducers. At the end of the day, some people swear by calming music, soft lighting and a warm aromatherapy bath.
Get the right amount of sleep for you. Any number of studies will tell you that many people don't sleep enough. While it is possible to sleep too much, most of us don't have that problem. Don't use your sleeping room for eating or working. It's important to maintain an atmosphere that lends itself to sleep. If you regularly eat and work in your sleeping room, your brain will recognize the environment as a waking one. Go to bed at about the same time every night. Your brain will get used to slowing down if you do that at the same time. Always end your day on a calming note. You will sleep better and wake the next day feeling refreshed.
Sources:
Silva GE, Goodwin JL, Sherrill DL, Arnold JL, Bootzin RR, Smith T, Walsleben, Baldwin CM, Quan SF. Relationship between reported and measured sleep times: The Sleep Heart Health Study. J Clin Sleep Med 2007; 3(6):622-630.
Lichtenstein et al. Summary of American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio. 2006;26:2186-2191.
Reeves, MJ., Rafferty, AP. 2005. Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics Among Adults in the United States, 2000. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:854-857.
About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous. You can also find some of the most powerful super foods on the planet including raw chocolate, purple corn, and many others.
Energize for Life
Just about back down to earth following our Dr Young Live weekend, and I have to say - it was fantastic. Dr Young was an absolute pleasure and I thought his content each day was just amazing.
Even though I have been in this field for over six years now I still learned heaps, and lets be honest - there is nothing more motivating than to have the core principles repeated to you by Dr Young himself!
So for those of you who were not able to be there, here are my top five take outs:
Ross's Top Five Lessons from Dr Young
1) You Don't Have to be Perfect!
This is something that has been dawning on me for a while now, but seeing and hanging around Dr Young all weekend has made that clear to me. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT! Dr Young in his interview (video coming very soon) states how if it is the choice between eating a banana or eating a processed snack he'll take the banana every time. On stage he talked about having blueberries as a treat, and using stevia in certain recipes. He also talked about the 80/20 rule, transitioning, and basically making the right choices more often than not.
I find that this approach to health is hardest and you slip up the most when you're hungry - so rather than trying to be perfect all of the time, relax and give yourself some space. I always try to aim for the best possible in the situation I am in, but even then I still treat myself every now and then - and Dr Young made it clear that he does too!
Put it this way - it is better to be 80% 100% of the time rather than 100% for two days and then quit.
When you think of it from this perspective, it suddenly becomes a whole lot less daunting!
Setting Up!
2) Getting Started Is Easier Than You Think!
It really is! You can just start now. Go on! Don't put it off. Make a commitment now. Make a decision to eat something alkaline or cut something out. Make a commitment to giving yourself proper nutrition, getting your greens and hydrating properly!
This is highly linked to the point above about not trying to be perfect all of the time - when you first start out you can take it at a pace that is comfortable for you. While I always advocate a cleanse to kick things off, this is not 100% vital - you don't have to put it off until you can find the time to do a cleanse.
Leo Babauta writes about 'The Power Of Less' and his big point about making habits stick is to make it easy to win for the first thirty days. Make a commitment to do something simple, straightforward but powerful now and for the next thirty days. For instance you could commit to drinking 4 liters of greens every day, or having a green juice every morning, or cutting out Sugar for thirty days.
Then you can build on your success, bit by bit. This is what our 12 week course guides you through, tackling it meal by meal and transition by transition and that is why it is getting such great results.
Dr Young talked about transitioning and how making a few fundamental changes can make a massive difference (like getting your greens every day, hydrating properly, getting enough healthy oils, cutting out sugar, chocolate or coffee etc). Each of these fundamentals will get you on the right track and give you the positive reinforcement you need to keep going in the right direction!
3) Alkaline Aerobic Exercise Is So Easy to Stick To!
One of my favorite parts of the weekend was seeing Dr Young up there bouncing around on an Energize Rebounder!
As he pointed out, rebounding is an incredible effective and efficient form of exercise, giving you a whole body workout, pumping your lymph and helping to significantly detoxify your body.
It is so efficient in fact that you can simply hop right on, with no getting changed, driving to the gym, showering after etc. and exercise for just 15 minutes twice per day.
If you can commit to just this I promise you that you will notice a huge difference in your energy and vitality.
So related to the above point about it being easy to get started, if you can have this as your baseline exercise each day you will be doing really well!
4) The Importance of Salt!
I have been learning more and more about alkaline salts of late, but this weekend really did it for me. There is no way I can go without getting enough healthy, alkaline salts every day. Hearing Dr Young talk about the importance, and the power of salt was extremely motivating and he made everything a lot clearer for me.
From reading and researching Dr Young's works and from listening to him talk about salt at the weekend - here are my favorite and most important salt facts that he has written:
o In the same way that we have to replace lost fluids in our body by drinking enough water, we must do the same with salt. According to Dr Young "Our bodies contain almost 450gms of salt and each day we need to replenish the salt used by our bodies to maintain our normal health, vigor and alkaline design".
o Our body has a very limited alkaline buffer to neutralize the acids we create and consume each day, when this buffer is depleted it wreaks havoc in the body as the body MUST retain blood and other cells at a pH of 7.365 - "Salt is necessary for making the sodium bicarbonate the body needs to alkalize the food we eat to maintaining the alkalinity of the blood and lymph fluids."
o Salt creates energy! It is so important to our body in terms of digesting food and turning this food into living tissues. Dr Young states: "When you are tired and/or fatigued and need energy that is the need for salt. All Sugar cravings are the need for salt." - try it! Next time you are craving sugar, have a spray of Young pHorever pHlavour salt or a serve of pHour Salts (or a glass of water and Baking Soda if you don't have these products to hand).
o Consuming alkaline salts makes you look great! It gets rid of cellulite! For every gram of sodium chloride that your body cannot get rid of, your body uses twenty-three times the amount of cell water to neutralize the salt. So when you eating common table salt you get excess fluid in your body tissue - a direct contributor to cellulite and appearing overweight!
o Salt also helps to replenish your skin and can be used in your bath to help get rid of skin conditions, yeast infections and more!
According to Dr Young Salt also:
* Regulates the water content in your body
* Balances excess acidity in the body
* Acts as a natural antihistamine
* Balances blood Sugar levels
* Clears mucus and phlegm
* Maintains your libido
* Prevents varicose veins
It is seriously worth getting into salt!
