Raw honey is one of those treats full of nutritional value. Raw honey itself contains antioxidants, enzymes beneficial for digestion, amino acids beneficial for rebuilding the body, as well as vitamins and minerals. High quality honey can also contain calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, copper, chromium, manganese, and even selenium.
Selenium is an extremely important nutrient for protecting the immune system, regulating healthy cell proliferation and death, the growth and death of cells through a process called apoptosis. Without adequate levels of selenium conditions and ailments such as cognitive deterioration and decline, hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), the development of cancer, heart failure and Coronory artery disease can occur.
It’s obvious that the nutritional value of raw unpasteurized honey that you can most often get from your local farmer’s market has tremendous nutritional and health value.
What you may not know though, is that honey can be used in many different ways for different benefits. It aids the human body in so many ways as you are about to find out. Just by having a jar of honey on hand you can use it at different times or in different ways to receive different benefits specific to what you’re looking for.
10 Surprising Ways To Use Raw Honey:
1. As A Sleep Aid:
Simply taking one spoonful of honey about 30 minutes before bed gives your liver an adequate supply of glycogen throughout the night to give your liver support to detoxify, balance hormones, purify your blood and give you a deeper nights rest. If you wake up during the night it could be because a stress hormone known as cortisol is causing you to awake. A raw spoonful of honey may just fix that for you!
2. Fat Loss:
Honey aids in improving digestive function as well as supporting the liver and metabolism. The digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals work in a way to support digestive organs and regulate different functions in the body. Your liver is responsible for a large portion of digestion as well as blood purification, hormone control which will lead to the regulation of which hormones are produced, which then leads to the body storing or burning fat. Honey helps optimize the liver, digestive process, hormones and helps to purify the blood by strengthening and supporting the liver. These are all beneficial for detoxifying excess toxins and removing excess fat from the body.
3. Lower Cholesterol:
Several studies have found that honey helps to lower cholesterol and protect you from heart disease. Not only that but it can balance both cholesterol, often referred to as “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol” both LDL and HDL. It can help to improve the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio which improves heart, artery and cardiovascular health overall.
4. Boost Antioxidant Levels:
25 men drank 16 ounces of water with 4 spoonfuls of honey for 5 weeks straight. They found that their antioxidant levels in their blood was higher after this period. Antioxidants are first in the line of defense to attack free radicals and protect your cells from damage and aging. One lab study found that the darker the honey the higher the antioxidant profile so keep this in mind when honey shopping!
5. Prevent Cancer:
Raw honey has an incredible nutritional profile that boosts immunity, protects the cells and ultimately helps to prevent cancer. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are all beneficial in cancer prevention. Selenium, an important mineral for various reasons can be found in high quality honey is very beneficial for cancer prevention as previously stated.
6. Beautify The Skin, Reduce Wrinkles & Acne:
Honey is rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals that help to heal the skin. You can use this to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also got strong natural antibiotic properties which make it great to apply to skin that has acne or any other skin condition that may cause redness and inflammation. You can mix a half of a ripe avocado with 1 tablespoon of raw honey to apply to your skin, leave it on for 15-20 minutes then rinse with warm water. This will help hydrate your skin and remove wrinkles.
7. Hydrate & Add Shine To Hair:
Honey is a humectant meaning that it locks in moisture. It helps to hydrate your hair as well as add shine. You can mix coconut oil or olive oil and honey together and apply that to your hair from your root to your tips completely and let it sit for 20 minutes. This will help your hair shine and keep it healthy. It also helps to soften your strands and ensure that your skalp is not itchy.
8. Fight The Cough, Cold, Flu:
Buckweat honey was tested in more than 100 children with colds compared to a common cough suppressant dextromethorphan. Parents found that the honey was more effective across the board at relieving cough symptoms and improving sleep. It’s also beneficial for the flu and cold as it boosts immunity as well as coats the throat to soothe irritation and provide nutritional and antibiotic support to keep the cough, cold and flu at bay.
9. Boost Energy Levels:
Wait a minute, honey is supposed to help you sleep better and boost energy levels? that’s right. Honey provides fuel for your liver and body in multiple ways and when it’s time for sleep as long as your circadian rhythm is on track and your body is exhausted honey can work in a way to support recovery. If it’s mid-day though and you need a boost of energy honey is one of your best friends. The nutritional profile of vitamins, minerals and most importantly carbohydrates that burn to create energy slowly help to release into the body to balance blood sugar and insulin levels for a consistent energy continuously, as opposed to a high and a low crash with traditional white sugar.
10. Fights Parasites & Infections:
Honey is one of nature’s strongest antibiotics. It’s beneficial for killing bad bacteria as well as fighting parasites. To use honey to kill bad bacteria and other infections just consume it as you regularly would. To target parasitic worm infections simply mix organic vinegar or apple cider vinegar with the honey and drink it. The sweet honey taste attracts parasite worms and the vinegar does the rest of the job. It’s great for boosting immunity and preventing any invaders that weaken your energy levels and drain your life force energy.
And there you have it, here are 10 different ways to use honey to improve your health and keep your hair and skin beautiful. Put them to use and use raw honey today!
Image: flickr.com
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