Honey Facts
Nectar itself is composed mainly of sucrose and water. Bees add enzymes that create additional chemical compounds, inverting the sucrose into fructose and glucose, and then evaporate the water so that the resulting product will resist spoiling.
Hence, honey is a source of carbohydrates, containing 80% natural sugar -- mostly fructose and glucose. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar. 18% water. The less water content the honey has, the better the quality of honey. 2% minerals Vitamins, pollen and protein. The vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. I learnt that "conductivity" is an indirect way of measuring the mineral content of a honey. Manuka honey has a higher than normal conductivity -- about 4 times that of normal flower honeys. The higher the conductivity, the better the value of the honey. Also, one of the most encouraging honey nutrition facts - this natural sweetener has antioxidants and is free of fat and cholesterol! |
One tablespoon of natural sweetener honey contains 64 calories. Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI), meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion. We should try to avoid eating excessive high-glycemic foods which would prompt an elevated insulin release in our body as a result of the pancreas being stimulated to metabolize the sudden surge of glucose into the blood.
Honey contains natural minerals and vitamins which help the metabolizing of undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid on the organs and tissues into the system, hence preventing obesity and promoting better health for us. |
HONEY - Hibernation Diet
British pharmacist Mike McInnes and his son Stuart, a nutritionist, have devised a diet that involves taking a spoonful of honey at night before bedtime. Their book, "The Hibernation Diet," was published in September 2007. Mike McInnes says the honey at night sets a chemical cycle in motion releasing hormones and burning fat as you sleep. He says without the night-time honey, the body produces stress hormones and wastes energy stabilizing blood sugar levels.
The honey hibernation diet is neither a mystical cure nor hype. Read the book to get a more in-depth understanding on the science behind the hibernation diet. The rationale for eating honey before bedtime has much to do with liver care and our fat metabolism during sleep. This write-up is not suggesting honey as a weight loss panacea (which does not exist). The last thing I want to do is to get on the nerves of those who for some reasons have gained no benefits and concluded it as a bunch of hoopla. If you think you have tried it hard enough but to no effect, move on folks. I too don't have an answer. What I do know is many have experienced weight loss as one of the positive "side effects" over time (next to sleeping better, better general health and immunity). The honey diet is not intended as a magic diet or one-time programme, but a way of life based on good science, followed in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle to derive far reaching health benefits during the night that sometimes occurs from hypoglycemia.
Dr. Ron Fessenden has written about this frequently, as well as other benefits to raw honey as a part of a nutrient dense diet. He claims, ” Honey’s effect on sleep is one of the more exciting and promising focuses of research yet to be conducted. We already know that honey promotes restorative sleep in two ways. First, it ensures an adequate supply of liver glycogen for the night fast. (…) Second, honey facilitates restorative sleep by contributing to the release of melatonin in the brain. Honey triggers a small spike in insulin levels (the glucose in honey stimulates in a small insulin release), and insulin stimulates the release of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin, which in the dark is converted to melatonin. Melatonin in return inhibits the release of insulin, thus further stabilizing blood sugar levels during the night.” I believe that second statement deserves some investigation as it is quite significant; nonetheless, honey does sustain blood sugar throughout the night. Additionally this hack has actually gotten quite a bit of attention, even being spoken about by Dave Asprey and Seth Roberts.
The honey hibernation diet is neither a mystical cure nor hype. Read the book to get a more in-depth understanding on the science behind the hibernation diet. The rationale for eating honey before bedtime has much to do with liver care and our fat metabolism during sleep. This write-up is not suggesting honey as a weight loss panacea (which does not exist). The last thing I want to do is to get on the nerves of those who for some reasons have gained no benefits and concluded it as a bunch of hoopla. If you think you have tried it hard enough but to no effect, move on folks. I too don't have an answer. What I do know is many have experienced weight loss as one of the positive "side effects" over time (next to sleeping better, better general health and immunity). The honey diet is not intended as a magic diet or one-time programme, but a way of life based on good science, followed in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle to derive far reaching health benefits during the night that sometimes occurs from hypoglycemia.
