Honey Blog

The Power Of Honey. Medicine. Energy Boost. Household.

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:05:55 GMT

Honey is a sweet thick fluid prepared by the honeybees from the nectar of flowers.Nutritionally speaking,honey contains about 75-80% sugar and the rest is a mixture of water and minerals like phosphorous,calcium,magnesium,some acids and enzymes.So we see,that together with minerals,honey also gives us energy,about 300 to 320 calories per 100ml of honey.To put it simply,one tsp of honey would give us about 15 to 16 calories.

Medicine.

When eaten daily, pure honey will reduce your body's susceptibility to infections.
Many doctors recommend equal parts of honey, lemon and whiskey as an extremely effective cough syrup.
Because of honey's fructose content, many claim it is a cure for a hangover.

The enzymes present in honey aid in digestion of food especially raw sugars and starch.The difference between the commonly used sugar and honey is that,the sugars contained in honey are in a very simple predigested form and thus are directly absorbed by our body.Whereas the normal sugar has to be broken down in our body into simpler forms to be digested and absorbed.Apart from giving nutrition,honey can be used as a sweetening agent in sweets and desserts.

Sore throats - Swallowing a teaspoon of honey may soothe a sore throat or cough.
Boost your daily supply of antioxidants by eating honey.
If you're feeling tired and need a boost of energy, stir a spoonful of honey into a glass of water or add honey and fresh fruit to yogurt for a power-packed snack!
Honey is a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.

In addition to the excellent medicinal properties,honey is supposed to be a good thirst quencher.Arabs take honey and water across deserts.Another aspect of honey is its use in the beauty treatment.One of the most commonly used facepacks for aging skin,is a mixture of honey and cornflour and limejuice.It also acts as a good moisturiser and helps in most dry skin problems.

Energy Boost.

Stir a spoonful of honey into your morning juice or afternoon yogurt.
Sweeten your coffee or tea with honey.
Drizzle honey on your favorite cereal or look for home-sweetened cereals in the grocery store.

So we see that honey is a pleasant,attractive,sweet item of food with plenty of other uses too.This does not mean that you can eat as much honey,as you like.We all know that excess of calories over and above what we require would make us fat and honey does have calories.Honey may improve your digestion but it should not be done at the cost of giving you a sweet tooth!

Make a peanut butter and honey sandwich.
Dip apple slices and other fresh fruit in honey.Eat a spoonful of honey before your morning jog or exercise routine.
To replenish energy and fluids, stir a spoonful of honey into a glass of water.

• One to two tsps full of honey in a glass of hot milk is said to be a good sedative.
• For children the use of honey as a general tonic has been known from time immemorial.The reason being that honey acts as a disinfectant and an antiseptic.So a judicious internal administration of honey would render the digestive system aseptic and disease-causing germs would fail to thrive.
• Honey is good for sore throats,coughs and colds.An age-old cough mixture still used in many homes consists of honey and limejuice in equal parts.
• Honey is also reputed to be a good stimulant for a weak heart.
• As far as constipation is concerned,honey is a very popular laxative... [read more]

Spread honey on toasted bread, bagels or English muffins.

Household.

Make beeswax candles.
You can make Peanut Butter Playdough out of regular kitchen ingredients. Take 1 cup smooth peanut butter, 1/2 cup honey and 2 cups Nonfat Dry Milk. Mix together the peanut butter and honey first. Add half of the dry milk and mix; then continue to add a little at a time until it feels soft & playful! Use less than 2 cups of dry milk if the clay seems to be getting dry. And, YES, YOU CAN EAT IT!

Source: www.siouxhoneyassn.com

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The Power Of Honey. Cooking.

