Raw Honey

Raw Honey comes straight from the honeycomb, unheated, unpasteurized, and unprocessed. It is still sugar, but with a few vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients and nutritional properties in it. Honey comes from the bees that pollinate just about everything. Raw honey has something about it that is very healing. First of all it is natural, it has health properties and it tastes good. Raw honey has been used by humans for as far back in history as we can go. It also plays a part in cultural traditions and religious ceremonies.

You can buy raw honey still on the comb, or as a liquid or solid. My dad used to eat it straight off the comb, but he also got a mouthful of bees wax which I didn't like. I preferred my honey to be in it's liquid golden form. The color of honey can vary from  clear, to milky and it all depends on what flowers the bees got it from.

Honey has health properties.

To get the best benefits from honey, it is better to use locally produced raw honey. It is very helpful for seasonal allergies like hay fever. There is something about the way the bees make it, that when you take the honey it brings relief from the allergies. It is also good for your immune system.

Bees also produce a substance called propolis. Propolis contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Good raw honey has both pollen and propolis. Propolis is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and contains antioxidants. Some of the nutrients of raw honey have tumor and cancer prevention properties. It is also good for a cough suppressant, reducing allergy symptoms, regulating blood sugar and and cholesterol, healing ulcers and bacterial infections.

Applying raw honey to infected wounds reduces the redness and swelling. It has been compared to antibiotics. Honey can also be used to treat small burns and can be safely used externally by diabetics. However, I would suggest anyone who is watching their blood sugar to be cautious about internal use.

Honey makes a good addition to a cup of tea. You can get honey sticks to put in your tea. It is also good on biscuits with butter. Honey is a sugar so I recommend that you use moderation when using it internally.

Caution:

One should be cautious about using honey, be sure to consult your health care provider. It is dangerous to give honey to children under 1 year of age. It sometimes contains botulism spores that that can be life threatening to the infant. For diabetics internal use of honey should be discussed with your health care provider.

Check out my web page at www.valerielull.com  Also look for my page on facebook. Look under the heading Ten Healthy Teas.

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
lullval@clearwire.net

Blackberries

Most of us think of those annoying blackberries that invade your lawns and gardens and have to be taken out. While it is true that blackberries can be a nuisance, they are loaded with health properties. The fruit is delicious and is full of vitamin C and relieves constipation, and the leaves and roots are good for diarrhea. I think of of culinary goodies like blackberry jam and blackberry smoothies and blackberry pies. My dad used to go out into the country and pick wild blackberries and bring them home for us to eat.

Blackberries have endless herbal qualities. Blackberries help people sleep, they cool and cleanse the blood and they tone the arteries and veins. For bleeding gums you can chew the leaves because they are an astringent and full of vitamin C. An infusion can be made that can be used for a mouthwash.There is fiber in blackberries that helps digestion and may lower cholesterol levels.

Blackberries have a lot of fiber. Vitamin A helps keep the mucous membranes healthy. Blackberries have vitamin K and manganese which helps your bones. Their deep purple color is because they contain anthocyanins which have cancer fighting benefits. The berries have natural sun protection which protects skin cells from the harmful rays of the sun. They have antioxidants that fight mutations which cause DNA damage.

Blackberries can help with eye health and reduce the chances of developing macular degeneration. The plant estrogens in blackberries can help relieve PMS symptoms and bloating, as well as menopause symptoms like hot flashes.

Blackberries can be eaten with yogurt, breakfast cereal, and in muffins. A tea can be made from the berries and they can be made into blackberry wine. An infusion can be made from the leaves and it can be taken as a tonic. There seems to be no end to the benefits of blackberries. They don't cost much and often you can go out in the wild and pick them for free.

I'm going to give you my favorite blackberry smoothie recipe. It is great as a snack or a dessert.

Blackberry Smoothie

In a blender combine 1 C of blackberries, 1 C of almond milk, or whatever kind of milk you choose to use, and 1 or 2 packs of Stevia, depending on how sweet you like it. You can also substitute whatever sweetener you choose if you don't want to use Stevia. Add ice, this is optional. If you berries are frozen you might want to skip the ice. Blend for 2-3 minutes. Pour into a glass and enjoy. This is one of my favorites.

To read about healthy teas go to  my website at www.valerielull.com .

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

Dark Chocolate Has Health Benefits

One of my favorite indulgences is chocolate. However, if you want to receive the health benefits you have to be careful what kind of chocolate you eat and how much. Emerging research seems to indicate that chocolate has a number of healing properties and may actually be good for you when taken in the right form and in moderation. Chocolate is chucked full of good things like flavonoids that reduce inflammation, phytosterols that help cholesterol levels, and antioxidants that reduce free radicals.  There are so many things that are good about chocolate I could write several blogs on the subject. Today I will hit the highlights.

Antioxidant - Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals. Free radicals are atoms that have an electron missing and can damage your cells DNA. The antioxidants provide the missing electron and stabilizes the molecule. The damage free radicals can do can be the start of processes that lead to cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Cardiovascular Problems - According to recent research chocolate can help coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, high cholesterol, plaque deposits on artery walls and obesity.

Natural Stimulant - Eating chocolate can produce a boost of energy both physically and mentally. This is partly due to the caffeine content and partly due to theobromine. Theobromine is an alkaloid in cacao that also can provide a boost of energy.

Cognitive Function - Cocoa is good for your mind. The flavonols in chocolate may help with cognitive decline.Flavonols can reverse age-related cognitive decline by increasing the strength of the connections of the neurons in your brain that aid in maintaining memory.

