The 8 Top Health Benefits of Raw Honey

According to Dr. Ron Fessenden, M.D., M.P.H. the average American consumes more than 150 pounds of refined sugar, plus an additional 62 pounds of high fructose corn syrup every year. In comparison, we consume only around 1.3 pounds of honey per year on average in the U.S. According to new research, if you can switch out your intake of refined sugar and use pure raw honey instead, the health benefits can be enormous.

What is raw honey? It’s a pure, unfiltered and unpasteurized sweetener made by bees from the nectar of flowers. Most of the honey consumed today is processed honey that’s been heated and filtered since it was gathered from the hive. Unlike processed honey, raw honey does not get robbed of its incredible nutritional value and health powers. It can help with everything from low energy to sleep problems to seasonal allergies. Switching to raw honey may even help weight-loss efforts when compared to diets containing sugar or high fructose corn syrup. I’m excited to tell you more about one of my all-time favorite natural sweeteners today.

8 Health Benefits of Raw Honey

1. Healthy Weight Management
Research studies have linked honey consumption with weight loss. A San Diego State University study found that replacing sugar with honey can actually help prevent packing on extra pounds and also lower blood sugar. The results also suggest that in comparison to sugar, honey may lower serum triglycerides.

Another study from the University of Wyoming found that raw honey can activate hormones that suppress the appetite. In the double-blind randomly assigned study, appetite hormones and glycemic responses were measured in 14 healthy non-obese women after consuming a breakfast containing either honey or sugar. Overall, researchers concluded that honey consumption offers potential obesity protective effects.

2. Counters Pollen Allergies
Raw honey contains bee pollen, which is known to ward off infections, provide natural allergy relief and boost overall immunity. Honey’s ability to prevent allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy. How so? The bees in your neighborhood go from flower to flower collecting pollen that causes you to suffer, but when a you consume local raw honey, you also consume that same offending local pollen. After some time, an allergy sufferer may become less sensitive to this pollen that previously caused problems and experience less seasonal allergy symptoms. Many seasonal allergy sufferers have found local, raw honey to be helpful because it desensitizes them to the fauna triggering their allergic reaction.

A 2013 study found that eating honey at a high dose (one gram per kilogram of body weight of honey daily) can improve allergy symptoms over a period of eight weeks. Researchers absorbed that the honey consumption improved overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an allergic response that causes itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other similar symptoms.

Some people say that a daily tablespoon of honey can actually act like an allergy shot. The type of honey is key though since pasteurized honey does not contain any pollen. For possible seasonal allergy relief, you need to consume raw honey with pollen in it.

3. Natural Energy Source
Raw honey contains natural sugars (80 percent), water (18 percent), and minerals, vitamins, pollen and protein (2 percent). It’s not surprising that honey has been called “the perfect running fuel.” It provides an easily absorbed supply of energy in the form of liver glycogen, making it ideal for energetic morning starts and as a pre- and post-exercise energy source.

Studies at the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory have shown honey to be one of the best choices of carbohydrate to consume right before exercising. Additionally, studies have revealed that as a sporting fuel, honey performs on a par with glucose, which is the sugar used in most commercial energy gels.

When it comes to raw honey’s use in athletic endeavors, I highly recommend raw honey for both fueling and recovery. That’s why raw honey is included in some of the best pre-workout snacks and post-workout meals.

4. Antioxidant Powerhouse
Studies have shown that a daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants help block free radicals in the body that cause disease. It also boosts the immune system, acting as a preventative against any number of debilitating diseases. Honey contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

One study fed 25 subjects about four tablespoons of honey per day for 29 days in addition to their regular diets. When blood samples were taken at the start and end of the study, researchers found a clear, direct link between honey consumption and an increased level of disease-fighting polyphenols in the blood.

Studies have shown that honey contains the disease-fighting antioxidant flavonoids pinocembrin, pinostrobin and chrysin.  Pinocembrin supports enzyme activity, and many studies have shown that pinocembrin induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) of many types of cancer cells.  Laboratory research suggests that chrysin may increase the male hormone testosterone and improve bodybuilding results, but human research hasn’t found any effect on testosterone levels.

