Honey,it's color and ANTIOXIDANT activity.
Vitamine C is well known as best water soluble antioxidant. Its structure reveals that.
One molecule of vitamine C neutralize two molecules of an oxidant.
Honey has about 18 percent water. It is great natural moisturizing agent. "ask me how"!.
Honey can be a wonderful active ingridient in skin care preparations.
Honey is relatively rich in water soluble antioxidants.
The degree of antioxidant activity (AOA) is directly proportional to its color intensity.
Simply,dark honey is more antioxidant than the light one.(Sci.News,sep.12,1998,vol.154,pp170-172)
What are the kinds of dark HONEY?
Buckwheat,sunflower,Christmasberry and water-tupelo.
What are the types middle in color
Soybean and clover are middle in their colors.
What are the light-color types of honey?
Acacia and Sage are light in color.
I need to remind the reader , this is not an absolute rule,but a rather general trend. This may helping you in selecting some types of honey if you are concerned about aging.
What are the types middle in color
Soybean and clover are middle in their colors.
What are the light-color types of honey?
Acacia and Sage are light in color.
I need to remind the reader , this is not an absolute rule,but a rather general trend. This may helping you in selecting some types of honey if you are concerned about aging.
Manuka Honey
Much research has been conducted on the recently rediscovered therapeutic properties of wild natural honey, particularly by Dr Peter Molan, an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the honey research unit in the University of Waikato here in New Zealand. Dr Molan is known more for his work on the anti-bacterial activity of honey, but much useful research has been conducted by medical authorities and institutes into the applications of honey based treatments on other medical conditions, the majority of which are associated with bacterial activity. The Manuka honey produced by Nelson Apiaries sister company Rainbow Honey Ltd, is free from any synthetic pesticides and is thus pathogen free. This means that it possesses greater anti-bacterial properties and is a pure, natural product, as a result of the hives being positioned away from orchards and other agricultural concerns.Research into the therapeutic benefits of manuka honey has been extensive, and the findings have been noted below.
Treatment of Burns and Skin Ulcers
A study in 1991 by Dr Subrahmanyam compared the results of topical application of honey to burns with conventional Burn treatment, (silver sulfadiazine). The following results were noted and reproduced by Julie McCarthy, a post graduate student at the University of Guelph. "Burn patients of a variety of ages were divided into two treatment groups. The burns of patients in group I were cleaned with a saline solution and pure, undiluted, unprocessed honey was applied daily. Burns of group 2 were cleaned and covered with gauze that was soaked in 5% silver sulfadiazine which was changed daily. Results showed that within 7 days 91 % of the infected wounds treated with honey were free from infection, compared to less than 7% of the silver sulfadiazine treated burns. Within 15 days, 87% of honey treated wounds were healed compared to less than 10% of wounds in group 2. " Furthermore, Efem (1988) showed that the various types of wounds and skin ulcers which did not respond to conventional methods of treatment such as antibiotics and medicated dressings, responded to treatment with honey. These included:
Fournier's Gangrene Burn wounds Tropical ulcers Bed sores Diabetic ulcers The anti-bacterial activity of honey is based partly on its osmotic effects in that the bacteria that cause infection are unable to survive in honey because they become dehydrated. In addition, it was noted that the presence of hydrogen peroxide generated by the enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase in dilute honey contributes to the anti-bacterial activity. As hydrogen peroxide decomposes, it generates highly reactive free radicals that react and kill bacteria.
The Treatment of Gastroenteritis and Stomach Ulcers using Honey
Research by Haffejee and Moose (1985) found that honey treatment shortened the duration of diarrhoea in patients with bacterial gastroenteritis, in that patients treated with honey had a mean recovery of 58 hours compared with 93 hours for control patients. In addition, research conducted here in New Zealand by Somal et al (1994) at Waikato has shown that Manuka Honey successfully inhibits Helicobacter pylori the organism responsible for upper gastro-intestinal dyspepsia of stomach ulcers. However, it should be noted that research is ongoing in this field, and although the initial results are promising, full clinical trials are yet to be completed. As well as its other therapeutic properties, the presence of potassium, sodium calcium and magnesium means that honey is capable of neutralising acid in the body and thus maintaining the acid-alkaline balance.
Sources: Yoirish, N. The Curative Properties of Honey and Bee Venom. USA; New Glide Publications 1977 (pp46-54)
McCarthy, J. The Antibacterial Effects of Honey: Medical Fact or Fiction? American Bee Journal. May 1995
Godwin Ihesie
In the infinite wisdom of the Most High, all that man requires to take care of his physical body in the right and wholesome manner, were inexhaustibly provided and orderly arranged in nature, even before his coming into being here on earth.
In "nature’s pharmacy" with its numerous branches (in forest, grassland, soil, sea, etc), we observe these manifold healing and nourishing remedies as precious gifts which the creator has bestowed upon man for his general well-being-both in times of good health and in times of ill-health. All that were required from him, was to discover these gifts of nature and use them wisely for the care: nourishing, strengthening and healing of the physical cloak entrusted to him as a loan for his sojourn in this part of the world (creation) and for the attainment of his earthly and spiritual goal.
There is no "out of stock" in nature’s pharmacy. There is no disease known to man that has no "drug" in nature’s "drug store". The drugs or medicines are simple to use, very cheap and available at all times - they include the followings:
The sweet HONEY of the bees, the grains and grasses of the field, the vegetable of the gardens, the fruits, seeds and nuts of the trees, and the herbs which we are told in the Bible, were caused to grow "for the service of man."