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:51:43 GMT

Reduce the liquid in a recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey you use.
Replace sugar with honey: Simply substitute honey, cup for cup, in place of sugar. As a rule reduce the liquid by a quarter cup for every cup of honey used. In baked goods add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of honey used and bake at a temperature 25 degrees lower than instructions call for. In cookie recipes using eggs and no additional liquid, increase the flour by 2 tablespoons per cup of honey, or enough flour to give the desired consistency. Chill before shaping and baking.
For every cup of honey used in a recipe, increase the baking soda by 1/2 teaspoon.
Reduce the oven temperature by 25º F to prevent over browning.
Use honey when brewing beer for a great tasting, light beer.
When baking cookies and scones, use honey to help reduce crumbling.
For easy measuring, coat the measuring utensil with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray before you measure the honey.
To freeze sliced or crushed fruits for the winter, use one part strained honey to 4 or 5 parts fruit. For whole fruits, add one cup of water to every 2 cups of honey. Use just enough of the diluted honey to cover the fruit.
Add honey to fresh fruit or fruit salads. Honey's acidic nature prevents fruit from turning brown. Use light-flavored honey so it doesn't mask the fruit flavor.
Make your own honey butter spread. Beat together 1/2 cup margarine or butter and 1/3 cup of honey until smooth (about 3 or 4 minutes) and you have honey butter spread. Beelicious!To glaze meat, such as ham or turkey, turn the oven temperature to 225º F and baste with honey every 10 to 15 minutes during the last hour of baking.
Add honey, one teaspoon at a time, to foods that are too spicy or too salty, such as chili. Honey will tame down the spices while enhancing the flavor; and you won't notice the sweetness.
Preserve fruit with honey ( http://www.honey.com/recipes/canning/pfruit.html ).
Pickle and preserve vegetables with honey ( http://www.honey.com/recipes/canning/pveggie.html ).
Honey contains a wide array of vitamins, such as vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
Use honey as a topping on ice cream, pureed fruit or on meat.
For a sweet, shiny glaze on your desert, mix honey with melted butter and drizzle over angel food cake or pound cake.
Need a topping for cupcakes or a carrot cake? Soften an 8 oz. package of cream cheese and mix with 1/4 cup of honey and a pinch of salt. Cream until smooth.
Brush honey on warm baked goods for a sweet shiny glaze.
Combine equal parts Dijon-style mustard and honey. Spread on sandwiches, use as a dip for vegetables and pretzels, or brush on grilled meat and sausages.
Drizzle honey over pancakes or cornbread.
Sweeten your barbecue sauce by adding 2 tbsp honey into prepared sauce. Add more to suit your taste.
Granulation does not affect the taste or purity of honey. Honey never spoils. It may be used granulated or restored to a liquid. To re-liquefy honey place the open glass or can container (never plastic) in a pan of hot water until all crystals melt.

Source: www.siouxhoneyassn.com

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The Power Of Honey. Beauty.

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:35:24 GMT

We all know honey tastes great and it's considered nature's only perfect food, but did you know your skin can benefit from honey too? That's right. Honey has a place not only in your kitchen, but near your bath. Honey is a natural humectant that promotes moisture retention. Try the following bath recipes as a special treatment to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

Honey has the natural ability to attract and retain moisture and is an important factor in beauty products because of its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity.

Relax with a honey bath: Add 1/4 cup honey to your bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.
Keep your hair healthy with a Hair Shine: Stir 1 tsp. of honey into 4 cups of warm water. (Add lemon if desired.) After shampooing, pour the honey mixture through hair. Do not rinse. Dry as normal.

Milk and Honey Bath.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup sea salt;
• 2 tablespoons baking soda;
• 1 cup boiling water;
• 1 cup honey;
• 2 cups milk;
• 10 drops of vanilla oil;

Steps:
• Dissolve sea salt and baking soda in bathwater.
• Dissolve honey in boiling water and add milk.
• Add milk-honey mixture and vanilla to bathwater.
• Swirl water to blend all ingredients.

Hair Conditioner: Mix 1/2 cup honey with 1/4 cup olive oil. (For normal to oily hair, use only 2 tablespoons oil.) Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap and shampoo well. Rinse. Dry as normal.
Honey helps clear up acne without drying your skin! Use Soothing Skin Clarifier to help clear up minor acne: Mix 1/2 cup warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture directly to the blemish. Maintain pressure with the cotton ball for several minutes. This softens the blemish. Then, using a cotton swab, dab honey on the blemish and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Honey and Lemon Sugar Scrub.

Ingredients:
• 2 1/2 cups of sugar;
• 2 cups sweet almond oil;
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice;
• 4 tablespoons honey;
• 4 drops lemon essential oil;

Steps:
• Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix thoroughly.
• Add more honey and/or oil as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
• To use, scoop out a handful of scrub and apply to damp face, neck, hands, and/or whole body. Leave mixture on the skin for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse well with warm water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Keep your skin smooth with Smoothing Skin Lotion - Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.
Protect your skin from sun damage by eating honey and using Smoothing Skin Lotion.
Make your own Honey Cleansing Scrub. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water. (For more Honey Beauty Recipes, visit the National Honey Board's web site at http://www.honey.com/recipes/beauty/.)

Honey Salt Scrub Masque.

Ingredients:
• 1 cup sea salt powder;
• 2 tablespoons Rhassoul clay powder;
• 2 tablespoons milk, powdered or whole;
• 1/3 cup honey;
• 1/3 jojoba oil;
• 1 tablespoon honey powder;

Steps:
• Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix thoroughly.
• Add more honey and/or oil as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
• To use, scoop out a handful of scrub and apply to damp face, neck, hands and/or whole body. Leave mixture on skin for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse well with warm water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Keep your skin looking young with the Honey Firming Face Mask. Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Facial Toner - In blender, puree 1 tablespoon honey with a peeled, cored apple. Smooth over face; leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
Moisture Mask - Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Source: www.siouxhoneyassn.com

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Homemade Facial Scrubs & Masks.