5) Similarly to salt, I learned a LOT about clay this weekend. Again, I obviously knew that clay was good, but I didn't know it was this good. Clay is a great detoxifier. It contains a high level of alkaline minerals that are at a colloidal level, and the particles of Dr Young's Montmorillonite Clay carry a negative electrical charge whereas acids, impurities or toxins carry a positive electrical charge, so these acidic toxins bind to it's outside surface. The body can then carry these toxins away safely and give you an alkalised and energized boost.
But this is not all! From the notes I took at the weekend and Dr Young's writings, I have learned that using clay as a detoxifier can also lead to:
* No more acne, clean, clear and soft skin
* No more dandruff
* Less aches, pains and strains
* Hydrated, nourished skin
* No more yeast and fungus infections
* Disappearing wrinkles
Dr Young actually puts it much more clearly than me:
Smectite Montmorillonite clay has the ability to neutralize acids from diet and metabolism which protects the body from cells transforming into bacteria, yeast or mold. The beautiful thing about clay is that it can adsorb and then absorb toxins or acids 100 times it own mass...
...This clay provides an impressive assortment of alkalizing minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, sodium, sulfur, and silica. Furthermore, these minerals in clay exist in natural proportion to one another, so they are more easily and thoroughly absorbed by the body. The minerals in this clay are also highly negatively charged - full of electrons that absorb, adsorb, and eliminate many positively charged toxins in the body. In fact, this clay can absorb and adsorb many times it weight in acids, holding them until your body can safely eliminate them. Terra Cleanse is truly the earths natural acid absorber/adsorber and can be used to neutralize over acidity internally (digestive tract) as well as externally (skin).
The Energise Team!
There was actually nothing more motivating than just hanging out with Dr Young this weekend. Not because I spoke to him about health or alkalizing (it was fun not to talk shop) but just to see his energy, see how fit and healthy he is and just HOW YOUNG HE LOOKS!
You would seriously not be able to guess that Dr Young is nearly 60. His skin is absolutely flawless. And did you see him on the rebounder? The exercises he was doing and his ability to keep on delivering a presentation while doing them frankly put me to shame, and I am exactly half his age.
I also met up with him as soon as he arrived in London, just after a 14 hour flight he went straight to the gym for a 8 mile run and straight into an interview with me - and he was spritely, energetic and enthusiastic.
I am absolutely convinced that if you want to live a life of energy, vitality, strength, youthfulness and great health then the alkaline diet is 100% the way to go.
I hope you'll agree - this simple, easy to understand approach to health is a real breakthrough and gives us all the tools we need to live to our potential.
Let me know your thoughts!
Ross
Energize for Life
In Love and Healing Light,
Robert O. Young, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Founder of 'THE NEW BIOLOGY' ®
Creator of the 'SCIENCE OF ALKALINE
LIVING'™ for Health.
Not part of our healing alkaline
community? Visit our website at:
www.phmiracleliving.com
To learn more about the Science of Dr.
Robert and Shelley Young go to:
www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com
'Miracles happen not in opposition to
nature, but in opposition to what we
know of nature.' St. Augustine
'Any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from magic' Arthur C.
Clarke
'There are only two ways to live your
life. One, is as though there are no
miracles. The other is as though
everything is a miracle.' Albert
Einstein
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© Copyright 2009 - Dr. Robert O. Young
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reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or
transferred, for single use, or by
nonprofit organizations for educational
purposes, if correct attribution is made
to Dr. Robert O. Young.
As I practice what I preach and do my own readReadREADing, I post things for you that I've found make a difference in my life.
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, gives away GOOD ADVICE on a daily basis.
On this page, I'm going to be adding links to one hour podcast on a variety of subjects. If you feel that you don't have time to listen, I feel that you're not serious about health. A minimum of one hour a day needs to be set aside in your life for REeducation.
Listen with pen and pad handy, notate things that STRIKE you and google them and begin your self-education!
http://www.naturalnews.com/podcasts/HRR001.mp3
Expect it to take LONG seconds to load.
http://www.naturalnews.com/
Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing".
When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was.
Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.
~ Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around.~
Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.
Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.
Today's Science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.
Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 Jan uary,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:
HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.
In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the
Arteries and veins.
ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic Arthritis can be cured. In a
Recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University , it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast,
They found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of Arthritis started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.
CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.
As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears s tom ach ulcers from the root.
GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the s tom ach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural Ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.
PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.
SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.
WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty s tom ach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.
FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the Sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are
more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at
about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.
BAD BREATH:
People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.
HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!
...........
You might want to share this information with a friend, kinfolks and loved ones. Everyone needs healthy help information ~ what they do with it is up to them ~ share with your email buddies!!!!! -- ***Personal Note: this was forwarded to me from our member Ewewho ... I don't have the source ... if anyone knows and will provide the information, I'd be glad to give credit.
(NaturalNews) Honey is an age-old food and medicine, dating back thousands of years at least. One would think that both believers in creation and believers in evolution would feel that honey is a symbiotic food and medicine.
Still, one could make the same assumption about drinking the milk of other mammals, but that one has turned out to be harmful to humans; particularly when processed, pasteurized or homogenized. The justification for saying milk is not really good for us has been that it is obviously unnatural to nurse off of another species. A similar argument has arisen over honey.
On the one hand, we have new-age vegans who firmly (albeit cavalierly) shrug off honey as an animal product and one involving the abuse of bees to boot. They say (very cavalierly) that honey is acid-forming, harmful to your health and damaging to any good healing food program or herbal medicine regime.
On the other hand, we have nature-watching herbalists who say that honey is the food of the gods. It breaks down mucus, feeds the body the highest quality glucose (the real fuel for cells besides oxygen), warms the blood, stops cravings, inhibits decay, inhibits bone loss and is a natural plant food which bees simply gather.
The opponents say that bees put saliva into the honey and also a “harmful preservative” that hurts humans who use it.
The advocates say that the bees simply gather flower nectar and dehydrate it as food.
The opponents say that the bees are abused and mistreated and robbed of the honey they work so hard for.
The advocates say that the bees have existed symbiotically with humans for thousands of years and when left alone have less chance of survival, not more. They say that bees always overproduce, even wild ones, and that if left to themselves they will swarm and will be in danger. The advocates say that honey is no more likely to have bee saliva on it than any other plant that insects land on and attempt to eat.
Opponents say that bees are fed chemicals and Sugar that weakens them in modern beekeeping.
I am pretty sure that advocates have no recourse for this except that the equivalent happens to commercially grown plants and that is why we all should be selective of what plants we buy for food and the same is true of honey.
This argument has been going on since vegan diets emerged as a form of animal rights activism. The original vegans were hyper-critical and hypo-thoughtful. They tended to be very reactionary, rallying emotionally for a political cause. They were easily dismissed on the same grounds (that they were emotionally reactive and devoid of reasonable argument).
