The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. A
great natural source of carbohydrates and sugars, which provide strength and
energy, and boost the performance and endurance of the body.
The long misunderstood bee has now, at last, received
its well deserved place as queen in the animal kingdom. From a medicinal
healing agent and culinary nectar to an anti-wrinkle beauty product, honey has
nourished and brought aid to humankind for many generations.
HONEY AND HEALTH:
Honey is a great source of natural sugar, vitamins and
minerals, including niacin, riboflavin, calcium, copper,
Iron, Magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and Zinc. There are also
characteristics to honey that make it act as an antioxidant.
An antioxidant is a molecule that slows or stops
oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. Free radicals
are highly-reactive elements that can damage cells and, its speculated, lead to
conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Antioxidant-rich foods may prevent cellular damage and
protect against the development of numerous diseases. This is why a diet high
in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables is recommended by doctors and nutritionist
alike.
Recent research indicates that honey’s antioxidant
capacity can be just as effective as the antioxidants in some fruits and
vegetables.
Currently, the antioxidant capacity of honey is
thought to be the result of several compounds acting together, including phenolic, peptides, organic acids, and enzymes.
In the article “CHRONIC HONEY CONSUMPTION INCREASES
PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT CONCENTRATION”, Dr Gross found that regular consumption of
several tablespoons of honey over a 29-day period increased antioxidant levels
in healthy adult subjects.
Making honey a part of your diet is an easy way to
strengthen your body’s defense system.
The amount and type or antioxidants in honey depends
on the flower that is the honey’s source. Generally, darker honeys are richer
in antioxidants than lighter honeys.
HONEY AND BEAUTY:
For centuries, honey had been used by cultures around
the world to preserve and enhance natural beauty.
Today, manufacturers use honey in everything from
facial products like moisturizers to product for the body such as soap, bubble
bath, and lotions.
Honey is such an effective moisturizer because it is
as humectants product which attracts and traps moisture. This makes it an ideal
addition to products that nourish the skin and hair with moisture, such as shampoos,
conditioners, cleansers and creams. Honey also acts as anti-irritant, helping
to calm sensitive skin.
When Alexander The Great died, he was returned to
Greece in a coffin filled with honey.
But you don’t have to be a royalty or spend a fortune
to pamper yourself and enjoy the benefits of honey. Try these simple,
affordable recipes at home. You will be feeling like royalty in no time.
RECIPES FOR BEAUTY:
The following beauty recipes have been created by
Christopher Watt, a licensed aesthetician who cares for some of Hollywood’s
most famous faces, including Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez.
GREEN
HONEY GLOW MASK:
Benefits:
Beautiful glowing skin that feels youthful and firm.
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh spinach/ 1 cup fresh mint/3 Tbsp. honey/ 1 piece (1-inch)
ginger/ 1 ripe banana/ 2 egg whites.
Directions:
Rinse spinach thoroughly in
colander. Cut and peel ginger, set aside. In food processor or blender combine
spinach, mint and ginger. Blend on low setting. Add honey and banana and blend
until liquid consistency. Add egg whites and blend until all ingredients are
mixed thoroughly. Transfer to porcelain bowl or glass dish. On clean skin apply
a small amount of Green Honey Glow to entire face and neck using a fan brush or
finger tips. Allow to remain on skin for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and apply
appropriate moisturizer. Store
covered in refrigerator for up to one week.
CUCUMBER
HONEY- EYE NOURISHER:
Benefits:
Reduces puffiness, cools and refreshes contours under eyes.
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. aloe vera gel / 2 tsp. cucumber, peeled with seeds removed/ ½
tsp. chamomile tea/ ½ tsp. honey.
Directions:
Steep chamomile tea in boiling
water. Set aside to cool. In food processor or blender combine cucumber, aloe
vera and honey. Blend on low setting. Add chamomile tea. Blend until smooth. Apply
gently under eyes using ring finger. Store in glass dish covered with plastic
wrap in refrigerator for up to one week. Best applied chilled.
GOLDEN HONEY BODY POLISH:
Benefits:
Helps to exfoliate and hydrate skin.
Ingredients:
½ cup pure honey/ ½ cup Dead Sea salts (can
substitute Epsom salt) / ⅔ cup grape seed oil (can be found online or at
health food stores).
Directions:
Combine honey, sea salts
and grape seed oil. If you want, crush 2-3 sheets of 24 kt gold leaf until
almost powder consistency, add to honey mixture, combine. Apply in bathtub or shower
to damp skin. Be sure to work in on rough areas such as elbows, knees and the soles
of the feet. Rinse with warm water. Towel dry and apply your favorite moisturizer.
Note:
- You may add the
crushed gold leaf to your favorite moisturizer to further enhance gold’s
benefits.
- Epsom salt is
available online or at health food stores.
ROSEMARY HONEY HAIR CONDITIONER:
Benefits:
The extremes of heat and cold we endure throughout winter can make even
the greatest hair look and feel like straw. This nourishing conditioner blends
honey for shine, olive oil for moisture and essential oil of rosemary to
stimulate hair growth.
Ingredients:
½ cup honey/ ¼ cup warmed olive oil/ 2 Tbsp. for normal to oily
hair/ 4 drops essential oil of rosemary/ 1 tsp. xanthum gum (available in
health food stores)
Directions :
Place all the ingredients in a small
bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight fitting
stopper or lid. Apply a small amount at a time to slightly dampened hair.
Massage scalp and work mixture through hair until completely coated. Cover hair
with a warm towel (towel can be heated in a microwave or dryer) or shower cap;
leave on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove towel or shower cap; shampoo
lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier
hair the natural way.
Further Resource on Home Remedies using honey is the
book entitled, “THE FOLK REMEDY ENCYCLOPEDIA: Olive Oil, Vinegar, Honey and1,001 Other Home Remedies”, by FRANK K. WOOD.
Other related
Topics on HEALTH AND WELLNESS:
Have your say on what you just read! Leave your
comments below.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment