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FOOD OF THE WEEK
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A Garden Produces More Than Just Veggies!

As I watched the bees buzz around our garden I got to thinking about the contribution that will come from their buzzing and gathering nectar... Honey being the top one along with a few others! A garden gives off more than just vegetables!

Bees, just like medicine, has their specialty field as you will see when reading this article.

Honey that has long been known in folk medicine circles as a "magic elixir" (SEE TODAY'S HEALTH COLUMN BELOW) is known to have antioxidant properties, which we know is necessary to ward off illness and diseases. After adding 4 tablespoons of buckwheat honey (buckwheat honey comes from bees that gather their pollen from the buckwheat plant only) to their daily diet, participants in a study showed an increase in their levels of antioxidants in their blood. But when it comes to antioxidants, not all honey is created equal: The darker the honey, the more antioxidants it has.

Vitamins in honey are said to be A, B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), Nicotinic acid (niacin), B6 (Pyridoxine), B12 (Cyanocobaltamine, C (Ascorbic acid), D, E (Tocopherol), H (Biotin), Pantothenic acid and Folic acid. Minerals in honey are said to be Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc. Honey has tested out to have antibacterial properties as well as sterilizing of wounds and sores. Whether it's the make up or the way the different vitamins and minerals are put together in honey, we don't know but it is a known medicinal addition.

Honey is known to improve food assimilation and useful for chronic and infective intestinal problems such as constipation, duodenal ulcers and liver disturbances. Reports abound with successful treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. Honey, when poured into open wounds, bed sores, ulcers, varicose ulcers and burns, twice a day heals the worst of the worst. It prevents infections, promotes tissue regeneration, and reduces scarring best when used in its pure, unprocessed form. If applied immediately, honey reduces blistering of burns and speeds regeneration of new tissue. Many case histories are reported of this happening. Homogenized honey isn't useful for anything but a sweetener as the healing properties are removed in the homogenization process.

In the alternatives health communities non-homogenized honey is a well known remedy for colds and mouth, throat or bronchial irritations and infections. The benefits, apart from antibacterial effects, are assumed to relate to the soothing and relaxing effect of fructose.

Honey, beeswax, and various other bee products have quite a following in many Asian countries, as well as in Russia and the rest of Eastern Europe. One of the biggest health claims is that bee venom cures multiple sclerosis, but I find no historical cases to back up the claim even though I've read of people using bee stings for that purpose as well as for arthritis.  I don't doubt it though...

Honey is far better to use as a sweetener for diabetics than sugar as insulin levels are lower when compared to the uptake of equal caloric values of other foods. My belief is, nature made our body's to react to natural substances better than man made sugar, and some data exists to back up that belief.

Then, there's the purity of beeswax candles compared to the paraffin candles most people burn in their homes. I hate to break it to you romantic types, but paraffin candles are just a spiffed-up version of petroleum products with large doses of chemical fragrance. And they release decidedly unromantic elements, such as soot and smoke, while burning.  Burning paraffin candles has been compared to breathing in diesel fumes. I don't know about you, but that would kill the mood for me. But beeswax candles don't have that problem. In fact, burning beeswax produces negative ions, which are nature's air purifiers.

Honey can be used as an alternative to sugar in baking, cereals and any thing you want to add a bit of flavor!

If you find yourself with a cough make your own cough syrup.

Herbal/Honey cough syrup #1

1 tablespoon licorice root
1 tablespoon marshmallow root
1 tablespoon plantain leaf
1 teaspoon thyme leaf
1 pint purified/filtered water
4 tablespoons honey
1/8 teaspoon anise essential oil (optional)

Prepare a triple-strength tea by simmering all herbs in water for 10 minutes, then steeping for 20 minutes. Strain the tea, then stir in honey and glycerin while the tea is still warm. Add optional essential oil. Take 1 tablespoon at a time. Stored in a cool place, this syrup will keep for 2 weeks. In the refrigerator in a glass jar, it will keep for several months.

This recipe is suitable for children, but not for infants, who should not have honey.
 

Herbal/Honey cough syrup #2

6 fresh garlic cloves (minced)
2 cups purified/filtered water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
3/4 cup honey

Bring water and minced garlic to a boil. Turn burner off and let steep for about 20 minutes.
Put into Vita Mixer and liquefy (no vita mixer - let set until cool, then strain). Add vinegar and honey mix well and let sit until cool, then refrigerate left over in glass jar.
1 Tablespoon three or four times a day. Much better than OTC cough preparations!

Wishing you healthy eating!
Lena

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 HEALTH TODAY
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