Today, however, vegan diets are used for healing. Instead of “Twinkie and Coca Cola” vegans, who just avoid animal products and are not necessarily enlightened at all, we have vegans who are eating all whole foods, sometimes all raw foods. These vegans are interested in making the best choices for both their bodies and for the world they live in.
The trouble is that there is no good line drawn between what vegans used to be and what they are today. Many of the false ideas have spilled over and are still damaging the health of otherwise healthy vegans today.
Meanwhile, arguing itself is definitely unhealthy to all parties and I think most people today are enlightened enough to know, at least intellectually, that it is much wiser to search for truth about our health and that of our world if we are to really make a positive difference.
Too many times anger and protest have made things worse, rather than better. Fighting, most people are aware, does not make the world better. A bumper sticker states, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” This is true for sure and on more than one level since the angry person really cannot see clearly to do any real good.
I went looking for some facts about honey so that I could give as much good information as possible and I have tried to keep bias out of the discussion for the reader’s benefit.
Here are a few things I found:
1) Honey is nectar from flowers, containing mostly complex sugars and water. This nectar will be (as
we shall see) broken down into simpler sugars and dehydrated. That is the final product. How that
happens is discussed below.
2) Honey is not swallowed by bees and then regurgitated. Rather they have a second stomach (analogous
to a marsupial pouch) that does not digest the flower nectar at all, but only stores it while it
is being gathered. This sack will hold about as much honey weight as the bee weighs!
3) Specialized labor in the hive (worker bees) will take the unprocessed nectar from the gatherer
bees and will “chew” it (mix and warm might be a better approximation) . In this process the
sugars in the honey are broken down. It is a matter of some debate whether the sugars break down
from the enzymes made in the plant that are warmed in the “chewing” process, or whether the sugars
are broken down from bee enzymes, or both. Both is the most likely. We find in the herbivore
portion of the animal kingdom an almost exclusive dependence on enzymes from plants and an
inability to produce adequate amounts of enzymes when they are not found in the diet, we find no
reason to think that bees are any different.
4) The simple sugars are not fully broken down as they will be when the bee eats them and digests
them for its use. Rather, those sugars are primarily fructose and sucrose. When honey is placed in
warm water, it immediately tests positive for glucose, meaning that this activates enzymes in the
honey and makes it usable food for humans and bees alike. The bees will keep the honey cool and
will dehydrate it so that it becomes concentrated Sugar (which is not allowed to be converted to
glucose until eaten). In this form it contains enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and some
plant-based hormones. It is mostly Sugar and water (always less than 18% water when finished) .
5) Is honey acidic? Well, every really sweet thing has a low pH because that is the nature of sugar.
In our own testing, however, we have discovered that 45 minutes after eating honey the blood tests
more alkaline. We have also discovered that diabetics have lower blood sugar 45 minutes after
eating honey. This indicates that honey is very quickly and easily taken into the cells of the
body for use as fuel, rather than sitting in the blood as refined sweeteners and processed food
does.
6) The abuse of bees? Well, it is definitely disappearing. Many small operations are using only
organic, natural medicines and many of those who do so have been rewarded by having their bees
survive the recent die-off. A honey source I investigated does not ever feed his bees sugar but
feeds them their own honey year round and never uses anything toxic on his bees. Some beekeepers
feed their bees chemicals and sugar water to eat during times of low honey flow and are not kept
in clean conditions. These bees are definitely abused by my standards.
7) The use of honey as medicine has long been done and works to boost immunity while the use of sugar
definitely damages immunity.
8) We have found that for some people, the use of some types of honey will cause weak joints to hurt
or get worse. Of course the same is true of some types of fruit (especially citrus fruit and
especially grapefruit).
The above discussion is not conclusive, just exploratory and hopefully dispelling to common myths.
There are a few questions unanswered above. For example, what is the long-term effect of using honey? We can find the biblical reference of John the Baptist who apparently lived off of it. On the other hand, in more modern times we can easily demonstrate that it is far superior to table sugar, but we have no modern examples of long-term use as a staple instead of other sweetening options. Even beekeepers tend to use refined sweeteners and standard American dietary blunders and are not a reliable (or consistent) test group.
What we do know is that honey is easily used by the body - which is why it actually makes the body more alkaline and lowers blood sugar. The only real fuel that your body needs is ATP and that is made primarily from glucose and oxygen. The only sources of concentrated glucose are ripe fruit, honey, raw (non-starchy) vegetables and sprouts. These must all be raw since glucose does not really occur in the plant kingdom and you need enzymes in tact to convert the fructose and sucrose into glucose. If you want your cells to awaken, they need to have plenty of glucose available - more than any other nutrient. One would assume, on this basis, that honey would be beneficial in the long-term.
Another question is about the symbiotic relationship of honeybees to humans. Some people feel that a symbiotic relationship (where both parties benefit and maybe even are dependent on one another for life) is THE defining characteristic of a truly healthy food. If competition exists, such as when we kill animals for food, or when abuse exists, such as in chicken farms and dairy farms, then those foods are always unhealthy.
To this we can say that there are definitely symbiotic relationships out there but they are not necessarily the norm. Some beekeepers can be at one with the bees and can get the honey without any protective equipment and can keep the bees clean and healthy so that only the best results come to both bee and keeper. These are usually smaller operations but not necessarily.
On the other hand, some beekeepers are really only interested in money and have sacrificed the health of their bees and even the lives of their bees for a better bottom line. This certainly does not sound very symbiotic to me.
I don’t really have an answer for you. I make herbal preparations that I would consider half as effective without the honey. One of these heals even the most severe burns and keeps them pain and infection free until they heal with little or no scarring. Another of these heals all calcium deficiencies in the human body and repairs tooth enamel.
As for myself, I have a supplier who runs about a thousand hives of bees and who is very reliable and I have quizzed him carefully in person to know exactly what he does. He sells his honey to me by five gallon buckets and it is very reasonably priced.
I will continue to use honey in my home, and I feel like I am getting honey that is produced symbiotically. I am completely vegan in my home except for honey and am mostly a raw foodist. My feeling is that my vital force energy is increased by honey. After my research on this subject, I am convinced that some bee enzymes are eaten in some quantity when honey is consumed. I feel that so long as the bee is respected, and not killed or harmed, this is still symbiotic.
Life surrounds honey when the beekeeper is responsible. Life energy leads to life in the body.
About the author
Kal Sellers, MH is a lifelong student and practitioner of the natural healing arts.