For thousands of years, the ancient people, with their simple and childlike disposition, they received all these healing and nourishing gifts of nature with grateful thanksgiving and made correct use of all the things that were provided in the house of the Lord Almighty. But unfortunately, with the advancement in science and technology (the gift of knowledge which the creator permitted man out of Grace to facilitate his life on earth), the so called "modern man" became severely burdened with the heavy weight of analytical erudition which blindfolds him and consequently led to his loss of understanding of the true concept of wholeness and the art of living based on nature’s wise principles. He also lost spiritual direction as he ignorantly distanced himself from nature and to some extent even destroyed most of the gift of nature that were meant to protect him against the eternal stillness of death.
Since ignorance is no excuse in both natural and man-made laws, the modern man is today faced with numerous health problems and tragedies resulting from over-dependence on synthetic drugs, products of human technology and aggressive therapeutic procedures. New degenerative diseases with all their associated imbalance in blood composition and glandular disharmonies are now proliferating-resulting in a tragic state of affairs that gives many health conscious individuals great concern.
Fortunately, nature is always desirous to help man in times of greatest needs, and just as man ignorantly rejected the healing gifts of nature provided for him thus creating discord and disease, he is also free and capable of turning back to nature - in time, since the liberation from the hitherto existing unnatural ways of living lies absolutely in observing and obeying the natural laws which are inseparable from the laws of health and healthy living. Recognising these facts, many concerned scientists, physicians as well as some health conscious individuals are now looking for a safe, easily available, less expensive more gentle and less aggressive natural remedies and therapies that are available in nature. This has resulted in the increased revival of interest in those long- forgotten ancient system of health-care-which are primarily based on foods, herbs, water, etc all of which were known to sustain our forefathers for thousands of years before the advent of modern technology.
In this issue, and subsequent ones, we shall be considering the HONEY of the bees and the health benefits, which the ancient people once regarded as a "miraculous substance that could be effectively used in nourishing, strengthening, and caring for the physical body. Also, they prescribed honey as a potent medicine for all manners of diseases afflicting man then.
To the ancient people, honey was seen as a symbol of wealth and happiness. It was associated with strength, beauty and longevity. Even, the Biblical Promise Land was described as the "Land flowing with Milk and Honey." Presently, honey have received a lot of scientific attention, some of its healing virtues have been unveiled and validated honey antibacterial activity is attributed to the actions of catalase and glucose oxidase enzymes.Bacteria destroyed by the action of the hydrogen peroxide(H2O2). . Still, most of its magical nourishing and healing powers remains a puzzle to research scientists who are still investigating the "why" and "how" honey works. However, investigations done so far has revealed that pure and unadulterated honey is a complex semi-translucent concentrated mixture of substances that is produced by the worker bees from the NECTAR of flowers.
Nectar is a weak natural sugar solution, which the bees suck from the nectars of flowers. They deposit the nectar in the honeycombs of the beehives where within a period of 21 days they convert it through enzymic processes into honey. The composition of the honey so produced, its colour, flavour and taste varies and this depends upon the source of the nectar, the weather condition, the season of the year, and the method of harvesting.
Natural honey should be left as pure as the bees produce them, in this way, all the healing and nutritional values are retained intact. Like wine, keeping improves the qualities of honey. The honey that has been left for one year or more to mature is the best for therapeutic purposes. But this is however, not true of the so-called "pure honey" which are available in most commercial outfits. Such honey are produced commercially by extracting it from the honeycomb through centrifugation, heating and purifying. Let us first consider the:
1) Nutritional benefits of honey: Pure honey is composed of water, predigested sugar (monosaccharides) - Glucose, fructose (levulose) etc, protein, fatty acids, enzymes, dextran, more than 28 different minerals (potassium, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, etc), vitamins especially of the B-groups, like the B-complex, Vitamin C, D and E. It contains almost all the essential nutrients that are necessary for the upbuilding of a healthy and disease resistant body. Honey is therefore used in the promotion of growth and regeneration of body tissues and blood.
Honey as a natural sweetener, has no substitute, it is twice as sweet as sugar-therefore only a small quantity is needed at a time. Four teaspoons of pure honey is approximately equivalent to 5 teaspoons of white table sugar. For an adult, 2-3 tablespoonful of honey in divided doses could be taken daily while for children, one tablespoonful is sufficient. It is better to combine honey with other foods and drinks. Honey is very useful in baking whole wheat bread and cakes; it helps in keeping them more moist and improves their keeping quality. The carbohydrates in honey are pre-digested and requires little or no digestion, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream within 20 minutes of ingestion. Honey is therefore used for quick energy. A teaspoon of pure honey is believed to be capable of providing the body with about 64-calorie of energy as soon as it is consumed. For this reason, it is recommended for sports men and women. It is an excellent food supplement for those recovering from ill health, adult, children and infants. It serves as a useful nutritive tonic for pregnant and nursing mothers. It is important to note that, honey has a water-attracting (Hygroscopic) quality together with the potassium content, which withdraws the essential moisture from microbial agents. This property of honey does not permit the growth of microorganisms, however, it has been shown recently that certain bacterial spores e.g. those of clostridium can retain their viability in honey when it is contaminated during processing. Such bacterial spores are capable of germinating later in the sensitive and immature intestines of infants or newborn causing disease called Botulism, which is like food poisoning. This is the main reason why some researchers discourage giving honey to infants who are under one year.
To be continued.