Health Benefits of Honey

BUZZING WITH HEALTH

The medicinal and healing properties
of honey have earned it a reputation as one the purest and most natural
remedies for over 5,000 years. And because it contains so many
therapeutic qualities, honey is used to treat a wide range of ailments
and complaints.

Health Benefits of Honey



Manuka honey

Manuka honey is produced by honeybees
which gather nectar from the flowers of wild Manuka bushes that are
indigenous to New Zealand. This particular honey is distinctively
flavoured, with a rich taste and dark appearance.



Although all types of honey contain hydrogen peroxide (particularly
known for its antibacterial properties), Professor Peter Molan of the
Honey Research Centre at Waikato University in New Zealand has
undertaken extensive research into maunka honey and believes it contains
unique properties which provide additional support to the body's
natural healing process.



Molan's research has shown that manuka honey has a high antibacterial
potency which heals a range of conditions, from external skin infections
to aiding digestion. Molan has also shown that manuka honey can help to
fight throat infections and reduce gum disease. When eaten regularly it
can aid memory, increase energy levels, improve well-being and reduce
feelings of anxiety.

The essential elixir

Honey is an all-round healing elixir
which can promote general health and well-being. A daily dose of honey,
whether as a sweetener in hot drinks, by the spoonful or spread on
toast, will boost the body's supply of antioxidants - essential for
protecting the body against free radicals.



Flush out your system and give yourself a daily boost with this
cleansing tonic: mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a
lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast.

The energy provider

Next time you go to the gym, have a
spoonful of honey beforehand. Honey is a source of natural unrefined
sugars and carbohydrates, which are easily absorbed by the body,
providing an instant energy boost with long-lasting effects. For this
reason, many athletes include honey in their daily diets. It was even
used by runners in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

Coughs and colds

Honey is widely used as a
complementary remedy for the relief of the symptoms of colds, coughs,
sore throats and 'flu. For a sore throat, take it on its own or gargle
with a mixture of two tablespoons of set honey, four tablespoons of
cider vinegar and a pinch of salt.



A traditional drink made from hot water, lemon juice and honey will help
to soothe cold and flu symptoms. Adding a little eucalyptus oil or root
ginger will help to ease congestion and, to help enhance sleep, try a
drop of whiskey in the mixture.

Health Benefits of Honey

Cuts and grazes

Honey is a mild antiseptic and can
help to keep external wounds, such as cuts and minor burns, clean and
free from infection. By absorbing the moisture around the wound, honey
can help to prevent the growth of bacteria.

A digestive healer

It was the Romans who first discovered
the beneficial effects of honey on digestive disorders when they would
prescribe honey as a mild laxative. Funnily enough, honey has also been
used as a treatment for diarrhoea. The principle behind these theories
is that honey is believed to help destroy certain bacteria in the gut by
acting as a 'preserving' agent.

Health Benefits

Honey has long been recognized as a
natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years.
It has antiseptic properties and can be used as a remedy for ailments
from sore throats to burns and cuts. This is endorsed by research which
has shown that its bactericidal properties can be used to good effect in
treating digestive problems such as peptic ulcers as well as external
lesions.(see page on medical refrences for detaied bibliography)



For a soothing drink for sore throats, mix honey with the juice of half a
lemon, add boiling water and stir. If you¹re feeling low, try a
spoonful of honey as a pick-me-up. The fructose and glucose in honey are
quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Honey in Cooking

You can use honey in cooking instead
of sugar. Because it is sweeter than sugar, you need to use less.
If you are experimenting with honey in a recipe, try replacing half the
sugar with honey as the flavour can be very strong. Honey is hygroscopic
(meaning it attracts water) so it is good for baking cakes as it keeps
them moister for longer. Look on our recipe pages for some delicious
recipes using honey.

Facts about Water

70% of our body is filled with
water. In diseased states where body water is affected, the compartment
or compartments that have changed can give clues to the nature of the
problem. Body water is regulated by hormones such as anti-diuretic
hormone (ADH), aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide. Try to get
the best drinking water possible.