Kal is a Master Herbalist, a Massage Therapist, Technician of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration, Iridologist, Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner, Mental Re-programmer, Life Coach, Natural Nutritionist, Reflexologist and more.
Kal is currently attending Life University in preparation for chiropractic school.
Kal currently operates and maintains www.KalsSchool.com an on-line school for natural healing and herbal medicine.
Kal also maintains www.BestFoodist.com as the website for the distribution of his and his wife's books on natural nutrition and companion recipe book (Traci's Transformational Kitchen Cookbook and Traci's Transformational Health Principles).
Kal and Traci have five children, the last three of which were delivered at home, the last by Kal. They live now in Powder Springs, GA where they maintain live classes on food and medicine for anyone choosing to master medical independence and life-long optimal health!
Debating Honey: Symbiotic Food or Unnatural Poison?
(NaturalNews) In an Associated Press story dated December 27th 2007, it was revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had quietly approved a line of honey-based wound dressings during the fall of that year. Derma Sciences, Inc., a New Jersey manufacturer of medical wound and skin care supplies, was then able to market their MEDIHONEY product. MEDIHONEY is a line of wound dressings consisting chiefly of an absorbent alginate (which is a component of brown algae) pad, covered in Manuka (Leptospermum) honey.
Using honey to treat wounds is nothing new; even ancient civilizations used it in this manner. However, this is the sort of thing that usually gets relegated to "folk healing". It seems scientifically obvious: honey is very acidic (antibacterial), and it produces its own hydrogen peroxide when combined with the fluid which drains from a wound! The extremely high Sugar content of honey means it contains very little water. So, it draws the pus and fluid from the wound, thereby speeding the healing process. Furthermore, the honey contains powerful germ-fighting phytochemicals from the plants that produced the pollen harvested by the honeybees. Having already been accepted by the overseas mainstream medical community for some time, North America finally caught on. MEDIHONEY is, according to Derma Sciences' website, "the first honey-based product cleared for use by Health Canada and also the first cleared for use by the FDA."
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a New Zealand tree, related to the Tea Tree (Melaleuca). Much like tea tree oil, native New Zealanders have taken advantage of the Manuka's natural medicine for generations. It turned out that the honey produced from this plant's pollen has powerful antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Doctors found it very useful for treating burn and injury patients in Iraq. Widespread applications include treatment of surgical sites, trauma wounds, skin grafts, burns, and skin sores.
Doctors are even finding that Manuka honey works on drug-resistant infections. As pharmaceutical Antibiotics become less and less effective, natural cures may be taken more seriously. Ironically, they have also discovered that these honey dressings can prevent the development of MRSA in an open wound (See Natural News Article Honeybees and Almonds, Pigs and MRSA: The Deadly Connections for another story linking MRSA and honeybees). It's very disturbing to consider the fact that we may be killing off the very methods by which we can defeat our pharmaceutically resistant 21st century superbugs!
While browsing Derma Sciences' website, I noticed that they also manufacture a product which incorporates "antimicrobial silver" into wound dressings. This product, ALGICELL Ag, has also been approved by the FDA. Could they be getting around to recognizing the benefits of Colloidal Silver , at long last? Perhaps even the FDA shall have to re-examine its position on nutraceuticals and holistic treatments, as it's becoming glaringly evident that Big Pharma doesn't have all the answers.
Sources:
Honey Makes Medical Comeback (MSNBC)
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22398921)
Honey to Heal (Biotech Learning Hub NZ)
((http://biotechlearn.org.nz/focus_storie...)
About the author
Liz Walker enjoys feeding people organic produce, promoting Community Supported Agriculture and natural health, exposing consumer and cultural rip-offs, hanging out with animals, and playing music. She and her friend Au write about green living and some of the above topics at www.theclevergreens.com.
FDA Quietly Acknowledges Medical Benefits
(NaturalNews) Raw honey – which has not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly from the hive – is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful medicine, both internally and externally.
The list of honey's beneficial functions is a long one. Honey increases calcium absorption; can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia caused by nutritional factors; can help arthritic joints, when combined with apple cider vinegar; fights colds and respiratory infections of all kinds; can help to boost gastrointestinal ulcer healing; works as a natural and gentle laxative; aids constipation, allergies and obesity; provides an array of vitamins and minerals; and supplies instant energy without the insulin surge caused by White Sugar . Many have found raw honey helpful for its positive effects against allergies and hay fever, and one or two teaspoons last thing at night can help with insomnia. As an antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed Antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene, surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones during storage and shipment.
"Raw honey is exceptionally effective internally against bacteria and parasites. Plus, raw honey contains natural Antibiotics , which help kill microbes directly. Raw honey, when applied topically, speeds the healing of tissues damaged by infection and/or trauma. It contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as sugars, all of which aid in the healing of wounds."
So writes Dr. Cass Igram, D.O. in The Survivor's Nutritional Pharmacy. In a fascinating modern development, scientists and doctors are beginning to rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment. In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are clean, honey acts as a healer. This also is the same procedure for infected wounds, ulcerations and impetigo. Garlic honey can also be applied directly to infected wounds, which will help clean up the area of infection.
Dr. Peter Molan, professor of biochemistry at Waikato University, New Zealand, has been at the forefront of honey research for 20 years. He heads the university's Honey Research Unit, which is internationally recognized for its expertise in the antimicrobial properties of honey. Clinical observations and experimental studies have established that honey has effective antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Astonishingly, it painlessly removes pus, scabs and dead tissue from wounds and stimulates new tissue growth. "Randomized trials have shown that honey is more effective in controlling infection in burn wounds than silver sulfadiazine, the antibacterial ointment most widely used on burns in hospitals," explains Dr. Molan.
Dr. Molan believes that if honey were used from the start in cases of septicemia, there would be far less tissue damage resulting. "The remarkable ability of honey to reduce inflammation and mop up free radicals should halt the progress of the skin damage like it does in burns, as well as protecting from infection setting in", says Dr. Molan. "At present, people are turning to honey when nothing else works. But there are very good grounds for using honey as a therapeutic agent of first choice."
Researchers believe that the therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underutilized. With increasing interest in the use of alternative therapies and as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreads, honey may finally receive its due recognition as a wound healer.
Indeed, it works: Raw honey makes a sterile, painless and effective wound dressing. Apply it directly to open cuts, abrasions and burns, and cover it with a piece of gauze. The results will occur quicker than with conventional alternatives, such as salves and creams.
