The 3 key health benefits of honey are related to the fact that:
1. Honey is nature’s energy booster
2. Honey is a great immunity system builder
3. Honey is a natural remedy for many ailments
Nature’s Energy Booster
The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. A great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies, honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduce muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural fruit sugars play an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy. It is known that honey has also been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other types of sugar. So, to experience these health benefits of honey, here are a few tips for you:
1. Next time before you go for a workout, take a spoon of honey to enable you to go for the extra mile.
2. If you are feeling low and lethargic in the morning, instead of reaching out for a can of carbonated energy drink , try honey. Spread it on hot toast or replace the sugar in your tea with it for a refreshing surge of energy.
3. If your kids are finding hard to cope with the physical strain from the buzzing activities at school, prepare them some sandwiches with honey, butter and ham to make sure they have enough energy to sustain through the day. My kids are delighted when they see me prepare warm honey water in their bottles. They couldn't care a bit about the health benefits of honey, but simply love the taste of it!
Immunity System Builder
Amongst the many health benefits of honey, what is most impressive to me – it can be a powerful immune system booster. Honey’s antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease. Start every brand new day with this cleansing tonic if you want to see this health benefit of honey: before breakfast, mix a spoonful of honey and lemon juice from half a lemon into a cup of warm water and drink it.
Honey is Anti-Cancer!
Honey does not cure cancer but what many people don't think enough of or have overlooked is - honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumour properties! Read: Honey is Anti-Cancer!
Honey Remedy for Ailments
FOR CUTS AND BURNS:
For thousands of years, honey has been recognized as one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints including yeast infection , athlete foot , and arthritis pain. Its antiseptic properties inhibits the growth of certain bacteria and helps keep external wounds clean and free from infection. Honey has been used as a natural cure in first aid treatment for wounds, burns and cuts as it is able to absorb moisture from the air and promote healing. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. It is widely believed that UMF Manuka is the preferred honey for wound dressing due to its strong antibacterial property.
FOR HANGOVERS:
When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, combat its effects by applying honey remedy. Honey is gentle on the stomach and contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a 'sobering' agent. Follow this recipe: 15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt. Blend them together until smooth.
FOR SORE THROATS:
One of the better known health benefits of honey is that it is able to help treat sore throats. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, honey not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection. Professional singers commonly use honey to soothe their throats before performances. The Chinese believe that excess "heatiness" in the body causes sore throat and taking honey drink can be helpful. Direction: Take a spoonful of honey to soothe the inflammation or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Personally, whenever I have a sore throat or cough, I especially like to take warm water mixed with Manuka UMF honey which is well-known for its anti-bacterial healing properties.
For SLEEPLESSNESS:
Unable to sleep? Use the famous Milk and Honey Remedy. Take a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip.
Keep dropping pounds even after you think you’ve hit a wall in your weight-loss plan.
Too often people experience a plateau in their weight-loss plan: they hit a wall and stop dropping pounds. This frustrating bump in the road often occurs after the first month into your weight-reduction program. Your body starts to become “lazy,” having adjusted to the new reality of fewer calories and more exercise. However, there are effective changes you can make to solve this problem.
1. Start Every Day With a Sundae
This is not an ice cream sundae – it’s a metabolism-boosting breakfast sundae that’s just as delicious.This treat contains Greek yogurt, banana, strawberries, unsweetened coconut, ground flaxseed and last but not least, Dr. Oz’s secret ingredient: matcha green tea powder. Eat this sundae and you’ll be starting your day off with lean protein and good fats, plus the metabolism-boosting properties of matcha green tea, which is prized in both Japan and South America for its health-benefits.
Like other types of green tea, matcha not only speeds up your metabolism, but is chockfull of antioxidants and other powerful superfood properties such as aiding stress reduction, lowering cholesterol, boosting brain health and fighting cancer. Matcha is available in a concentrated powder and can be found at health food stores.