Facts about Water

Check out some facts about the water you're drinking.

1	Air is not completely clean, the food we eat may have insignificant amounts of toxic, the products that we use on our skin and hair are also toxic. Water removes the dangerous toxins that are added into our body.
2	Water cushions our body joints.
3	Water acts as a transport for oxygen and nutrition throughout the cells in the body.
4	Water helps regulate body temperature.
5	Water helps prevent blood pressure from dropping to critical levels.
6	Water helps to defend against blood clots.
7	Water encourages bowel movement.
8	Water helps the normal kidney function from getting impaired.
9	Water keeps us from getting excessively dry skin.
10	Water lowers incidence of urinary tract infections.
11	Water also helps us from experiencing reoccurring headaches.
12	Water also helps alleviate fevers.
13	Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic use of hot / cold water externally to problems.
14	Hot water stimulates the immune system.
15	Hot water is also used to increase the body's flow. Imagine coming home from a hard day's work and soaking yourself in a bathtub for an hour. When you get up, your body will feel more relaxed and stressed than before. Professional athletes will usually take a steam bath or relax in a whirlpool after a rigorous training session.
16	Cold water reduces inflammation. Ice pack reduces swelling.
17	A cold water sitz bath is used to treat constipation, irregular vaginal discharge, hemorrhoids.
18	Spa treatments using alternating hot and cold water improve upper respiratory problems, congestion, foot infections, and headaches.

Health Benefits of Papaya

Papaya, a fruit
native to tropical America, is unrivaled by any other fruit except the
mango for its beta-carotene content. This is the plant form of vitamin
A. Beta-carotene is a special vitamin which gives papaya its orange
colour and has powerful antioxidant properties.




It helps in preventing damage by free radicals which might other wise
lead to some forms of cancer, heart disease, cataract and premature
ageing. Eating papaya can also help prevent blindness caused by a
deficiency in vitamin A. (This is the most common cause of blindness in
India.) However, if eaten in excess, it can cause the yellowing of palms
and skin known as carotenemia. Raw papaya contains no beta- carotene.
Half a medium-sized fruit will provide an adult's daily requirement of
vitamin C as well as supply small amounts of calcium and iron. Raw
papaya contains large amounts of vitamin C.

Health Benefits of Papaya

The fruit is also known to have laxative properties because of its
mucilageneous fibre. Contrary to popular belief, pregnant women need not
avoid papaya for the fear of miscarriages. Rather it is a unique,
wholesome and easily digestible fruit. What's more is that papaya is an
excellent choice for those suffering from digestive ailments, dyspeptic
patients and convalescing individuals. Being low on calories, high on
fibre and water content, as well as high on nutrition, it makes for
wholesome eating with high satiety for weight watchers.


Raw papaya is a rich source of papain which is plant pepsin (an enzyme
produced in animals to digest protein). Papain is capable of digesting
protein in acid, alkaline or neutral mediums while animal pepsin
requires an acidic medium. Because of this property, raw papaya is used
to tenderise meats and is widely used by the food industry as a
tenderiser. In some preliminary research, patients with coeliac disease,
who could not digest wheat protein (gluten), have had benefits when
treated with papain. However, many more clinical trials would be needed
to justify its use in coeliac disease.


Papain also exhibits pain relieving properties, and the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has approved its medical use in spinal injections
in order to ease the discomfort of slipped discs. Juice of green, raw
papaya is also used externally to improve complexion and treat skin
blemishes. Some studies also suggest anti-candida effects (fungal
infection) and anti-bacterial effects. These may aid the treatment of a
candida infection and in wound healing and ulcer treatment. A recent
study published in Journal of Medicinal Food found that papain has
anti-ulcer properties too. The papain extracts significantly reduced the
ulcer index in the experimental model.


Scientists have found that the black seeds of papaya contain, in traces,
a toxic substance called carpine. Carpine in large quantities is said
to lower the pulse rate and depress the nervous system. The substance is
found only in papaya seeds and that too in very small quantities.
Fortunately though, the fleshy part of the fruit is completely free from
this toxic substance.




