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5 Health Benefits of Raw Honey

Raw honey is honey that has not been heated, pasteurized or processed in any way. The differences between raw and pasteurized honey are substantial. Raw honey is an alkaline-forming food that contains natural vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants and other important natural nutrients. These are the very nutrients that are destroyed during the heating and pasteurization process. In fact, pasteurized honey is equivalent to and just as unhealthy as eating refined sugar.

Besides tasting delicious raw honey has many healthy benefits for you and your body.

1. It is a powerful antioxidant. The antioxidants in raw honey work to eliminate free radicals, which can cause diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

2. Eliminates allergies. If you have problem with allergies try locating some raw honey from the area you live and take a spoonful daily.

3. Remedy for skin wounds and infections. Honey has antibiotic properties, apply it topically to help heal skin wounds or rashes.

4. Helps to stabilize blood sugar. The low glycemic index of honey helps it move into your bloodstream more slowly and prevents sharp spikes and dips in blood-sugar levels. Stable blood-sugar levels also can curb your appetite and help you resist snacking, according to the Mayo Clinic.

5. Effective treatment for acne. If you are having a problem with blemishes try putting raw honey on them nightly. Also try washing your face with honey to experience clean, soft skin.

Questions For The Day

Do you buy raw honey?  Have you ever used it for any of the reasons above?

Image Credit: Max Westby via Compfight

Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

I have been reading so much lately on the many benefits of apple cider vinegar. It is like a natural miracle drug for many ailments. You may be wondering what exactly is Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar, otherwise known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a type of vinegar made from cider or apple and has a pale to medium amber color. Unpasteurized or organic ACV contains mother of vinegar, which has a cobweb-like appearance and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed.

ACV is used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutneys, among other things. It is made by crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. Bacteria and Yeast are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation process, and the sugars are turned into alcohol. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria. Acetic acid and malic acid give vinegar its sour taste. Source

The Many Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

1. If you are like many of us and suffer from allergies then you may want to give apple cider vinegar a try. Many allergy suffers claim that taking a shot of ACV daily helps relieve there allergy symptoms from environmental, pet and food sources.

2. ACV is great for your skin. Many people swear that using ACV on there skin clears it up, heals scars and makes their skin feel great! It does this by regulating the ph balance of your skin. Try diluting it with 2 parts water and spread it on your face like you would your toner.

3. It makes your body happy, and it does this by helping your body maintain a healthy alkaline pH level. When you have higher acid levels in your body it causes you to feel sluggish and can lead to infection, but adding ACV to your diet can help to level this out.

4. It helps to rid your body of candida (yeast) which is a great thing because too much yeast can cause problems such as poor memory, sugar cravings yeast infections and fatigue.

5. Another common use is in your hair. It can be used after shampooing your hair as a rinse to add body and shine. Put 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water in an old shampoo bottle and use several times a week.

6. Helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies have shown that it could be useful for lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure.

7. Helps with Weigh Loss – consuming ACV can help with stabalizing blood sugar, it keeps you feeling fuller, and may also promote weight loss by preventing fat accumulation through its impact on insulin secretion.

There are alot of different ways you can add ACV to your diet. Try making your own salad dressings or using it or make your own drink to sip on throughout the day. Try mixing it with water or if that is too strong for you then add a little honey to it.

It is important to buy organic unfiltered ACV. One if the best brands is Bragg’s.

Here is another great resource full of uses for Apple Cider Vinegar. Be sure and check it out!

So, how do you use Apple Cider Vinegar?

Probiotic Enzyme Salad

A few months ago a friend loaned me a book The Beauty Detox Solution. There were lots of good recipes and information in the book.  A few weeks ago I tried making the Probiotic Enzyme Salad that she talks about in the book.  It was very easy to make.  You only need cabbage, salt, and filtered water.  This salad helps promote optimal digestion and the cleansing of acidic waste, which helps contribute to increased energy. You let it ferment in your pantry for about a week, when you open the jar be prepared for a strong strong smell.  The taste is not bad at all, just tangy like sauerkraut. It is packed full of vitamin C and healthy bacteria. I encourage you to give this a try.  It will help balance the pH in your body and make your body happier. I eat about 1/2 cup each day at dinner time.

Day 1 - about to go into the pantry.

Day 1 – about to go into the pantry.

Day 6 - you can see all the little bubbles that formed. That's a good sign!

Day 6 – you can see all the little bubbles that formed. That’s a good sign!

Discard the top few leaves.

Discard the top few leaves. Also be careful when opening for the first time. It spewed all over my husband. 🙂 Not a great smell to have on you!

 

About to dig in!

About to dig in!

 

Below is a video where Kim shows just how to make it.  Check it out!

 

Is Kombucha the ‘New Yogurt’?

Through reading other blogs I have started seeing this drink pop up everywhere, Kombucha.  Living in a small town with limited grocery stores I had not stumbled upon this drink myself, but it had definitely caught my interest.  So, while we were in Greenville the other day I decided to pick up a couple bottles from Whole Foods.  I first tried GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha in Gingerade, it is quite tangy with a vinegary taste but I loved it.  I am a huge fan of Ginger so this seemed like an obvious first choice for me.  I also bought a bottle of Synergy Organic and Raw Mystic Mango Kombucha it taste alot like the gingerade flavor to me with the same tangyness but also has the hint of mango.  I really enjoyed it and I think I’m hooked!

So what exactly is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermentation of sweetened tea and contains cultures of bateria and yeast along with the organic acids, active enzymes, amino acids, and polyphenols produced by these microbes. While drinking Kombucha you will noticed flat pancake like structures floating in the drink these are known as SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bateria and yeast).

Kombucha producers claim that it detoxifies the body and energizes the mind, although little research has been done to prove it.

So, even though I might be a little late to the game where Kombucha is concerned, I have thoroughly enjoyed drinking it and look forward to trying more of the flavors.  This is coming from someone who primarily drinks water and green tea. I love that it’s full of probiotics and antioxidants, both of which I love adding to my diet in as many ways possible.

Questions for Today :

Do you drink Kombucha?

What is your favorite flavor?