2. Zigzag Your Calories
You may be staying on track with your weight-loss plan, but by consuming the same amount of calories every day, your body weight can actually come to a standstill. For example, your body simply adapts to 1,200 calories and stops slimming down.
To keep your body working hard at shedding those pounds, vary your caloric intake. Consume 1,200 calories one day; then reduce to 1,000 calories the next day; and 1,100 the following day. Keep this pattern going, and your body will have to exert more energy to make adjustments, which can trigger bigger weight loss.
3. Eat Your Water
A recent study showed that women who ate water-rich foods lost 33% more weight in the first 6 months than women on a low-fat diet. Choose both water-rich and nutrient-rich foods. Fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe, and vegetables like celery and green lettuce contain lots of water and vitamins. Soups made with low-sodium broths are a good choice, too. By eating your water you can actually eat more food and cut down on calories at the same time.
5 things you can do in less than one minute to lengthen your lifespan and enhance overall wellness.
You can’t live forever. However, there are things you can do to live longer and in better health. Increasing longevity is much easier than you think. Here’s the really good part: all of these health habits can be accomplished in less than one minute.
1. Eat Eggs
Eggs are a powerful source of protein and cost just pennies. Many people have been led to believe that eating eggs increases blood cholesterol, but that’s simply not true.
Eggs contain choline, a B vitamin shown to reduce inflammation in the brain, which may lesson the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Eating two eggs comprises 26% of your daily protein intake, yet contains less than 10% of your recommended calories for the day. Thus eggs can help you shed pounds.
These protein powerhouses protect your bones and fight frailty.
Antioxidants and other nutrients in egg yokes help prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness; they also protect the retina from UV sun damage.
Under-a-Minute Tip: Boil a half-dozen eggs in the beginning of the week. Eat one a day and you’re on the road to making a dramatic difference in your health.
2. Take Chromium Polynicotinate
By 2050, experts predict that 1 in 3 Americans will be diabetic. To help prevent this chronic condition, chromium polynicotinate has proven to be a potentially life-saving supplement.Studies show that this trace mineral helps regulate insulin production, reducing blood sugar levels and preventing damaging effects.
Under-a-Minute Tip: Take 200 micrograms of chromium polynicotinate a day.
3. Check Your Heart Rate Daily
By checking your heart rate every day, you can protect yourself against having a heart attack or stroke. It’s simple: Place your index and middle fingers on your wrist bone, directly under your thumb. Press gently to feel your pulse. Count the beats for 10 seconds. Then multiply by 6 to get your resting heart rate. For example, if you get 6 beats in 10 seconds and multiply by 6, that’s 36 beats per minute.
The average resting heart rate for adults is between 60-80 beats per minute. If you’re a woman and your resting heart rate is above 90, you are at a 3 times greater risk of dying of heart disease.
A new study shows that if your heart rate keeps going up more than 10 beats a month, your risk for heart disease increases by 16%.
Under-a-Minute Tip: Take your resting heart rate before you get out of bed every morning. If it is high or keeps going up every month, see your doctor.
4. Add Beets to Your Diet
You know to eat your greens, but you have to eat your reds, too. Beets offer much more than just their lovely hue. They help dilate blood vessels, which improves blood flow throughout the body. They’re also packed with iron, which helps deliver oxygen throughout the body and wards off anemia.
Under-a-Minute Tip: You can drink your beets daily in a nutrient-packed beverage that also contains carrots, parsley and apples. It’s easy and inexpensive to make.
5. De-stress With Self-Massage
Stress can damage every part of your body and lead to chronic disease. Many people, especially women, hold stress and tension in their head and in their face. Here’s a massage you can actually perform on yourself to fight stress:
Position both hands as if you were giving 2 thumbs-up. Reposition your thumbs-up horizontally and place your thumbs, on the sides of the bridge of your nose, beneath your brow bone. Press firmly for 8-10 seconds, and breathe.
Then place your thumbs and index fingers slightly above and on the opposite ends of your eyebrows. Gently squeeze for 8-10 seconds and breathe.