Some varieties remain green when ripe, but most turn deep yellow or
orange. When buying, choose uniformly yellow fruit with a delicate
scent. Papaya is excellent when fresh, in fruit salads, smoothies or
served with ice cream. Papaya is also enjoyable when finely chopped and
served with chopped fresh chilies in a salsa dip.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

Health Benefits of WatermelonWatermelon 

has always been a good source of vitamins
A and C, and provides potassium and
fiber. But now consumers have even
more reasons to enjoy a sweet fruit.

Scientists
indicate that watermelon contains
high levels of lycopene-an antioxidant
that may help the body fight cancer
and prevent disease. Found only in
select fruits and vegetables, lycopene
is very effective at trapping cancer-promoting
agents called free-oxygen radicals.

A
study conducted by Harvard University
found that men who ate lycopene-rich
diets of tomatoes and tomato products
had a much lower risk of developing
certain cancers, especially prostrate
cancer.

Lycopene
is found only in red watermelon varieties.
In fact, it gives watermelon its red
colour,thus, the redder the watermelon,
the more lycopene it contains.

We have always known that watermelon offers a number of benefits .But as lycopene continues to emerge as a possible important, effective agent in disease prevention.

In  addition to lycopene, watermelon offers  a host of other health benefits. It is fat-free, yet delivers 100 percent on the critical energy component found in functional foods.

Eat Seeds for Better Health

Seeds should be eaten and thrown out. Most of the people do not eat seeds and simply ignore them from eating. Seeds should be eaten on a regular basis, if not atleast eaten as a pastime activity, which ever is possible for you. 
Seeds are very healthy and are also tasty to eat. They are a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins which is essential for a healthy mind and body. Sunflower seed, flax-seed, pumpkin and sesame seeds are delicious natural foods with unsaturated fats.

Sunflower Seeds : 
They are rich source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps in the proper functioning of the circulatory system. It also calms your brain because as it contains high levels of tryptophan which has relaxing effect. 

Eat Seeds for Better Health

Pumpkin Seeds :
They are good for your healthy and are also tasty to eat. These seeds can lessen the effects of inflammation without any side effects.

Watermelon Seeds: 
Watermelon seeds are often not eaten while eating the fruit. They contain iron, potassium, vitamins, fats and calories, which are very necessary for everyday nutrition. They should be chewed before swallowing.

Sesame Seeds: 
They are a rich source of minerals and are rich in calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, vitamins, and fiber. Sesame Seeds are also rich in anti-cancer lignin.

Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Lemon Water Benefits

Lemon is one of the most inexpensive fruit that is available yet with number of Health Benefits and it is also easily available citrus fruit, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses. Lemon is used in making variety of recipes such as lemon cakes, lemon chicken and beverages like lemonade and lemon-flavored drinks.

Lemon, we all now that it is very rich in Vitamin C and t also contains vitamins like vitamin B, riboflavin and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium as well as proteins and carbohydrates. Lemon is usually taken in the form of lemon juice and lemon water. Lemon water when taken in the morning provides a great health benefits.

Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Good for stomach

Drinking lemon water helps in curing digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved.

Lemon also acts as a blood purifier and also as an cleansing agent. Lemon water can also cure constipation and also acts as a liver tonic.

Excellent for Skin Care

Lemon is a natural antiseptic medicine which helps in curing many skin problems. The vitamin C present in the fruit helps in enhancing the beauty of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water when applied on the burns, can remove away scars.

Aids in Dental Care

If you are suffering from toothache, then apply lemon juice on the areas. Massaging with lemon juice on the gums can also stop gum bleeding.

Cures Throat Infections

Lemon can also help in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property.