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:38:22 GMT

How to make a honey hair treatment:

Although all the ingredients in these beauty recipes are natural, remember that it is still possible to be allergic to anything applied to the skin. Do not use anything nut based on your skin if you have a nut allergy. To test other ingredients make up a very small amount of the recipe you intend to use. Wash and gently dry a small patch of skin inside your elbow. Apply a little of the mix to the skin and leave for 48 hours. If you experience any redness or swelling do not use the beauty recipe at all.

Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Many essential oils and herbs should always be avoided by pregnant/nursing ladies. Check with a qualified health advisor if in doubt.

Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons clear honey;
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.

To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Method:

• Mix the honey with the olive oil.
• Make sure the oil and honey are thoroughly mixed.
• Wash hair in the normal way and towel dry.
• Massage the mixture thoroughly into the hair and wrap head in a warm towel, or use a hair dryer for 20 mins.
• Rinse hair with warm water and wash it with a good shampoo.
• This treatment is good for dry or damaged hair.

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Autor: Rachel Paxton.
Source: www.herhealthandbeauty.com

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Honey Youre A Natural Beauty.

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:12:08 GMT

You don't need to go and buy expensive facial masks. Great looking skin can be found simply by looking in your kitchen.

Throughout the centuries, legendary beauties have used honey as part of their skin and hair care treatments. Cleopatra was famous for her milk and honey baths, and Poppea, wife of Roman Emperor Nero, used a honey and milk lotion on her face to keep her looking youthful.

Most people make their own masks with honey alone. With this recipe honey is simply used as a base and you can can add with whatever fruit you prefer. This way you can make a variety of masks while gaining benefits from the fruit as well create different scents. Oatmeal is also an optional ingredient that benefits your skin as well.

By the time cosmetics were beginning to be mass produced in the late 1800s, honey was a popular ingredient. Today, manufacturers are increasingly using honey in skin moisturizers, facial masks, hair conditioners and shower gels in response to consumer demand for more natural formulations.

Did you know!

Start out your recipe with 3 - 4 tablespoons of honey then you can add to that:

• 1 medium sized grated apple -or-
• 12 mashed strawberries -or-
• 2 mashed peaches (cooked or uncooked) -or-
• 1 blended avocado -or-
• 2 mashed fresh apricots -or-
• 3 medium bananas -or-
• approx 15 in inch chunks of pineapple.

All-natural honey is an effective treatment for minor abrasions and burns. A recent review of medical research documents its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent.

A Natural Moisturizer.

The skin’s ability to stay hydrated is an important factor in its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity. As skin ages, or as it is exposed to environmental stresses and chemical agents, it loses this ability to retain water, becomes dry and appears wrinkled. Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains water.

Then if you choose too add 2 to 4 tablespoons of oatmeal.

So honey is a natural fit for a variety of moisturizing products including cleansers, creams, shampoos and conditioners. Because honey is also an anti-irritant, it is suitable for sensitive skin and baby care products.

Rinse your face with warm water to open up your pores, apply your mask, wait 15 to 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water, then rinse again with cool water to close your pores.

Skin Softening Bath.

Add ¼ cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Hair Shine.

Be sure and store any remaining in the refrigerator. Your facial masks should keep for about 5 to seven days.

Stir 1 teaspoon honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water. Blondes may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids.

Research is currently underway to develop a process using honey to create alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs are an important ingredient in many skin creams and moisturizers because they help exfoliate the skin. Increased exfoliation, or renewal of the skin cells, gives skin a younger, more vibrant look. Exfoliation can also cause skin irritation so honey’s natural moisturizing ability makes it a perfect fit for AHA products.

Use honey as a facial mask for moistuizing and tightening pores. You could warm it slightly in the microwave, but I don't. I just pat it on, leave on for about 10-15 minutes and rinse off. It smells good and you can lick your lips for a nice treat while you give yourself a facial.

Moisture Mask.

Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Smoothing Skin Lotion.

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon lemon. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Antioxidants.

Preliminary studies have also revealed that honey has significant natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a role in protecting the skin from the damage of UV rays and in aiding in skin rejuvenation. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV radiation can cause skin damage, premature aging and even skin cancer. Because chemical and physical barrier sunscreens can cause skin irritation, companies are researching the use of antioxidants, anti-irritants and moisturizers in their sun care products. The natural properties of honey make it ideal for these products. Look for honey to appear in the ingredient statements of more and more cosmetics, sunscreens and skin care products.

Honey Cleansing Scrub.

Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming Face Mask.

Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin and enough flour to form a paste. (Approximately ¼ cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Source: www.nhb.org

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