Under-a-Minute Tip: Practice the above self-massage technique throughout the day, such as when you’ve been sitting for a long time at the computer.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And yet, 8 years ago this month, I suffered a heart attack. At age 43. And supposedly in the best health I’d ever been. I was very lucky. I'm doing fine, there was no permanent heart muscle damage, and I'm actually healthier than ever and feel great. But free of the commonly known risk factors, I find myself a member of a peculiar new sisterhood I'd never imagined I'd ever join.
Men Have Heart Attacks, Not Women, Right?
True, men are far more likely to have a heart attack, at least until a woman goes through menopause. Women between the ages of 25 and 55 are not free of heart disease concerns, however. We actually fall into what the American Heart Association calls their "silent epidemic." Not commonly known is that this group, supposedly free of heart disease concerns, is experiencing an ever-increasing rate of heart attack. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. But even before going through our "change of life," heart disease kills twice the number of women than breast cancer.
One immediately envisions a heart attack patient as falling into the following stereotype. You know the one I mean. Someone with a big belly (this significantly increases one's risk), has liquid rivers of fat coursing through their veins, suffers from high blood pressure, is the poster child for a couch potato, is a chain smoker, and possibly even a diabetic.
Yet, here I am. I'm young (certainly I think of my early 40s as youthful), not overweight, never been a smoker, have no issues with cholesterol or triglycerides (in fact one doctor once told me I should try to consume some fat in my diet to help balance my nonexistent blood fat levels), no history of diabetes, have incredibly low blood pressure, and am somewhat active (there's certainly always room for improvement).
So what's wrong with this picture? The plot thickens. A host of less likely risk factors can take an apparently healthy woman and place her smack dab in the middle of cardiac rehab. The factors going against me:
Stress
You could take lessons from me on how to be the consummate type "A" personality. I'm the queen of keeping a million projects afloat at any given moment. Stress reduction classes and learning to say "no" loom in my future.
Menopause
I'm surgically post menopausal, but I thought HRT was my wild card to help prevent the risk of heart disease in addition to reducing bone loss, early menopausal skin changes, and of course, keep hot flashes and the like at bay. Wrong.
Genetics
My mother had her first heart attack at the age of 57. Family heart attacks below the age of 55 are considered a risk factor but she'd been a lifelong smoker, is fairly sedentary and a touch plump. So I hadn't really taken this "to heart" as a serious health risk. Since then, my brother and father have gone on to have heart disease. Family history established, but a tad too late for me.
Past Medical History of Stroke
In my history I have a slight 24-hour version of a stroke called a TIA (transient ischemic attack) while I was pregnant due to a blood clotting disorder known as anticardiolipin antibody syndrome. As it turns out, the doctors this time around discovered a new genetic clotting disorder in addition to the original concern, which increases one's risk for forming blood clots up to 11 times than normal. It's called the Factor II, prothrombin G20210A mutation and believe it or not, it affects as much as 2% of the general U.S. population. And it is autosomal dominant which means you get it from a parent and potentially pass it onto your children. But most doctors have never heard of it. I hadn't, my doctor husband hadn't, and none of our doctor friends had ever heard of it either!
If you have a past history of multiple miscarriages, get screened for both of these clotting diseases in addition to Factor V Leiden. It turns out that pregnancy is not the only time to be concerned about these conditions. Fortunately, they are easily controlled with a variety of blood thinners.
A "Heartwarming" Experience
My heart attack occurred at the end of December. My family was readying for a holiday trip the following day. That morning I’d run over to the grocery to pick up a few last minute items. Suddenly, an overwhelming tube of burning sensation was radiating directly from my back forward into my mid-chest.
I knew women often experience "atypical pain" like jaw pain or nausea with a heart attack, but burning? I kept thinking all the NDSAIDs I'd popped the previous week for a cold were causing the discomfort. I continued shopping, clutching my chest, thinking this must be one awful case of heartburn ( an ulcer perhaps?). By the time I reach the dairy aisle, I was contemplating slurping some sour cream to cool things off. The pain probably only lasted a matter of minutes and once gone I continued onward with my errands. After all, women aren’t supposed to let a little pain get us down, right?
It wasn't until I developed left arm pain that I began to wonder if things weren't going quite as well as I'd thought. I got into the car, and thought, "Do I go to the hospital where they will surely admit me, I'll miss the trip, the hotel is non-refundable, I'll be fine, and my husband will be REALLY mad at me, or do I go home?" You guessed it, I drove home. By the time I reached my street however, the classic signs of a heart attack, crushing pain and shortness of breath, began.
Long story made shorter: I did make it to the hospital. I had a 100% block of one very small coronary artery. I had an angioplasty and a stent was placed. Things could have been worse. We were supposed to leave the next morning for a holiday vacation. I could have experienced this episode on the airplane or waited even longer to get myself to the hospital.
Immediately following my release from the hospital, I began cardiac rehab, which is essentially cross-training hooked up to an EKG machine. Other than the fact that everyone there seemed to be past patients of mine and that the 80 year old man on oxygen went faster on the treadmill than I did, things went pretty well! It took a good 9 months to get back to my original hectic lifestyle; I still appreciate the second chance I've been given.
Obviously I'm back at work. In fact, I'm literally living proof that you can not only survive, but thrive with heart disease. So what did I do wrong?
I should have gone to the hospital. Immediately. I should never have let the holidays, a vacation or anything else stand in my way. Remember your best chance for a full recovery is getting into a hospital cath lab for evaluation within 2 hours of the onset of the first symptoms. If you think you're having a heart attack, don't try to rationalize it away, like I tried to do. Take an aspirin if you have one (this helps prevent further blood clotting) and get yourself to a hospital or dial 9-1-1.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. But it doesn't have to be. By learning more about heart disease, women can make a difference.
When it comes to heart disease in America, the odds are scary. One in every 4 women will die from this condition. Don’t leave your heart health up to chance. Learn the indicators of heart disease and what you can do to keep your heart healthy and strong.
Like all the intricate machinery in your body, your heart needs the right maintenance if it’s going to continue to perform optimally. Learn the lucky numbers that lie at the heart of cardiac health.
Lucky Number #1: A Resting Heart Rate Below 90
You can determine your resting heart rate by counting the number of beats of your pulse per one minute. This number is a barometer of what’s going on in the body. A slower resting heart rate means that your heart is more powerful and efficient. Conversely, a higher heart rate indicates that your heart has to work harder to get the same things done. Studies have shown that women with a resting heart rate over 90 have triple the risk of dying from a heart attack as women with a resting heart rate under 60.
Luckily, there are things you can do to stabilize your resting heart rate. One of the main reasons your heart rate speeds up is to fight inflammation. Instead of letting your heart do all the work, add omega-3s to your diet. In addition to helping lower cholesterol, these supplements provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Inflammation can also be emotional. In these situations, reduce your stress
Your heart rate is also an indicator of your stamina level. You must exercise the muscle of the heart to keep it strong. During cardio workouts, you should aim to hit 80% of your maximum heart rate. You can calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. For example, the target heart rate for a 30-year-old would be 190(.8) = 152. Reaching this heart rate for 20 minutes, 3 times a week will work to strengthen your heart.
Lucky Number #2: 1.5 Grams of Sodium Allowed Daily
You should consume less than 1 teaspoon of salt a day, especially if you are over 50. On average, Americans consume more than double this amount. Sodium is harmful to your heart, kidneys and blood vessels. Additionally, it raises your blood pressure which makes your heart work faster and can lead to heart disease.
Most people don’t realize how much sodium is in their food
Lucky Number #3: A Maximum of 100 Calories of Added Sugar Each Day
High intake of added sugar leads to obesity and puts you on track for heart disease and stroke. Even if you are not concerned about your weight, eating sugar directly impacts cholesterol and increases your blood pressure. This causes rigidity in the aorta and puts extra strain on your heart.
