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10 Health Benefits of Honey

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:37:07 +0000

Sore throats: Yes, honey is good for a sore throat. Honey not only helps to soothe the throat by gently coating it, but it also works as a natural antibiotic, fighting any infections that caused the sore throat. Try gargling slightly warmed honey, perhaps with warm water and some lemon and a pinch of salt.
Cuts and burns: Speaking of honey’s antibiotic abilities, this sweet stuff also makes a nice (though sticky) paste for minor cuts and other wounds. How so? Honey helps to disinfect wounds by naturally, slowly releasing hydrogen peroxide. Remember this is only a home remedy for small wounds and burns; anything serious and you need to see your doctor or go to the hospital.
Hangovers: Have too much to drink last night? To fight those hangovers, try a tablespoon of honey the next day. Honey contains natural sugars which speed up the oxidation process of alcohol in the liver. Works best when slightly warm honey is added to a fruit juice.
Ulcers: Honey has the natural ability to pull water from its surroundings, which means in your stomach it denies fluid to the bacteria there causing ulcers. Thus, honey can help ulcers by killing bacteria.
Losing weight: Believe it or not, honey can help in the battle of the bulge. How is this? Honey, when slightly warm and mixed with water or juice, helps your body in digestion of fat stored in the body. But don’t over do it, because honey does have more calories than sugar.
Energy: Need a little boost in the morning? Or maybe after a jog or long walk? Honey is an excellent source of energy for the body. A tablespoon of honey equals about 64 calories.
Toothache: Ouch! Darn that sore tooth! But it’s honey to the rescue once again. Mix five teaspoons of honey with a teaspoon of powdered cinnamon, then apply it to the sore tooth. The pain should slowly ebb away in about 10 minutes or so.
Acne: Spread a thin layer of honey on your skin to combat pimples and other acne. Honey’s natural antibiotic abilities not only help to keep the skin clean, but it also roots out and destroys many bacteria that can cause facial blemishes and the like.
Sleep: Honey can even help you get a good night sleep because its amino acids, vitamins and minerals act as a natural sedative. Works best if you mix a spoon of honey with warm milk.
Digestion: A little warm honey mixed with apple cider vinegar can help your food digest. If the vinegar tastes or smells too strong to you, cut it with some warm water.

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Dried Fruit: How It Can Save Your Waistline and Your Pocketbook

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:13:23 +0000

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While for the most part I think fresh fruits and foods are always the best first choice to make, I do believe there are times when it’s more convenient and nice to have options and variety in those choices. Along these lines, recently, I’ve become more interested in trying different dried fruits. When I was a little girl, you couldn’t get me to try anything new for all the money in the world, now, I’m realizing that your tastes do change and inviting new potentially wonderful treats into your life can be a fun interesting journey.

I have a big sweet tooth. Now, I’ve researched this subject and have discovered that when a person craves sweets or feels hungry, it’s typically because they are actually dehydrated. In fact, studies indicate that approximately 60-70% of people are dehydrated on a regular basis which, quite interestingly, correlates directly with the fact that about the same percentage of the population is considered overweight or obese.

To counteract this phenomenon, be sure the next time you feel hunger pangs to give yourself and your loved ones a couple of glasses of water first, wait about 10 minutes and then see if you or they are still hungry. Often the body is simply just alerting you to the fact that it needs to be hydrated. I believe if more people start doing this with their children, especially, the percentage of obesity in American will drop, dramatically. The cost of your grocery bill will do so as well as your dentist and doctor bills. It’s all interrelated.

But, if you’re anything like me, for the times that you still have the need to snack on something sweet to satiate your cravings, dried fruit is a wonderful option to add to your diet. In my opinion, not only does sweetened or unsweetened dried fruit taste sweeter than its fresh counterpart which makes you feel like you’re eating candy, it also gives you the feeling that you’re actually eating food, because of its solid texture. I actually love it now because instead of turning to sugar candy when cravings strike me, which has absolutely no nutritional value, now I turn faithfully to dried fruits which offer me the vitamins I need and at the same time satisfying my hunger pangs.

In addition to that, they’re easy to travel with especially if you like to shop sparingly. With dried fruit you don’t have to worry about them perishing like you do with fresh fruits. While the price might seem a bit hefty for some packages, you will save money in the long run because they store longer, thus you won’t find yourself throwing out spoiled fruit, your health will be better saving on doctor’s trips, making exercising easier and so much more.

Right now, my favorites are raisins, very affordable and dried mangos, yum!

What are yours?

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Healthy Desserts: You Can Indulge and Still Stay Fit and Trim

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:55:55 +0000

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Popsicles

One of my favorite brands is “Tropicals” by Popsicle. You can choose from a variety of flavors and each popsicle contains only 15 calories and 0 grams of fat! That’s my kind of treat.

Jello

I just discovered that Sugar Free Jello Snacks are only 10 calories and 0 grams of fat each. Making jello can be a fun way to bond with your children or friends and family. Add some fat free whipped cream (20 calories per serving) and you can still indulge without feeling guilty.

Fruit

Fruit is always a sweet wonderful way to enjoy an extra treat after any meal. If you want something special, choose a melon platter with cantaloupes, watermelons, honeydew, strawberries and pineapples. Buy or create your own fruit cocktail with pears, peaches, cherries, and whatever catches your fancy.

Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake contains about 100 calories per serving and no fat. To enjoy this treat, add fruit or whipped cream. It’s light, sweet and delicious.

Sherbert

Most sherberts contain about 120 calories per serving and 0-1 gram of fat. My favorite is rainbow sherbert, what’s yours?

Flavored Ice

Lemon, daiquiri, strawberry, etc – choose from a wide variety of flavored ice (like ice cream without the cream, eliminating the fat content). These are quite refreshing to enjoy during summer days and after heavy meals.

Coffee, Tea or Hot Cocoa

Why not top your meal off with a comforting cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa? Add your favorite fat free creamers, whipped cream, or a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s a great way to get your body and mind ready for a cozy night’s sleep. Just make sure you drink caffeine free choices if it’s later in the evening.

These are just a few of my ideas feel free to share your own!

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