February 2013 • The AC Phoenix- 11
How To Use Raw Honey As
Medicine
Honey has a long medicinal history dating back to the
wound-dressing of ancient Egyptians. Today, many
people swarm to honey for its antibacterial and an
ti-inflammatory properties. And holistic practitioners
consider it one of nature's best all-around remedies.
Here is what researchers are learning about honey's
health benefits:
Wound Care
Manuka honey is sometimes used to treat chronic leg
ulcers and pressure sores. Manuka honey is made in
New Zealand from the nectar of Leptospermum sco-
parium. It's the basis of Medihoney, which the FDA
approved in 2007 for use in treating wounds and skin
ulcers. It works very well to stimulate healing. It is Ma
nuka honey's pH content, which leans toward acidic,
that helps the healing process. It is soothing and feels
good to the wound.
The Common Cold
Buckwheat honey-based syrup can be used to ease
the early symptoms of a cold. It calms inflamed mem
branes and eases a cough—the latter claim supported
by a few studies. In a study that involved 139 children,
honey beat out dextromethorphan (a cough suppres-
Researchers: Valentine's
Chocolate Is Good for You
By Sylvia Booth Hubbard
When Richard Cadbury created the first heart-
shaped box filled with chocolate candy for Val
entine's Day back in 1861, he had no idea he was
packaging a treat that would be proven to have
many health benefits 150 years later. Contempo
rary lovers know a Valentine's heart filled with dark
chocolate is more than just a symbol of a gift of
love, but, in moderation, it can be a gift of health.
Modern science has discovered that chocolate —
and the darker the better — can diminish the risk
of:
Cardiovascular disease: Numerous studies indicate
that chocolate can be a valuable weapon against
cardiovascular disease. An eight-year German study
of almost 20,000 people found those who ate an
average of about two ounces of chocolate each day
reduced their risk of both heart attacks and strokes
by 39 percent. A review of seven studies found a
sant) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) In eas
ing nighttime cough in children and improving their
sleep. Another study involving 105 children found
that buckwheat honey trumped dextromethorphan
in suppressing nighttime coughs.
If you're suffering from a cold or something going on
in the throat or upper airways, getting on board with
honey syrup will help fight infection and soothe mem
branes. Buckwheat honey-based allergy medicine is
also recommended for the same purpose.
Diabetes
Even if honey is natural, it is no better than ordinary
white or brown sugar for dieters or people with dia
betes. A tablespoon of honey, in fact, has more carbo
hydrates and calories than granulated white or brown
sugar.'A sugar is a sugar'when it comes to diabetes. I
think it's a widespread myth that honey is better for di
abetes. Some patients don't classify honey as a sugar.
Get your carbs from a cup of fresh berries or a carton of
yogurt because they have about the same number of
carbs as a tablespoon of honey — but less sugar.There
are some minerals and vitamins and antioxidant prop
erties in honey — the darker the honey, the higher the
level of antioxidants — but with yogurt, you can also
get those benefits. When you have diabetes, you have
to be picky and choosy about carbs and calories.
Antibacterial Honey?
In the laboratory, honey has been shown to hamper
the growth of food-borne pathogens such as E. coli
and salmonella, and to fight certain bacteria, including
Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
both of which are common in hospitals and doctors'
offices. But whether it does the same in people hasn't
been proven.
Shop for honey and you'll see that some are lighter,
others are darker. In general, the darker the honey, the
29 percent reduced risk of stroke in those who ate
chocolate more than twice a week, and a Swedish
study found that women who ate more than 1.5
ounces of chocolate a week decreased their risk of
stroke by 20 percent when compared to women
who ate less than a third of an ounce every week.
A 10-year Australian study found that women over
the age of 70 who ate chocolate at least once a
week were 60 percent less likely to die from heart
failure during the study. Compounds in chocolate
have been shown to improve circulatiori and to
have blood-thinning properties.
Dementia: A study published in the American Heart
Association's journal Hypertension found that the
flavanols found in cocoa give the brain a boost.
Elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment
who drank a dairy-based cocoa flavanol drink for
eight weeks showed a significant improvement in
memory. Researchers believe flavanols may work
by protecting neurons from injury and improving
the interaction of molecular structures involved in
memory as well as by increasing blood flow.
Obesity: Researchers at the University of California,
San Diego, found that people who ate chocolate
five times a week had a decrease in body mass
index (B.MI) even when they ate more calories
than those who didn't eat chocolate."The study is
provocative and confirms what we have been call
ing the chocolate/obesity paradox: Despite choc
olate's high caloric load, its regular intake does not
result in weight gain," Dr. Franz Messerli, Director
of Hypertension program at St. Luke's-Roosevelt
Hospital in New York, told ABC News. “Thus, to put
it pointedly, chocolate could be called a lazy man's
exercise," said Messerli, who was not involved in
the study. The researchers believe that antioxidants
better its antibacterial and antioxidant power. Hon
ey comes in many varieties, depending on the floral
source of pollen or nectar gathered and regurgitated
by the honey bee upon arrival in the hive.
Honey producers may apply to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) for a grade on their product,
but the score does not account for color. Rather, the
honey is judged for clarity, aroma, and flavor, and the
absence of sediments, such as honeycomb particles.
Never Give Honey to an Infant
Honey is natural and considered harmless for adults.
But pediatricians strongly caution against feeding
honey to children under 1 year old.
"Do not let babies eat honey," states foodsafety.gov, a
web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
That's because of the risk of botulism.The spores of the
botulism bacteria are found in dust and soil that may
make their way into honey. Infants do not have a de
veloped immune system to defend against infection.
It's been shown very clearly that honey can give infants
botulism, a paralytic disorder in which the infant must
be given anti-toxins and often be placed on a respira
tor in an intensive care unit. But parents may feed their
infants cereals that contain honey. If it's cooked, so it's
OK—we're talking about honey out of the bottle.
The National Honey Board, which the USDA oversees,
also agrees that infants should not be given honey.
"The concern for babies stems from the fact that in
fants lack the fully developed gastrointestinal tract of
older humans," the Board's web site states.
By Felicia Vance, BDO Contributing Writer
called catechins improve lean muscle mass and
reduce weight.
SPECIAL: These 5 Things Flush 40 lbs. of Fat Our of
Your Body — Read More.
Diabetes: An Italian study found that eating choc
olate regularly accelerates the body's ability to me
tabolize glucose, thus increasing insulin sensitivity
and reducing the risk for diabetes. Cocoa powder
is rich in flavonoids, say researchers, which help
counteract insulin resistance, the condition that
prevents your body from using insulin effectively.
Depression: Chocolate contains phenethylamine
(PEA), the same chemical your body creates when
you fall in love. PEA activates the brain's pleasure
center and triggers the release of "feel good" en
dorphins. Chocolate also reduces stress due to the
compound anadamide which stimulates the same
receptors in the brain as marijuana.
Earlier death: British researchers found that peo
ple who eat candy live almost a year longer than
those who don't indulge in the sweet treat. Experts
believe the life-lengthening effect is due to the
antioxidants in chocolate.
Coughs: Chocolate contains theobromine, which
calms the vagus nerve, the part of the brain that
triggers coughs. A British study of 300 patients with
a nagging cough found that 60 percent of them
got relief when given the amount of theobromine
found in two ounces of unsweetened chocolate.
An earlier study found that theobromine was more
effective at suppressing coughs than codeine. Theo
bromine also hardens tooth enamel, which lowers
your risk of cavities.