Honey is also exceptionally effective for respiratory ailments. One Bulgarian study of almost 18,000 patients found that it improved chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, chronic and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. It's an effective treatment for colds, flu, respiratory infections and a generally depressed immune system. Whereas Sugar shuts down the immune system, a good quality honey will stimulate it into action.
Here are some more ways to utilize the healing power of honey:
BURNS - Apply freely over burns. It cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring. Apart from being a salve and an antibiotic, bacteria simply cannot survive in honey.
BED WETTING - A teaspoon of honey before bed aids water retention and calms fears in children.
INSOMNIA - A dessertspoon of honey in a mug of warm milk aids sleep and works wonders.
HYPERACTIVITY - Replace all use of white Sugar with honey. White Sugar is highly stimulating with no food qualities. Honey provides the energy without the "spike."
NASAL CONGESTION - Place a dessertspoon of honey in a basin of water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very effective!
FATIGUE - Dissolve a dessertspoon of honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a jug and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and glucose, so it's quickly absorbed by the digestive system. Honey is a unique natural stabilizer: Ancient Greek athletes took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver after competition.
FACIAL DEEP CLEANSER - Mix honey with an equal quantity of oatmeal, and apply as a face pack. Leave on for half an hour, then wash it off. Great as a deep cleanser for Acne and other unwanted blemishes.
POOR DIGESTION - Mix honey with an equal quantity of apple cider vinegar and dilute to taste with water. This is also wonderful for the joints – and promotes weight loss.
HAIR CONDITIONER - Mix honey with an equal quantity of olive oil, cover head with a warm tower for half an hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp. Your hair will never look or feel better!
SORE THROATS - Let a teaspoon of honey melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat. Eases inflamed raw tissues.
FOR STRESS - Honey in water is a stabilizer, calming highs and raising lows. Use approximately 25 percent honey to water.
ANEMIA - Honey is the best blood enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey, the more minerals it contains.
FOOD PRESERVATIVE – If you replace the sugar in cake and cookie recipes with honey, they'll stay fresher longer due to honey's natural antibacterial properties. Reduce liquids in the mixture by about one-fifth to allow for the moisture present in the in honey.
BABY'S BOTTLE - Four teaspoons of honey to a baby's bottle of water is an excellent pacifier and multivitamin additive. If the baby's motions are too liquid, then reduce the honey by half a teaspoon; if too solid increase by half a teaspoon. (Caution: Don't give raw honey to babies under 1 year old; it's just too rich.) For teething, honey rubbed on a baby's gums is also a mild sedative and anesthetic.
OSTEOPOROSIS – Research has shown that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilization and prevents osteoporosis – probably not a bad idea for anyone over 50.
LONGEVITY - The most long-lived people in the world are all regular users of honey. An interesting fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less from cancer and Arthritis than any other occupational group worldwide.
MIGRAINE - Use a dessertspoon of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Sip at the start of a migraine attack, and, if necessary, repeat after another 20 minutes.
CONJUNCTIVITIS - Dissolve honey in an equal quantity of warm water. When cooled, apply as a lotion or eye bath.
COUGH MIXTURE – Combine 6 ounces (170 grams) liquid honey, 2 ounces (55 grams) glycerin and the juice of two lemons. Mix well. Bottle and cork firmly, and use as required.
Raw honey may become granulated, as some does after a week and another maybe only after several years. If the granulations bother you, simply place the honey into a pan of hot water (not boiling) and let it stand until becoming liquid again.
Kelly Joyce Neff has an interdisciplinary degree in Celtic Studies which includes work in cultural anthropology, history, linguistics, language, and literature. She is a traditional midwife and herbalist, a reiki master, and an active craftsperson. She lives in San Francisco.
The healing power of honey: From burns to weak bones, raw honey can...
Did you know the world's longest living people are BEE KEEPERS? Discover the miraculous properties of honey and royal jelly. For more info, please visit: http://www.thebestdayever.com/
For more info, please visit: http://www.thebestdayever.com/
(NaturalNews) With the current call for a ban of all cough medicines for children age 6 and under by an expert panel of the FDA, it's helpful to understand why these cough medicines are being reevaluated and to explore alternative remedies.
The cough medicines are being recalled because they don't work well and the incidences of drug overdose for the children who use them are too high.
The good news is that there are effective alternatives. One of the best home remedies for a variety of issues is honey. Honey has been shown to be a safe natural remedy.
Researchers at Penn State University conducted a study on honey's effectiveness for treating coughs in children. Children with cough symptoms were divided into three groups. One group was given nothing, the second group was given a cough suppressant containing dextromethorphan DM, and the third group was given a spoonful of honey before bed. Honey was found to be significantly better for quieting coughs, compared to the DM or no treatment groups.
Honey is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-microbial compounds that are very beneficial for healing. Honey also soothes the throat by coating the area that is irritated. Honey has the added benefit of tasting good!
Dosage: Children ages 2 to 5 can have a half teaspoon; ages 6 to 12 can have a teaspoon; and ages 12 and over can have two teaspoons. It may be helpful to follow the honey with warm decaffeinated tea.
Honey also contains strong natural antiseptics that can be both eaten and used topically on wounds. Many countries recognize the healing properties of honey, including England, France, Japan, Austria and New Zealand. Their practice is to keep honey available as one of the best home remedies.
You can spread it on scraped knees and administer it whenever a sore throat is felt to be coming on. It's used to control ulcers by preventing the buildup of H-pylori in the stomach. It's used for acid reflux as an effective remedy. It's even been touted for its ability to heal leg ulcers in patients with diabetes.
New research is also revealing the unusual antibacterial activity unique to honey. This has led to a greater understanding of the capability of honey to kill certain bacteria through different mechanisms.
* Honey has even been effective against many different drug resistant bacteria, including E. coli.
* Honey has been observed attacking E. coli bacteria in ways that render the bacteria defenseless.
* Honey has been able to kill not only the E. coli bacteria, but other types of bacteria as well.
One of the strongest and most effective kinds of honey is manuka honey (made from the manuka flower). This honey has proven itself the most effective cure for acid reflux. Clover honey and other honeys are effective as well, but to a slightly lesser extent. Researchers have even discovered that manuka honey has been shown to prevent and fight some of the super bugs currently invading hospitals.
Not only does honey possess significant antibacterial qualities, it is also effective in promoting healing by directly stimulating cells necessary in immune response for disease fighting and wound healing.
Honey is the one sweetener that offers not only life-giving qualities that are unique, but also a sweetness that is absolutely natural.