Sugar is another case where you may not realize how much you are actually eating. It can be disguised in the ingredients, so keep a vigilant eye for items like evaporated cane juice, high fructose corn syrup and brown rice syrup. Make sure to read the nutrition label to find the amount of added sugars.
Lucky Number #4: 25 Grams of Fiber Each Day
Study after study is showing that the more fiber you get in your diet, the more you are protected from heart attacks. Fiber acts like a magnet in your intestines; it pulls the cholesterol through your digestive system, eliminating waste before it can be absorbed in your bloodstream. Fiber allows you to deposit cholesterol in the toilet, instead of in your arteries.
To get fiber into your diet, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and buy 100% whole grain bread and pasta.
Lucky Number #5: 1 Alcoholic Drink Per Day
Alcohol in moderation can provide great benefits for your heart. Red wine is made with dark grapes, which have polyphenol antioxidants in their skins that help protect the lining of the heart’s blood vessels. Beer has high levels of vitamin B6, which can help prevent the build-up of a harmful chemical, homocysteine, that can cause heart disease
Lucky Number #6: 0 Trans Fats Each Day
Trans fats are found in commercial baked goods like cakes, cookies and crackers, along with fried foods like doughnuts and French fries. They are included because their chemical structure makes them stable for long periods of time at room temperature. Originally, they were designed for candle wax.
Trans fats wreak havoc on your body. They decrease your “good” HDL cholesterol while increasing your “bad” LDL cholesterol. They also cause plaque buildup in your arteries, damage arterial cells, and generally increase inflammation.
The scariest part is that you may be eating trans fats and not even know it. In the US, food companies are not required to list trans fats in products if they contain less than 0.5 grams per serving. Look out for common culprits like margarine, shortenings, microwave popcorn, peanut butter and coffee creamer.
Lucky Number #7: The Maximum Number You Should Have on a Hemoglobin A1C Test is 6
The hemoglobin A1C Test measures your blood sugar levels from the past 2-3 months. Hemoglobin is a protein found in your red blood cells. These red blood cells live in your body for 3 months at a time. The Hemoglobin A1C Test measures how much sugar has gotten stuck to the protein in your blood in the past 2-3 months, which makes it a better indicator than testing your blood sugar, which measures only the sugar in what you ate that day.
If your Hemoglobin A10 results are 6% or higher, you may have insulin resistance – a condition where your body cannot correctly use the insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas, to convert glucose to energy. Insulin resistance is considered a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Although there are no discernable symptoms of insulin resistance, it is associated with fat accumulation around your belly, referred to as the omentum. Historically, the omentum stored calories so that, in times of famine, the liver has easy access to the calories. When you have a large, fatty omentum, it leaks chemicals into your liver, which can be very dangerous for your heart.
Lower your blood sugar levels by adding lemon juice to what you’re eating. The juice will make it easier for your body to process the sugars in your foods. You can also try adding half a teaspoon a day of cinnamon to your meals. It increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin. Additionally, a daily 200 mcg chromium supplement has been shown to decrease insulin resistance.
Are you concerned that you or someone you love could be depressed? We all experience the blues or down moods once in a while; but when these feelings persist and compromise our daily functioning, it can be a sign of depression. Depression is a common disorder that can take a major toll on a person and his or her family. The good news is that help and treatment are out there; although many depressed people never seek them out. It's imperative to look for the critical signs or symptoms that could mean you or your loved ones are at risk.
Two major signs of depression are: (1) Loss of interest in activities normally enjoyed and (2) Overwhelming hopelessness or pessimism.
Other major signs and symptoms include:
Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
Decreased energy and sluggishness
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Irritability
Decreased energy
Difficulty concentrating
Insomnia - especially early morning awakening, or excessive sleeping
Overeating, or appetite loss
Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Constant pains, headaches or stomach problems that do not respond to treatment
Every individual may express different signs and symptoms with different frequency or severity - but if 5 or more of these symptoms apply to you or someone you know - it could mean depression.