Dr. Ron Fessenden has written about this frequently, as well as other benefits to raw honey as a part of a nutrient dense diet. He claims, ” Honey’s effect on sleep is one of the more exciting and promising focuses of research yet to be conducted. We already know that honey promotes restorative sleep in two ways. First, it ensures an adequate supply of liver glycogen for the night fast. (…) Second, honey facilitates restorative sleep by contributing to the release of melatonin in the brain. Honey triggers a small spike in insulin levels (the glucose in honey stimulates in a small insulin release), and insulin stimulates the release of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin, which in the dark is converted to melatonin. Melatonin in return inhibits the release of insulin, thus further stabilizing blood sugar levels during the night.” I believe that second statement deserves some investigation as it is quite significant; nonetheless, honey does sustain blood sugar throughout the night. Additionally this hack has actually gotten quite a bit of attention, even being spoken about by Dave Asprey and Seth Roberts.
Effortless weight management
Honey lemon detox
Many have heard of the famous detox with lemon juice and honey that is making the rounds over the Internet. There's a good reason the recipe is such a phenomenal success: it's easy and it works. Even using a scaled-down version of the cleanse is beneficial for enhancing metabolism. Each morning upon waking, drink eight ounces of warm water with two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. With this daily ritual, the liver is given a supportive, cleansing boost. And when the liver is functioning properly, we can sustain a healthy weight more easily.
Cinnamon with honey
As simple as it may sound, drinking a mug of warm cinnamon tea with honey is one of the best ways to balance blood sugar, spur metabolism and shed excess weight. Since abdominal fat is sensitive to the compounds in cinnamon, it's an ideal choice if you need to slim down in this region. To make the tea, dissolve half a teaspoon of organic, ground cinnamon in a cup of boiling water. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Next, stir in one teaspoon of honey and enjoy immediately. For optimal results, practice this habit first thing in the morning and away from food.
Hibernation Diet
Who would have guessed that consuming honey before bedtime could melt away body fat while you sleep? According to British pharmacist Mike McInnes and his son Stuart, a nutritionist, the Hibernation Diet does just that. The duo believe that, when the liver is properly fueled with glycogen in the evening, recovery hormones can do their job during sleep - thereby speeding up metabolism and reducing fat-encouraging stress hormones. Woman's Day magazine notes that, if you suffer from any of the following symptoms, your liver may not be properly primed with glycogen:
Gingered honey
Ginger tea in itself is a tremendous metabolism booster, but when combined with honey, it offers a potent elixir for efficient digestion. Drinking a glass of the tea with a teaspoon of honey twenty minutes before a meal will encourage stable blood sugar, optimum digestion and, in turn, favourable calorie utilization and fat burning. To make the tea, peel and grate a one inch chunk of fresh, organic ginger and simmer (covered) in two cups of water. Transfer to a mug and let cool until just warm. Dissolve one teaspoon of honey into the brew and drink promptly. Make sure to consume the grated ginger too for utmost benefit.
Although honey is an astoundingly versatile and beneficial food, it's important to use discrimination when purchasing. Use only the highest quality honey - namely, one that is organic and raw with honeycomb, royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis included. Manuka honey is another excellent option, as it boasts remarkable healing properties.
Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://wakeup-world.com
http://womansday.ninemsn.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.mindbodygreen.com
About the author:
Carolanne Wright -
believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.
Many have heard of the famous detox with lemon juice and honey that is making the rounds over the Internet. There's a good reason the recipe is such a phenomenal success: it's easy and it works. Even using a scaled-down version of the cleanse is beneficial for enhancing metabolism. Each morning upon waking, drink eight ounces of warm water with two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. With this daily ritual, the liver is given a supportive, cleansing boost. And when the liver is functioning properly, we can sustain a healthy weight more easily.
Cinnamon with honey
As simple as it may sound, drinking a mug of warm cinnamon tea with honey is one of the best ways to balance blood sugar, spur metabolism and shed excess weight. Since abdominal fat is sensitive to the compounds in cinnamon, it's an ideal choice if you need to slim down in this region. To make the tea, dissolve half a teaspoon of organic, ground cinnamon in a cup of boiling water. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Next, stir in one teaspoon of honey and enjoy immediately. For optimal results, practice this habit first thing in the morning and away from food.