About the author
Jo Hartley
Wife, Mother of 8, and Grandmother of 2
Jo is a 40 year old home educator who has always gravitated toward a natural approach to life. She enjoys learning as much as possible about just about anything!
http://www.loftymatters.com
Honey Is a Natural Alternative to Harmful Cough Medicines
In this interview with Neil Logan from Integrated Living Systems Design (www.RNL3.net), you'll learn about the "barometer honeybee hives" in the Kaiwe forests of the Big Island of Hawaii.
(NaturalNews) Recent articles on NaturalNews by Stephanie Whited and Celina Cook discuss bacteria infections that are resistant to drugs, see (http://www.NaturalNews.com/022276.html) and (http://www.NaturalNews.com/022281.html) respectively. Whited points out there are a number of natural foods, including honey, as well as herbs that people may use to overcome such infections. What is really interesting is how the medical profession is dealing with certain drug resistant infections – using a certain type of honey.
Dr. Molan reports on the antimicrobial properties of honey, at ((http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2001/nov...) , which has been rediscovered by the medical profession where conventional drugs are failing. Honey inhibits a range of bacteria and has anti-fungal properties.
Interestingly, not all honey is the same as Aristotle and Dioscorides pointed out thousands of years ago, and as discovered by Brenda Mossel, Bruce D’Arcy, Bob Wallace and Craig Davis of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Queensland. They have been researching the antimicrobial properties of Australian honey against Staphylococcus aureus (which is a bacteria resistant to Antibiotics ), and found that not all the honeys have this property.
All honeys will stop the growth of bacteria but the effectiveness of doing so is limited to at least 2 tested honeys. Manuka honey from the manuka bush in New Zealand (Leptospermum scoparium) and a honey from Australia, Leptospermum polygalifolium.
These two honeys have been tested for antibacterial activity and have a property found only in honey from the Leptospermum plants. This property is called the “unique manuka factor” (UMF) which produces a more potent antibacterial action.
This property also makes the honey more stable and active in all situations, unlike other honeys whose effectiveness is reduced under certain conditions.
The honey with UMF properties has been used successfully in wound dressings in New Zealand, and in a large hospital in Brisbane, Australia, where honey without UMF failed.
As a dressing, UMF honey reduces inflammation, swelling, and pain quickly; this healing occurs much faster in conditions where standard Antibiotic and antiseptic treatment was not working. Another benefit is that while antiseptics cause tissue damage, honey doesn’t and additionally, honey promotes healing.
According to information released by the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, there are many reports of Staphylococcus being completely inhibited by UMF honey.
In addition to antimicrobial properties, honey is also an antioxidant containing flavanoids with anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is now clear that these properties may not exist in all honeys in all conditions, so we need to be choosy about our honey.
Research is needed to discover the properties of a wider variety of honeys and comparative studies, on the healing effectiveness of these honeys, are needed. Dr. Molan reports that from a theoretical point of view, there are good reasons to choose honey with a UMF factor of 10 or higher (a rating based on the level of antibacterial activity).
As well as wounds, UMF honey has been used in treating gastroenteritis, ulcers and colds, and has been promoted for use in digestional health.
For further information about the health benefits of honey, or how honey is used as a wound dressing, see the links given here:
((http://www.uq.edu.au/~gabdarcy/honey/ho...)
(http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/)
About the author
Lynn Berry loves good food and cooking and is passionate about nutrition and natural health care. She has a website promoting healthy eating at www.low-calorie-vegetarian-recipe.com.
Knocking Out Superbugs With Antimicrobial UMF Honey
(NaturalNews) What if you could find a magic potion that would sweeten your tea, create mind blowing delicious cakes and dramatically improve your health? You may be surprised to find that bees create this amazing elixir in the form of honey. That’s right, raw, unadulterated honey is nature’s oldest sweetener and it also promotes true, radiant health. Thousands of years before the invention of White Sugar , people used honey to enhance their food and support their bodies.
But don’t be fooled by the sticky jar that is sitting in your cupboard. Most honey is highly processed, over heated and chemically refined, leaving it lifeless and free of any benefits. Excessive heating destroys the valuable enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, as well as the unique phytonutrients that make honey the super food that it is.
Raw Honey is Filled with Health Promoting Goodness
Raw honey is loaded with vitamins and is particularly high in minerals which are vital for maintaining health including calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, copper, chromium, manganese and selenium. Amino acids are contained in honey, which are nature's building blocks. Incredible plant compounds are found in honey that gives the immune system a giant boost. This magic potion is also highly alkalizing and helps the body maintain a balanced PH.
Raw honey is full of enzymes. Enzymes are essential for absorbing food, rebuilding the body, cellular health, and nearly all other biological processes.Once a food is heated, there are absolutely no enzymes left.
Honey is packed with Antioxidants
You may be surprised to discover that raw honey contains many of the same antioxidants as green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli. This isn’t to say that it is a replacement for veggies, but it is certainly worth adding to your diet as a way to fight aging and disease causing free radicals and live vibrantly.
Some of these antioxidant powers of raw honey are:
•Flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants that increase energy and boost overall wellbeing.
•Pinocembrin is a unique flavonoid that is unique to honey and has been shown to improve cognitive function among other benefits.
•Pinostrobin is another flavonoid that the enzyme activity in the body, which is essential for absorbing food and enjoying good health, especially as we age.
Raw Honey May Fights Cancer!
A study was conducted in order to find out if raw honey could health stop the growth of tumors. They injected mice with cancer cells and discovered that those mice who took honey orally before the injections were less likely to form the tumors and tumors appeared to shrink after being injected with bee venom and propolis. Researchers suggest they bee products may cause cell suicide, which helps the immune system fight the development of tumors.
Anti Bacterial
Honey has been shown to have an antimicrobial effect against bacteria and other unwanted invaders. Raw honey is being used by doctors in the UK to treat mouth and throat cancer patients to reduce their chances of contracting bacterial infections. It has also been used to speed up the healing of wounds caused by Caesarean sections as well as other types of wounds.
Other Incredible Benefits of Raw Honey Include:
A bounty of medical studies have found that honey can help heal ulcers, as well as offering relief from diarrhea, insomnia, sunburn, and sore throats. It also boosts energy levels and keeps you from getting colds, the flu and other illnesses. It promotes the growth of "good" bacteria in your intestinal tract.
It is food for the heart since it reduces homocysteine levels and promotes circulation. It can also help calm soothe, and promote a good night’s sleep, not to mention it sweetens your tea and transforms your cakes!
By: Sheryl Walters
About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous.
And her latest website www.raiselibido.com offers a vast quantity of information on how to increase sex drive and enjoy a vibrant sex life.
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Make Sure You Buy Your Honey Raw
(NaturalNews) Long before what we refer to as civilization was born, honey was a food prized above all others in many traditional cultures. Ancient peoples in Spain, India, Egypt and all over the world knew that honey supplied a unique richness of nutrients. But far from squeezing honey out of cute little plastic containers shaped like bears, these people were eating their honey freshly harvested from local bee hives - untouched and untainted by civilized man. They worshiped pure, raw honey - and for good reason.
In times before commercial processing overtook our food supply, the remarkable medical benefits of raw honey were understood by primitive man. Today, when we pause to take a closer look at the composition of raw honey, we can clearly see why it is so invaluable:
- Raw honey contains bee pollen, which many leading nutritional experts refer to as a potent superfood. Among bee pollen's many benefits are allergy relief, detoxification, anti-cancer properties, increased energy, amino acids, vitamins and thousands of beneficial enzymes.
- Raw honey is one of the richest natural sources of amylase, an enzyme which facilitates the proper digestion of carbohydrates. This makes raw honey an excellent companion for toast or oatmeal. This essential enzyme is lost the moment honey is heated, since amylase converts to starch when exposed to heat.
- Propolis, a material bees use for constructing their hives, is another beneficial part of raw honey. Propolis is believed to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and even anti-cancer properties. It is said to boost the immune system and improve the health of the liver as well.
- Raw honey is an excellent source of flavonoids (particularly flavanones, flavones and flavonols). These have powerful antioxidant properties that protect us from illness and disease.
Tips for Enjoying Raw Honey:
- Remember, processed honey has been extensively heated and filtered to make sure it's the same clear, golden liquid we've all come to expect. This is essentially honey stripped of all its goodness, and contains none of the beneficial nutrients listed above. Raw honey will be opaque and creamy with a slightly crystallized texture. It's ideal for spreading on bread with peanut butter or scooping up with a spoon.
- Pay close attention to labeling to make sure you are getting a quality raw honey. It should be completely unprocessed and unheated. The valuable enzymes in honey are preserved only if the honey is never heated above 105 degrees, although purists claim that for honey to be truly raw, it should never be heated at all.
- On the same note, raw honey should only be added to foods after they have been cooked and never before, since any exposure to heat risks destroying the beneficial nutrients in the honey.
- Raw honey stored in sealed, airtight jars will not spoil. It is a very stable food that becomes finer with age, just like a quality wine. Open jars will stay fresh for at least several months. Even then, raw honey will simply ferment, not spoil. Fermentation enhances the benefits of raw honey, although some do not prefer the taste.
- While all Sugar is not created equal - and in fact many would say raw honey is superior to all other forms of Sugar - in the end, raw honey is still, well, sugar. Eaten in excess, it can still have a negative impact on blood Sugar levels and can cause related health problems. However, in moderation raw honey is a wonderful health food that is as nutritious as it is utterly intoxicating.
For More Information:
http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfea...
Bowden, Jonny. (2007) The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why. Published by Fair Winds Press.
Howell, Edward. (1995) Enzyme Nutrition. Published by Avery Trade.
About the author
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer, specializing in articles about health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent common illnesses.
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Naturally Sweet: Learn Why You Should Eat Raw Honey
(NaturalNews) Losing weight has never been sweeter, as long as you use the right sweetener. A new study indicates that the use of table Sugar or mixed Sugar leads to weight gain. However, honey does not lead to weight gain.
Diets including Sugar were found to increase the levels of HbA1c, indicating higher levels of glucose in the blood. Diets including sugar were also found to increase triglycerides, an aspect of blood fat that is known to damage arteries.
In this study, researchers from Waikato University in Hamilton, New Zealand fed three different groups of rats diets with no sugar, eight percent mixed sugars, or ten percent honey. The animals fed honey gained about as much weight as those fed no sugar at all, while those eating sugar gained significantly more weight. A diet of ten percent honey causing no more weight gain than a diet including no sweetener at all? Astonishing.
This finding is one reason to make honey a regular dietary choice. But there are many more reasons.
Honey provides our bodies with much more than the hollow calories of sugar, corn syrup and other processed sweeteners. Honey is a natural substance, the only one in our diets made up of concentrated nectar from blooming plants. It contains trace amounts of protein, plus riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), vitamin B6, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. It also contains antioxidants, some found only in honey, which include pinobanksin, chrysin, catalase and pinocembrin.
Honey provides a stable source of energy as it enters the bloodstream while sugar enters it so quickly that blood glucose levels fluctuate rapidly. Honey has a healthier glycemic index (GI) compared to sucrose, high fructose corn syrup and other common sweeteners. The GI rating measures the effect of foods on the blood sugar level. The lower the GI rating, the more gradual the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream. Eating diets low on the GI scale is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. So replacing other sweeteners with honey, particularly honey in combination with whole foods, could be associated with improved health.
Honey is also sweeter and more flavorful than sugar. A teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories while a teaspoon of honey provides 22 calories. But because honey is more intensely sweet, most people use about a third to a half less honey than sugar, actually reducing the calorie load.
Purchasing locally sourced honey helps support beekeepers, who are having difficultly staying in business due the impact of bee diseases and pests, agricultural chemicals, and Colony Collapse Disorder. There's evidence that some imported honey is actual packer's syrup, not pure honey, so beware of low cost products. Every one of us, whether we consume honey or not, relies on bees to pollinate the crops we eat each day. Supporting reputable beekeepers helps to insure that there will be enough bees to put fruits, vegetables and nuts on our tables.
What are some ways to incorporate honey in a weight loss program?
1. Ayurveda, the respected system of traditional Indian knowledge, recommends using honey to cure obesity in a variety of ways. Start the morning with a glass of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of honey and fresh lemon or lime juice. This drink can be taken several times a day, up to a half hour before each meal. Mint tea or ginger tea with honey is suggested. Raw ginger slices with honey can be eaten to stimulate the metabolism. The herb guggul may also be combined with honey and ginger, and used two to three times a day.
2. The ancient Unani healing system often used honey as a base. For weight loss, honey was combined with cinnamon. Current versions of this remedy suggest drinking a concoction each morning made by boiling a half cup of water with a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder and a teaspoon of honey. Since boiling honey destroys important enzymes, modify this recipe by pouring boiling water over the cinnamon then stirring in honey, to taste, after the water has cooled somewhat.