Good for Weight Loss

One of the main and major health benefits of Lemon water is that lemon water helps in reducing weight faster. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

Following are some of the benefits of drinking lemon water -

• Blood Purification – Sweating purifies our bloodstreams.
• Removes Toxins - A lot of toxins are thrown out from our body when we sweat.
• Removes Built up in Nervous System – Drinking hot water also removes built up deposits in our nervous system.
• It can actually remove toxins from the body.
• Improves Blood Circluation – Drinking lemon water improves blood circulation.
• Boost up the Immunity – When lemon and honey are added to drinking hot water, it will become tasty and boost up the immunity.
• Constipation Cure – It is a very good remedy for constipation as it stimulates the bowel.

Health Benefits of Banana

The main and easy way to cure acidity and heat burn is to take banana. Eating a banana every day will stop such conditions. Few people consider that eating banana is simple a waste but it is a good home remedy for acidity and heartburn. 





Bananas

Bananas are great for digestive system because of their fibre content and can be taken regularly. 



If your skin is of a normal type and still you need refreshment, then mix half a mashed banana with fresh malai to get a mask and keep the mask for about for 30 minutes and wash with normal water. Find your skin glowing and moisturized in the natural way.

Health Benefits of Banana  

Excessive intake of high calorie fruits like banana and apples is surely a No No. Red grapes, berries, peaches, raisins and other dark colored fruits are good for health.



Citrus fruits like lemon, strawberry, orange, banana, melon, peach, grapes are very essential for the well being of the skin.



Taking bananas with milk can give you a boost of energy and also have the potential to increase vigour and vitality. Start your day with a glass of milk with banana. This is good for growing children also.



For supple skin apply a smashed banana on face for 20 minutes.



Banana is also used in other treatments and ailments like : 

- Depression

- PMS

- Anemia

- Blood Pressure

- Brain Power

- Constipation

- Hangovers

- Heartburn

- Morning Sickness

- Mosquito bites

- Nerves

- Overweight

- Ulcers

- Temperature control

- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

- Smoking

- Stress

- Strokes



30 second Hi-fiber Smoothie.


Ingredients



1 banana, peeled (chilled, then chopped)

1 tablespoon of wheatgerm

1 teaspoon of oat bran

3-4 tablespoons of natural yoghurt

1 cup milk

1-2 teaspoons honey


Method



Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve chilled.



Banana and Celery Salad With Crushed Pistachios

Serves 6-8



Ingredients



5 bananas, thinly sliced

3 sticks celery, thinly sliced

1 large green capsicum, thinly sliced

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

150g shelled pistachios, roughly chopped



Dressing



1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Drink 1.5-2 ltr of water a day 2 hydrate body,reduce fatigue and help brain work  

Drink Water Daily

Drinking a healthy amount of water is vital to your health. You can never imagine just by drinking a healthy amount of water, you gain tremendous health benefits, and sometimes you can even throw away your migraine medicine or pain killer.

Before you can appreciate the benefits of water to your health, let’s review the role of water in human body.

• Get Healthy Skin
• Flush Toxins
• Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Attack
• Cushion And Lube Your Joints And Muscles
• Get Energized And Be Alert
• Stay Regular
• Reduce Your Risk Of Disease And Infection
• Regulate Your Body Temperature
• Burn More Fat And Build More Muscle
• Get Well

World Liver Day

Title : World Liver Day 2012: Things you ought to know about your liver

Your liver is a one and a half kg organ that sits behind your right rib cage. If you did not have your liver, you would not be able to process nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals from your food. Your body would not get rid of all the toxins and microbes. Your blood would probably never clot! The liver plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s metabolic balance.

As the liver performs a variety of important functions it is extremely vulnerable to a variety of metabolic, toxic, microbial, circulatory and cancerous insults. Awareness of the liver’s functions and what all can cause liver disease can help you take the road to great health.