Depression in Women
Depression is also much more common in women - it affects about twice as many women as men and it's the number one cause of disability in women. One in four women will experience severe depression over the course of her life. Research suggests that hormones could play a big role directly affecting brain functions for emotions and mood. This helps explain why women may be particularly vulnerable during hormonal transition periods such as perimenopause and the post-partum period.
What Causes Depression?
There is no single cause of depression and in most cases this disorder stems from a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. A person does not have to experience a traumatic or sad event in order to become depressed. What we do know is that the brains of people who are depressed tend to look different from the brains of people who are not depressed. Depressed people tend to show changes in the parts of the brain that regulate mood, behavior, sleep and appetite functions. Furthermore, depressed people tend to have an imbalance in neurotransmitters - the chemical messengers of your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulated mood and other body functions. Diminished serotonin levels may contribute to depression. Many anti-depression medications are targeted and serotonin to prevent its clearance or breakdown.
How Is Depression Treated?
Even severe depression is highly treatable - so the first step is to seek help from a medical professional. Your doctor may want to do some blood tests to rule out other conditions such as thyroid disorder, which can trigger depression. Certain medications can also exacerbate the problem.
For most people a combination of anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment. There are several different classes of medication and different types of talk therapy - so you should speak with your doctor about finding a treatment that works best for you. Many of these medications have side-effects - so it's important to have that conversation with your doctor.
There are also simple tips that can help everyone fend off blue moods and prevent depressive symptoms. Ensuring adequate sleep, getting enough exercise, reaching out to social supports, exposure to sunlight, and taking in Omega-3 fatty acids are all great first-line strategies to fight depression.
Visit these resources for diagnosing and treating depression:
http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/
http://www.nami.org
http://www.dbsalliance.org
http://www.psych.org
Is the key to happiness within? While external factors like where we live and work may influence how happy we are, there are simple steps we can all take to be happier and healthier in our everyday lives - no matter where we live.
Take Your Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D increases serotonin, the mood neurotransmitter. It boosts your immunity, promotes healthy neuro-muscular functions and helps protect you from some forms of cancer. The easiest way reap the benefits of this nutrient is to spend 15 minutes in the sun a few times a week. Be mindful that sunscreen will prevent you from getting adequate vitamin D outdoors; try skipping sunscreen for just 15 minutes.
If the weather isn't cooperating, get your vitamin D from milk, egg yolks or supplements (1000 units per day.)
Cut the Caffeine
Coffee increases anxiety levels, especially if you're getting more than 300 mgs a day. Increased anxiety means increased irritability. Try substituting your coffee with green tea. It has 1/4 the amount of caffeine found in coffee - and it's a young tea, which means it packs some powerful antioxidants.
You don't have to cut caffeine completely, but if you're having more than 300 mgs a day and find yourself fighting headaches and fatigue when you try to cut back, you may be physically dependent
Express Gratitude
Take the time to truly savor the good things in your life; things others have done for you, things you've done for others and all those small acts of kindness that make you smile. A written expression of thanks helps prohibit us from taking things for granted. So sit down with a steaming mug of green tea and express yourself.
Practice Acts of Kindness
It's the little things.
It's not what you say, it's what you do.
These expressions may be cliches, but there is truth in their message. By practicing small acts of kindness, you will perceive yourself and others more positively. You'll also appreciate your good fortune in comparison.
Pick 1 day a week and carry out 3 small acts of kindness. Research suggests that this provides a longer-lasting boost to the giver than practicing random acts of kindness spread out over the week.
Just Smile
Even when you don't feel like it, the simple act of smiling makes you feel better. A response called facial feedback indicates that, when you smile, you send a signal to your brain that says, "I am happy." Additionally, if you're smiling, you're likely to seem more approachable and happy to others - and people are more likely to smile back