3. A small amount of honey helps you look forward to replacing an unhealthy meal with a fruit smoothie. Place approximately a quarter-cup each of three types of fruit (such as pineapple, mango, grapes, apple, banana, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, etc) in a blender along with a tablespoon of honey and several ice cubes. Process until fruit and ice are smooth. Top with yogurt or nuts for protein.
4. Many herbal teas are known to assist in weight loss, in addition to the mint and ginger teas suggested above. Honey added to the tea not only improves the flavor but helps curb hunger. Green tea raises the metabolic rate, nettle tea reduces appetite and chickweed tea is said to diminish cravings.
5. Use honey to support a healthier exercise routine. The University of Memphis found that honey is a highly effective pre and post exercise energy source. Researchers studied the performance of athletes supplemented with honey during endurance cycling trials. The cyclists' power and speed were significantly improved using honey compared to those using a placebo. Honey was found to boost performance equal to glucose, a more common carbohydrate source. But honey promotes steady blood sugar, helping sustain energy and promoting recovery, while glucose does not.
6. Replace expensive, unhealthful energy drinks with those you make yourself to support a more active lifestyle and lose excess weight. Mix 1/3 cup unsweetened grapefruit, cranberry, pomegranate or other tart juice with 1/3 cup honey. Add 6 cups of water. If necessary for exercise in hot weather, add a few grains of Sea Salt . Blend well, distribute in sports bottles and refrigerate till ready to use. Or steep four tea bags of your favorite herbal, green or flavored black tea in two cups boiling water. Add five additional cups water and 1/3 cup honey, stir well and store in sports bottles in the refrigerator till ready to use. Experiment by mixing teas, juices, supplements, water and honey in your own proportions for a sports drink that supports your exercise program and provides a healthy boost of energy.
7. The Hibernation Diet was developed by a pharmacist and sports nutritionist. The initial results were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food and are now in a book by the same name. This diet supports liver and adrenal function. A central feature of the diet is taking a dose of honey before bedtime. Check (www.benefits-of-honey.com/hibernation-diet.html) to see if you meet the criteria for this approach.
Remember, it's about balance. Honey should be a small part of your overall diet. If you use no sweeteners, you might want to add a spoonful of honey to your diet for the benefits it offers. If your diet currently includes sugar, high fructose corn syrup, Aspartame or other sweeteners, consider making honey your sweetener of choice but keep your focus on the taste and appeal of whole foods eaten in moderation.
About the author
Laura Weldon is a writer with a book called Free Range Learning coming out in 2008. She lives on an organic farm and believes in bliss.
Planning to Lose Weight This Year? Supplement With Honey
Various products derived from the beehive have been studied and propolis has proved to be a product having beneficial results for human health.
Propolis (Pro-before, Polis-city = defense of the city), is the resinous substance that bees gather from the leaf buds of trees and certain vegetables.
The bee gathers this and transforms it in order to disinfect the beehive, seal cracks, build panels, as well as using it as a microbiocidal agent, disinfectant and also for embalming intruders otherwise difficult to expel due to their size.
Propolis, thus, is directly responsible for guaranteeing the asepsis of the beehives, locations prone to developing viruses and bacteria, given their conditions of temperature and humidity.
Due to the great number of active ingredients present, tincture (alcoholic extract) of propolis is well known and used for its therapeutic properties, principally for its stimulant action on the organism's defense system. Notable amongst its properties are its antioxidant and anti-microbial action, its activity as a stimulant and its healing, analgesic, anesthetic and anti-inflammatory activity.
To date, in the literature consulted, no antioxidant capacity values have been found greater than those obtained for propolis, for any of the products/foods analyzed, using this type of methodology.
Sources:
Medical News Today October 28, 2009
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Bees, by pollinating trees and crops, are true sustainers of life on earth. Without their tireless service, we simply would not be able to feed ourselves. At the same time, they also create a wide variety of other useful products, including:
• propolis
• bee pollen
• honey
• beeswax
• royal jelly
• medicinal bee venom
The Many Uses of Bee Products
As described above, propolis has a number of well known therapeutic properties, including potent antioxidant and anti-microbial action, and healing, analgesic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s been used for thousands of years in folk medicine.
Previously, bee propolis has been found to prevent the formation of dental plaque by inhibiting the activity of certain enzymes that synthesize glucans from sucrose. Propolis, along with other bee products, has also been studied for its potential to control tumor growth, with some success.
Bee pollen, on the other hand, is often referred to as a Superfood – one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by your body. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by your body and can therefore contribute significantly to your protein needs.
And raw honey, another potent anti-infection/anti-inflammatory bee product, is a natural option to Antibiotics .
This is important to remember, considering the fact that traditional Antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective against certain microbes. Meanwhile the solution may be as close as your kitchen cabinet…
What You Need to Know About Honey
The main thing to remember when it comes to honey is that not all honey is created equal. The antibacterial activity in some honeys is 100 times more powerful than in others!
Processed, refined honey is NOT appropriate for use in wound care. In fact, your average domestic “Grade A” type honey found in the grocery store will likely increase infection. It also will not offer you the same health benefits as raw honey when consumed.
Manuka honey is a specific type of honey that has actually been approved for use as a medical device – it’s that potent! But you could use raw honey to treat a mild burn, sunburn, or small wound at home if you don’t happen to have a jar of Manuka around.
Good quality honey offers several topical wound-care benefits:
• It draws fluid away from your wound
• The high Sugar content suppresses microorganism growth
• Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low levels of
hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound
• A chemical reaction between the honey and tissue also makes healing wounds smell good
Manuka honey, however, is in a class of its own.
Clinical trials have found that Manuka honey from New Zealand, made with pollen gathered from the flowers of the Manuka bush (a medicinal plant), can effectively eradicate more than 250 clinical strains of bacteria, including resistant varieties such as:
• MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
• MSSA (methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus)
• VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci)
• Helicobacter Pylori (which can cause stomach ulcers)
With the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant infections and drug over-use, the return to honey as a natural, multi-purpose healing therapy makes all the sense in the world.
Honey was in fact a conventional therapy in fighting infection up until the early 20th century, at which time its use slowly vanished as penicillin took center stage. Using raw honey instead of topical Antibiotics and cough medicines, for example, is a simple way to decrease your over-dependence on drugs.
As long as it’s used in moderation, eating raw honey is likely to promote health. One caveat is if you suffer from signs of elevated insulin such as:
• Overweight
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
If you have elevated insulin levels, you’ll want to limit consumption of honey just like you would Sugar and grains, as it will raise your insulin levels.
Related Links:
Is Honey More Effective Than Cough Medicine?
How Honey Can Help Wounds Heal Better
The Healing Properties of Raw Honey
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