5. Sleep Promoter
Raw honey promotes restorative sleep in two ways. By consuming honey before bedtime, it restocks the liver’s glycogen supply and prevents the brain from triggering a crisis search for fuel, which can wake you up. Secondly, eating raw honey fosters the release of melatonin in the brain by creating a small spike in insulin levels, which stimulates the release of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan converts to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin.

Melatonin also boosts immunity and helps rebuild tissue during periods of rest. Poor sleep, by comparison, has been shown to be a risk factor for hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and arthritis. As honey is a proven natural sleep aid, it naturally lowers the risk of all these health problems.

6. Wound and Ulcer Healer
Honey-infused bandages are known to aid healing. Peter Charles Molan at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, has found in multiple studies that honey is a natural antibacterial with wound-healing effects. He also found that honey reacts with the body’s fluids to make hydrogen peroxide, creating an inhospitable environment for bacteria.

For the treatment of burns and wounds, honey is typically applied directly to the problem area or in a dressing that’s changed every 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes the dressing is left in place for up to 25 days.  A combination of honey and ghee has also been advocated and used as dressing for infected wounds since 1991 in four Mumbai hospitals.

Honey has been studied for its use in effectively treating various types of ulcers as well. Honey may reduce the size, pain and odor of problematic skin ulcers.

7. Diabetes Aid
Consumption of raw honey can reduce the risk of developing diabetes and help aid medication used to treat diabetes. The combination of raw honey and cinnamon can be especially beneficial to healthy blood sugar management, as well as many other health concerns like gingivitis and acne.

According to a study out of Dubai, honey has been observed to cause a lower elevation of plasma glucose levels in diabetics compared to dextrose and sucrose. Some suggest that the insulin-boosting power of cinnamon can counteract this glucose elevation in honey, which would make your honey and cinnamon mixture a low glycemic index food combination.

Raw honey increases insulin and decreases hyperglycemia. Try consuming a little at a time and see how your blood sugar reacts to it, and add both raw honey and cinnamon to your diabetic diet plan.

8. Natural Cough Syrup
Raw honey has been shown to be as effective in treating coughs as over-the-counter commercial cough syrups. Increasing scientific evidence shows that a single dose of honey can reduce mucus secretion and coughs. In one study, honey was just as effective as diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan, common ingredients found in over-the counter cough medicines.

For a cough, a half teaspoon to two teaspoons of honey at bedtime is a studied and recommended dosage for anyone over the age of one.

Honey Comparisons
Raw Honey vs. Not Raw
Raw honey is a crude form of honey immediately taken out of the cells of the honey combs within a bee hive. This form of honey is far from pure. It commonly contains bee pollen and propolis, which are both two very positive health additions. However, raw honey can also possibly contain dead bees, legs, wings, hunks of beeswax and other impurities. Don’t worry though — if any of these unwanted items get into the honey they’re strained out before bottling.

Raw honey cannot be heated above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the normal temperature of the bee hive. While it’s OK to strain raw honey, it’s never filtered or pasteurized. It also cannot have any other additives.

On the other hand, commercial honey is often heavily processed and may even have been chemically refined. Excessive heat destroys the natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals in honey. Filtering and processing eliminate many of the beneficial phytonutrients, including pollen and enzyme-rich propolis. The only way to achieve sparkling clear honey is by heat, so avoid the golden, syrup-like honey in favor of opaque, organic raw honey.

Non-raw honey or regular commercial honey can be sourced from bees that are treated with antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin in China’s honey). They also may likely be given winter nourishment in the form of sugar or a low-cost syrup. Hives are made of non-organic materials, which can have pests and be cleaned with non-organic substances. Honey that isn’t raw is pasteurized and filtered, and it can have additives. (19)

Research by the Palynology Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University tested 60 honey products from supermarkets and grocery stores and found that 76 percent contained no trace of bee pollen, which is also loaded with health benefits. The Food and Drug Administration maintains that any honey products that have been ultra-filtered, as these have, are not actually honey and therefore the health benefits of honey cannot be assumed. Some “honey” may even contain high fructose corn syrup.