Let’s start with a few commonly known diseases that can affect the liver:

1. Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver that is caused by a group of viruses that have particular affinity for the liver. Out of these, hepatitis A and E are caused by eating food contaminated with the virus. Hepatitis B, C and D are acquired through blood, body fluids and by unprotected sexual contact.
2. Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation (swelling) of the liver due to ingestion of alcohol.
3. Cirrhosis or scarring of the liver is caused mostly due to alcohol intake, viral infection due to hepatitis B  and C , bile duct disease or iron overload. It is among the top 10 causes of death in the world. The liver ceases to function normally due to irreversible damage. It progresses gradually and can lead to end stage liver disease.
4. Drug induced damage caused due to the various medicines we take and chemicals we are exposed to. As liver is the major detoxifying organ in the body, it is subject to an enormous variety of drugs and chemicals. Always be careful when consuming medicines. Even over the counter medications like paracetamol can cause fulminant liver failure. Never take medications beyond the recommended dosage. It is always better to consult a doctor before taking medications and follow up at the slightest evidence of ill health. Certain herbal medications could also cause damage to the liver and so can medications for tuberculosis.
5. Liver cancer can be caused by many factors including viral infections (hepatitis B and C), chronic alcoholism, certain food contaminants, genetic factors, cirrhosis of the liver.

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

 This depends on the onset and rapidity of progression of liver damage.

In case of acute liver damage (due to drugs, toxins, viral hepatitis A, B or E), there may be fever with yellowish discoloration of sclera (the white of the eye), skin and urine. In most cases this may be self-limiting. In a small percentage, this may progress to fulminant liver failure leading to coma, altered blood clotting, kidney failure, secondary infections and may even require liver transplantation.

In chronic liver damage (due to hepatitis B, C or alcohol), the symptoms would be more gradual in onset:

• Jaundice or yellowish discoloration of skin and the white of the eye.
• Swelling especially in the legs and feet due to low protein levels.
• Enlargement of breasts known as gynecomastia (in a male).
• Reddish spider like discolorations (spider nevi) beneath the skin especially over the chest.
• Accumulation of fluid (ascites) in the abdomen giving it a protruded appearance.
• Problems with clotting of blood
• Vomiting of blood or blood in stools
• Altered senses with change in behavior, confusion, forgetfulness and other symptoms related to the brain also known as hepatic encephalopathy.
• Gradual worsening of kidney function

The above symptoms are not comprehensive and it is best to consult a doctor at the earliest onset of any of the above.

 Tips for a healthy liver:

Diet and Alcohol: A balanced diet with low fat content would be well suited to prevent fatty liver. Alcohol is best avoided.

Exercise: Plays a role in controlling cholesterol and in the metabolism of fat thus indirectly protecting the liver.

Vaccination: Hepatitis B is preventable by vaccination. Three shots of the hepatitis B vaccine taken over three months can provide long term protection against the dreaded disease.

Hygienic food and drinking water: Hepatitis A and E are known to spread via the oral route. Think twice before having road side delicacies! Boil the water that you intend to drink. It is the best way to prevent communicable diseases.

Avoid self-medication: Various drugs can damage the liver if taken indiscriminately

Regular check-ups: Once diagnosed with liver disease, be regular in follow ups with the doctor. Reversible damage can become irreversible if neglected.

 This World Liver day, let’s strive not to abuse our liver, one of the most useful organs that we have. Let’s treat it with the love and respect it deserves. 

Source : http://health.india.com

Asthma is treatable

Title:World Asthma Day 2012

Title: Asthma is treatable

Asthma is one of the least misunderstood diseases. Most patients aren’t even diagnosed or treated. According to doctors, only 10-15 % of parents, whose children have asthma, follow instructions properly.

“About 85 to 90 per cent of children suffer relapse because they never adhere to instructions. Correct treatment and lifestyle modifications are enough to manage and even treat asthma. But, public have stigmatised inhalers and they do not follow instructions of the physicians properly,” senior paediatrician P. Sudershan Reddy, said on the eve of World Asthma Day.

The most common symptoms that occur during asthma attack among children include tightness in chest, shortness of breath recurring cough and wheezing. Because of narrow opening of the airway, children do have trouble breathing and this causes wheezing.

“Due to initial cost factors, a majority of parents discontinue inhalers and try to adopt tablets. However, we have seen that in the long run, children develop complications after using tablets. It is always advisable to use inhalers,” says senior chest physician, Government General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda, K. Subhakar.

Docs are also afraid that the asthma cases are also on the rise. Allaying fears of addiction to steroids in inhalers, Dr Sudershan Reddy said that they are very useful because they provide targeted medication. “There are no side effects and adverse reactions from inhalers. There should be no inhibitions to use inhalers. Physicians, however, must make sure that they spend a lot of time with parents and explain them properly about the finer aspects of asthma,” Dr. Reddy added.

Physicians point out that 60 per cent of asthma cases among children is treatable. “If children take medications properly, then the condition is treatable. There are children who have allergic asthma and they have to continue medication for longer time,” Dr. Subhakar said.

World Asthma Day

Title:World Asthma Day 2012

Title: Asthma is treatable

Asthma is one of the least misunderstood diseases. Most patients aren’t even diagnosed or treated. According to doctors, only 10-15 % of parents, whose children have asthma, follow instructions properly.

“About 85 to 90 per cent of children suffer relapse because they never adhere to instructions. Correct treatment and lifestyle modifications are enough to manage and even treat asthma. But, public have stigmatised inhalers and they do not follow instructions of the physicians properly,” senior paediatrician P. Sudershan Reddy, said on the eve of World Asthma Day.

The most common symptoms that occur during asthma attack among children include tightness in chest, shortness of breath recurring cough and wheezing. Because of narrow opening of the airway, children do have trouble breathing and this causes wheezing.

“Due to initial cost factors, a majority of parents discontinue inhalers and try to adopt tablets. However, we have seen that in the long run, children develop complications after using tablets. It is always advisable to use inhalers,” says senior chest physician, Government General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda, K. Subhakar.

Docs are also afraid that the asthma cases are also on the rise. Allaying fears of addiction to steroids in inhalers, Dr Sudershan Reddy said that they are very useful because they provide targeted medication. “There are no side effects and adverse reactions from inhalers. There should be no inhibitions to use inhalers. Physicians, however, must make sure that they spend a lot of time with parents and explain them properly about the finer aspects of asthma,” Dr. Reddy added.

Physicians point out that 60 per cent of asthma cases among children is treatable. “If children take medications properly, then the condition is treatable. There are children who have allergic asthma and they have to continue medication for longer time,” Dr. Subhakar said.

Energy Drinks Bad for Your Teeth

Sugar may rot your teeth, but the acid in energy andsports drinks will also do some irreversible damage to those (not so) pearly whites, say researchers.

A new study published in the journal General Dentistryfound that energy and sports drinks contain so much acid that they start destroying teeth after only five days of consistent use. Thirty to 50 percent of American teens use energy drinks, the paper says, and up to 62 percent drink sports drinks at least once a day.

Damage to enamel can cause teeth to become sensitive to touch and temperature changes, and be more susceptible to cavities and decay.

"Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are 'better' for them than soda," said Poonam Jain, lead author of the study. "Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid."

Jain and colleagues analyzed the acidity of 13 different sports drinks and nine energy drinks by submerging samples of human tooth enamel in each for 15 minutes. They then submerged the samples in artificial saliva for two hours. This was repeated four times a day for five days. The scientists observed damage to the enamel by the time the five days were up.

Energy drinks were the worst culprits, the researchers said. They said acidity levels vary among brands and flavors of energy drinks, and caused twice as much damage as the sports drinks.

"Bacteria convert sugar to acid, and it's the acid bath that damages enamel, not the sugar directly," said Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale Prevention Center. "So by incorporating a high acid load in a drink, we are just cutting out the middleman on the way to tooth decay."

These drinks are glorified sodas, with as much or more sugar, said Katz.

"There may be a role for them for rehydration among endurance athletes under intense training conditions, but sports drinks make little sense for anyone else," said Katz. "A far better approach would be working to improve sleep quality and quantity and overall health."

"When these drinks combine a load of acid and sugar, they are detrimental to waistline and smile alike," said Katz.