Hibernation Diet
Who would have guessed that consuming honey before bedtime could melt away body fat while you sleep? According to British pharmacist Mike McInnes and his son Stuart, a nutritionist, the Hibernation Diet does just that. The duo believe that, when the liver is properly fueled with glycogen in the evening, recovery hormones can do their job during sleep - thereby speeding up metabolism and reducing fat-encouraging stress hormones. Woman's Day magazine notes that, if you suffer from any of the following symptoms, your liver may not be properly primed with glycogen:
- Acid reflux
- Disrupted sleep
- Waking to urinate
- Dry throat in the morning
- Night cramps and/or sweats
- Early morning nausea and weakness
- Exhausted upon waking
Gingered honey
Ginger tea in itself is a tremendous metabolism booster, but when combined with honey, it offers a potent elixir for efficient digestion. Drinking a glass of the tea with a teaspoon of honey twenty minutes before a meal will encourage stable blood sugar, optimum digestion and, in turn, favourable calorie utilization and fat burning. To make the tea, peel and grate a one inch chunk of fresh, organic ginger and simmer (covered) in two cups of water. Transfer to a mug and let cool until just warm. Dissolve one teaspoon of honey into the brew and drink promptly. Make sure to consume the grated ginger too for utmost benefit.
Although honey is an astoundingly versatile and beneficial food, it's important to use discrimination when purchasing. Use only the highest quality honey - namely, one that is organic and raw with honeycomb, royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis included. Manuka honey is another excellent option, as it boasts remarkable healing properties.
Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://wakeup-world.com
http://womansday.ninemsn.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.mindbodygreen.com
About the author:
Carolanne Wright -
believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.
Honey and WOUND dressing
Honey is a topical antimicrobial agent that has been used for millennia in wound care. Licensed wound care products containing medical-grade honey first became available in 1999 and are now widely used. Honey's therapeutic properties are largely attributed to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This review provides an insight into the laboratory evidence published in the past 5 years that illustrate how the mechanisms by which honey impacts on wounds are beginning to be understood. Although honey has been used for centuries in wound care, it is now being integrated into modern medical practice. The first modern wound care product to gain regulatory acceptance by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration was an irradiated tube of blended honeys. Currently, a range of products are available from several manufacturers and honey is being used to treat many types of wound, including: traumatic wounds, surgical incision sites, burns, sloughy wounds, and pressure ulcers. (http://www.woundsinternational.com/practice-development/understanding-how-honey-impacts-on-wounds-an-update-on-recent-research-findings)
Abstract ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bjs.1800750718/abstract )
Fifty-nine patients with wounds and ulcers most of which (80 per cent) had failed to heal with conventional treatment were treated with unprocessed honey. Fifty-eight cases showed remarkable improvement following topical application of honey. One case, later diagnosed as Buruli ulcer, failed to respond. Wounds that were sterile at the outset, remained sterile until healed, while infected wounds and ulcer became sterile within 1 week of topical application of honey. Honey debrided wounds rapidly, replacing sloughs with granulation tissue. It also promoted rapid epithelialization, and absorption of oedema from around the ulcer margins.
MANUKA HONEY (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/20/the-natural-way-to-speed-wound-healing.aspx)
Abstract ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bjs.1800750718/abstract )
Fifty-nine patients with wounds and ulcers most of which (80 per cent) had failed to heal with conventional treatment were treated with unprocessed honey. Fifty-eight cases showed remarkable improvement following topical application of honey. One case, later diagnosed as Buruli ulcer, failed to respond. Wounds that were sterile at the outset, remained sterile until healed, while infected wounds and ulcer became sterile within 1 week of topical application of honey. Honey debrided wounds rapidly, replacing sloughs with granulation tissue. It also promoted rapid epithelialization, and absorption of oedema from around the ulcer margins.
MANUKA HONEY (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/20/the-natural-way-to-speed-wound-healing.aspx)