Organic Honey vs. Not Organic
Organic honey usually means raw organic honey. Just like with raw honey, heating is not allowed above 95 degrees F. In order to be called organic, honey must follow good organic management, according to each country’s set of standards and conditions. Processing should also only be done by means of gravitational settling and straining.

Manuka vs. Other Varieties
“Conductivity” is an indirect way of measuring the mineral content of a honey. Manuka honey has a higher than normal conductivity with about four times the conductivity of normal flower honeys. The higher the conductivity, the better the nutritional value of the honey.

When it comes to Manuka honey versus other varieties, Manuka always has a unique Manuka factor (UMF), which is a global standard in identifying and measuring the antibacterial strength of Manuka. Essentially, the UMF is a guarantee that the honey being sold is of a medicinal quality. This is a standard of health value completely unique to Manuka honey.

The minimum UMF rating recognized is UMF5 — however, it’s not considered beneficial unless it carries a UMF10+ level of antibacterial activity in the honey. Anything ranging from UMF10—UMF15 is a useful level, and anything UMF16 and up is considered a superior quality. While other honeys, like organic raw honey, can certainly have hugely positive health effects, they don’t have this exact measurement or rating like Manuka.

Raw Honey Nutrition Facts 
Honey is one of nature’s purest foods and is far more than just a natural sweetener. It’s a “functional food,” which means it’s a natural food with health benefits. Raw honey nutrition is impressive. Raw honey contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5,000 enzymes. Minerals include iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and selenium. Vitamins found in honey include vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin. In addition, the nutraceuticals contained in honey help neutralize damaging free radical activity.

One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, yet it has a healthy glycemic load around 10 for one tablespoon, which is a little less than a banana. Raw honey does not cause a sugar spike and elevated insulin release like white sugar.

Although honey is an affordable food, bees spend thousands of hours collecting pollen from around 2 million flowers to make one pound of pure honey. Honey is typically about 18 percent water, but the lower the water content, the better the quality of honey. Best of all, honey does not need special storage or refrigeration — use it by the spoonful straight from the jar.

Raw Honey Possible Allergies and Potential Side Effects
Honey is considered safe when taken by mouth in normal food amounts or recommended dosages. However, honey should never be given to children under 12 months of age since raw honey is a potential source of botulism spores. Raw honey is not a danger to older children or adults, just to infants. However, if you have a compromised immune system or are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer, you should speak with your doctor before consuming raw honey.

If you’re allergic or sensitive to celery, pollen or have other bee-related allergies, you should not consume raw honey. Honey made from plants in the Rhododendron genus can also cause allergic reactions due to toxicity.

Proverbs 25:16 says, “Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!” Although honey is one of the healthiest sweeteners, it still should certainly be used in moderation. Mild honey intoxication side effects can include weakness, dizziness, vomiting, sweating and nausea. Other more serious side effects of honey consumption are unlikely unless you consume way too much.

Raw Honey Final Thoughts

• Raw honey is the most crude and natural form of honey you can purchase.
• It’s unfiltered and unpasteurized, which means there is no processing or heating to decrease its natural vitamin and mineral content.
• Raw honey contains disease-preventing and disease-fighting flavonoids.
• Raw honey contains both propolis and bee pollen so you get the benefits of those two natural powerhouses as well.
• It has been scientifically proven to help with allergies, diabetes, sleep problems, coughs and wound healing.
• Raw honey is a smart part of a pre- and post-workout snack for better energy during a workout and better recovery afterward.
• Look for a local beekeeper to source your raw honey. This will make it even more likely to help with seasonal allergies.

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Lemon, Garlic, Raw Honey – The Elixir of Health: Strengthen Your Immune System And Fight Off Disease

One criticism often received by recipes involving cooked onions, garlic and other alliums is that the heating process destroys much of the allicin that leads to its protective effects. While this is partially true, knowing how to optimize garlic before eating it raw or cooked will maximize garlic enzymes and give them the best chance to survive meal preparation. I’ll share a very simple recipe to use regularly during the cold and flu season that will supercharge your immune system.