Mood Booster - There is a chemical reaction with chocolate called anandamide that blocks feelings of pain and depression temporarily. Some researchers call it bliss. Some evidence seems to show that it also sweetens up your love life.

Gut Bacteria - The good bacteria in your gut love to feast on chocolate. They turn it into anti-inflammatory compounds that fight inflammation, another underlying cause of chronic diseases like heart trouble, cancer and Alzheimer's.

Some guidelines - Don't use this information as a reason to run down to your market and chow down on candy bars. There's way too much sugar in them. If you want to eat good chocolate choose the dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao. It has less sugar and the higher the cacao content, the more health benefits you will reap. Eat only 1-2 squares a day. As the old saying goes, "all things in moderation". If you are still worried about sugar content you can get cacao in capsule form and take a few each day. Cacao in capsule form can be purchased on the internet, your local health food store, or by mail order.You can also get benefits from hot coco, or from cacao beans that have been dipped in chocolate

To learn another Way to stay healthy go now to my web site  www.valerielull.com  It is OK to have a chocolate treat if it is done with thought, care and moderation.

Valerie Lull,  MH,
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
www.Lullval@clearwire.net

The Taste of Green Tea

Green tea is probably one of the most studied beverages around. Just about every day you see something in the media about the health benefits of green tea. However, for many people green tea has a drawback, the taste. They want the benefits of green tea but the taste is a barrier. Here are a few tips about how you can make the taste of green tea more palatable.


Brewing it - There is an art and a particular trick to brewing your green tea that makes a big difference in taste. You have to heat the water to the right temperature. If the temperature is too high it will be bitter, if it is too low the full flavor will not be extracted. If it is brewed at a lower than boiling temperature your tea will be sweeter and the taste greatly improved.

 The guidelines for the temperature of green tea are between 140 degrees Fahrenheit and 185 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees centigrade to 90 degrees centigrade). You can get special tea kettles that you can program for the various temperatures you want for your varied teas, or you can do what I do and take the kettle off the heat just before it comes to a boil. Or you could heat the water in a cooking pot with a thermometer to get it just right.

 Adding an herb to it to make it more tasty - There are an infinite number of combinations you can use to flavor up green tea. Many are available at your supermarket or tea merchant. There's Ginger, pomegranate, raspberry and lemon. Experiment and find one you like.

Sweetener - I like to add a sweetener to my green tea. There is honey if you are not diabetic or watching your blood sugar. For those who are watching blood sugar there is Stevia, Agave Syrup, Xylitol, coconut crystals, or even coconut milk. Stevia is now processed so that it does not have the aftertaste it used to have. This also varies with the brand of Stevia you use.  I am a little hesitant about chemically prepared artificial sweeteners. I would say to beware when using them, some have unwanted side effects.

The unthinkable - Most people do not add milk or cream to green tea. I am the oddball. I like to add a little soy creamer to mine. It makes it a little more mellow and it slides down my throat easier. Some authorities say the milk destroys the health giving properties of the tea, others say it does not. The jury is still out on that. Of course it could depend on what kind of milk you add, dairy vs. soy or almond or coconut milk, or one of the other myriad types of milk that is out there.

Go check out my website for more information on the health benefits tea. Here is the link www.valerielull.com  Have a great day.


Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

Lavender, Lavandula officinalis

I had an experience this week that brought home to me how valuable lavender can be. I burned my thumb with boiling water and it hurt pretty bad. I had some lavender oil nearby and I doused the burn with it. Two hours later the pain was gone, there was no scaring and it was like I had never burned it at all. Lavender is wonderful stuff for burns. It is also good for bumps and bruises. I just feel fortunate that I had the lavender oil on hand.

Lavender is what I call a super herb. It is used for so many things. It has many cosmetic uses such as air freshener, perfume, soaps and bath preparations. It also has healthful uses. There are several varieties of lavender. Among them are English lavender, True lavender, Spanish lavender, and Spike lavender.  Each kind has different uses. Spike lavender is harsh and mainly used for making soaps. Spanish lavender is not usually used for cooking or medicinal purposes. True lavender grows at a high elevation and produces the finest essential oil. English lavender is used for cosmetic purposes.

  

Lavender has been used for thousands of years as an antiseptic, disinfectant, sedative, stimulant, tonic and carminative (helps flatulence). It is used topically for scrapes, bumps, bruises and burns. Lavender is good for dental decay because of it's antimicrobial and antibacterial activity. It is also antifungal and heals wounds. It is good for chills, infectious diseases, feverishness and feeling tired. A mild infusion can be made that is good as a sedative, and helps insomnia, poor digestion, migraines and irritability. The oil is a good tonic for hair. Dried lavender flowers made into a sachet can be scattered among clothing to keep the moths away. Lavender flowers are also useful when making a potpourri.  

Lavender essential oil can be used in massage when diluted with another oil and leaves a delightful scent. It can be made into a lotion, or a compress for burns, eczema or lung congestion. Lavender essential oil is one of the few essential oils that can be used orally. It can be inhaled for respiratory problems. Lavender has been said to be good for hair loss when combined with thyme, rosemary and cedarwood in a base of jojoba and grapeseed oil. It is also useful for dandruff. Lavender can be used as a tea for anxiety. Lavender is truly a super herb.

Would you like to checkout my website? Go to www.valerielull.com 

Valerie Lull, Author

Ten Healthy Teas

Lullval@clearwire.net