With their unique combination of flavonoids and sulfur-containing nutrients, allium vegetables–such as garlic–belong in your diet on a regular basis. There’s research evidence for including at least one serving of an allium vegetable–such as garlic–in your meal plan every day. If you’re choosing garlic as your allium family vegetable, try to include at least 1/2 clove in your individual food portion. If you’re preparing a recipe, you should use at least 1-2 cloves.

Washington State University showed that garlic is 100 times more effective than antibiotics at fighting disease causing bacteria commonly responsible for foodborne illness. Its anti-viral potency is perhaps even more effective.

Allicin, one of garlic’s most highly valued sulfur compounds–stays intact for only 2-16 hours at room temperature when it is present in purified (extracted) form. But when it’s still inside of crushed garlic, allicin will stay viable for 2-1/2 days.

If you give your chopped/crushed garlic time to sit before changing its temperature (through cooking) or its pH (through the addition of acidic food like lemon juice), it will give the alliinase enzymes in garlic an opportunity to work on behalf of your health. For example, in the absence of chopping or crushing, research has shown that just 60 seconds of immediate microwaving will cause garlic to lose some of its cancer-protective properties.

Before cooking or adding chopped garlic to lemon juice, let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes to maximize its potency. The following recipe has minimal preparation time and maximum benefits to your health, especially during cold and flu season. I call them shots because they’re a cocktail of beneficial immune boosting constituents inside a lemon half that you can eat in just a few bites. My recommendation is to have one or two of these per day during peak flu activity when viral transmission is at its highest (usually Jan-Mar).

Raw Honey Garlic Lemon Shots:

• 1 lemon (preferably organic)
• 1-2 cloves of garlic (depends on size of cloves)
• 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon of honey (preferably Manuka but at least Raw)

Preparation:

Step 1 – Cut a lemon in halves

Step 2 – Squeeze all the lemon juice out of one half and place in a small bowl. Keep the half you extracted the juice from for Step 6 (store the other half for later use).

Step 3 – Chop the garlic and it let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Then add it to the lemon juice with the cayenne pepper.

Step 4 – Add the honey to the mix and stir all ingredients well.

Step 5 - Pour the entire mixture back into the lemon half (which you extracted the juice from in Step 2)

Consume the finished product in its entirety including all the lemon pulp. Hold it in your hand and cup it as if you’re holding a fruit. Repeat recipe in 4 hours with the other lemon half.

source: http://instiks.com/pin/8503/

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13 Health Benefits Of Raw Honey

Have a bit of raw honey around the house? If not, maybe you should. This tasty tea-sweetener isn’t only good for improving peanut butter toast or adding a hint of sugar to your morning cup. Raw honey has a host of other benefits, including:

1. Use honey as a natural wound treatment.
Apply honey to a wound and take advantage of it’s natural antibiotic properties. Wounds Search reports that honey has been used as a treatment for thousands of years and works because both the physical properties (gooey and sticky) and biological properties (acidity and osmolarity) work together. In short: try swiping some honey on that scraped knee instead of store-bought cream for a natural healer.

2. A spoonful of raw honey before bed may help you sleep.
If you are struggling to get enough sleep at night, try eating a spoonful of raw honey. According to Medical Daily, “honey can cause a rise in insulin and release serotonin … “The body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and the quality of sleep.” Noshing on a bit of honey before you hit the sack will help your body produce natural sleep aids so you get better sleep at night.

3. Rehydrate yourself with a honey and citruses based electrolyte drink.
Add honey to a natural electrolyte drink to reap the energy-boosting benefits in the natural sweetener. Try this recipe from Mother Nature Network: Combine 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 2 cups filtered water, 2 to 4 tablespoons of honey and 1/8 teaspoon of unrefined salt in a blender and mix until honey is completely combined.

4. Honey may be used as an anti-fungal.
Not only is honey a great way to treat wounds, because of its natural antibacterial properties, you can also use it to treat nasal infections and fungal infections (like athletes foot), according to Aniwell.

5. Honey may alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, step away from the medication and grab honey instead. Medical Daily reports that honey contains anti-inflammatory properties which can help ease the swelling of sinuses. Not only that, honey could act like a natural vaccine, making you less susceptible to allergies in the future.

6. Honey may help to treat gum disease.
Apply honey to infected gum area to help treat gum disease. Aniwell reports that while honey contains antibacterial properties, it is most effective when applied directly to the infected area, before the infection has time to get into the blood stream.

7. Honey may help to treat colds and sore throat.
It’s practically common knowledge that honey can help ease a sore throat. The soothing texture coats the throat and makes it easier to swallow. But, honey can actually help treat your cold too!

8. Honey for cancer treatment.
This one is a bit harder to pin down, but some researchers believe that honey could help aid in cancer treatment. The theory is that certain honey contains an “extra” ingredient, that could help target more serious diseases, according to BBC. Snopes reports that while honey contains antiseptic properties there isn’t enough research done to prove whether honey could help aid in the treatment of cancer.

9. Honey can improve the health of your skin and scalp.
Mix a little honey with some warm water and apply it to itchy skin and scalp. Mercola reports that this treatment was shown to significantly reduce itchiness and scaling of skin.

10. Honey can soothe sunburns.
If you have a minor sunburn or catch your finger on the cookie pan, you may be able to use honey to ease the pain. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends using a medicinal honey for burn treatments as your garden variety honey may not have enough antiseptic properties to property take care of the wound.

11. Honey may soothe ulcers and gastrointestinal disorders.
If you have tummy troubles like an ulcer or digestive problems, ingesting honey may help. Raw honey contains probiotics which help your digestive system reset itself (restoring proper acid balance), according to Green Med info.

12. Honey may help to treat herpes.
The anti-fungal properties in honey that help heal sores can also help with herpes (cold sores). Manuka honey in particular, has been linked to fighting more than 250 types of bacteria, according to Mercola.

13. Honey boosts your energy and immunity system.
Some researchers believe that honey can help boost your immune system by introducing you to different bacteria. This bacteria encourages your body to produce more saliva and secretion, triggering your immune system more often, Green med reported.

source: http://remedydaily.com/

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Boil This 2-Ingredient Raw Honey and Cinnamon Mixture to Shed Belly Fat Off Your Waistline (and 4-minute workout)

The dream of numerous people, and especially women, is to be able to lose weight without being on a strict healthy diet.

Yet, it all seems impossible! However, as incredible as it may sound, this is no longer just a dream! Yes, you read it right! We will reveal a miraculous recipe that will help you burn abdominal fat almost instantly!

Namely, our weight loss elixir contains only two simple ingredients: honey and cinnamon. These two beneficial ingredients are your best allies when it comes to losing extra weight.  Nutritionists claim that their mixture is far more effective than being used separately.

All you need to do is the following:

Add a tablespoon of cinnamon powder in 8.5 oz / 250 ml of boiled water. leave the drink to cool and add 2 tablespoons of honey. You must wait to add the honey, as the hot water will reduce its effect.

You should consume this extraordinary drink in the morning, as soon as you wake and before you do your regular cardio exercises.

In order to offer even more help, we will suggest an amazing cardio workout which will completely change your view of the usual boring and difficult workout.

Namely, we offer you a 4- minute workout which will provide the same, or even better, effects, as a longer and more exhausting exercising session. This wonder is also known as the Tabata protocol.

You should do eight 20-second rounds of jump squats, and rest for 10 seconds between  rounds. Rounds should be performed at an all-out pace, and you should work as hard as possible to succeed in doing the whole protocol.

Apart from doubling your metabolic rate after the exercise for at least half an hour afterwards, you will also burn approximately 13.4 calories in a  minute!

Beyond any doubt, the combination of this fantastic homemade recipe and this simple, but amazingly effective cardio- workout, you will finally get the body of your dreams, in no time!


source: http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com

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