What Are the Benefits of Aloe Vera Drinks?

Aloe has been known for its medicinal properties and over the years, people are discovering its many uses and benefits not only when applied topically but when taken internally as well. The healing properties of Aloe Vera come from the 18 amino acids it contains. Aside from cosmetic use, this medicinal herb can also serve as an alternative treatment for some ailments. There are numerous benefits of aloe vera drink and one is its ability to detoxify the body and help us get rid of free radicals.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Why should we worry about them? Their danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components like DNA or the cell membrane. When this occurs, cells function poorly or they can die. What do we need to combat free radicals?

To prevent the damage, our body needs antioxidants. Though our body naturally produces antioxidants, sometimes we need more to prevent accelerated aging and prevent cancer. Aloe provides a great antioxidant activity together with Vitamins A, C and E to eliminate free radicals in our body. This is one of the benefits of aloe vera drink that we can take advantage of.

To enjoy the benefits of aloe vera drink, you have to take at least two to four ounces a day. Its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties prevent the onset of certain diseases in the body. It helps boost the immune system thus making us healthier. It provides a sense of well being and energy. Long-time drinkers of the juice swear by its effectiveness and they claim that they never got sick again, not even a cold.

Drinking the juice regularly also promotes a healthier digestive tract. Since it is rich with natural detoxifying elements, it can help our body in having regular bowel movements. Aside from that, it can also help the body in the full absorption of nutrients from the food that we eat. Minimizing the amount of bad bacteria and yeast around our gut is one of the most important benefits of aloe vera drink. It aids in digestion and in improving your circulation because of its ability to detoxify the body and cleans the colon.

Aside from its detoxifying properties, aloe can give us daily does of vitamins and minerals. It contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, Folic Acid and Niacin. Did you know that our body cannot produce much and store some of these vitamins? This means that we need to supplement them regularly and plenty of these nutrients can be found in aloe vera juice.

You may not know it but a healthy and glowing skin is one of the many benefits of aloe vera drink. Aloe prevents premature aging because of its ability to repair damaged skin tissues. To enjoy the full benefits, you can also apply aloe externally. There are several gels, creams and lotions available in the market today but make sure you purchase a product that has at least 90% of aloe in it.

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16 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is considered one of the oldest spices and unsurpassed ingredient in the kitchen. It has a very pleasant smell and taste and is used as an addition to fruit salads, pies, and other desserts. Many people like the coffee that sprinkled with a little cinnamon, because it gets a special flavor. It may also be added to tea and other drinks.

In fact, one has to distinguish between two types of cinnamon. One is Ceylon cinnamon, which is better and recommended for consumption. The second is the Chinese cinnamon, which is of lower quality, and as such is suitable for industrial production fresheners, scented candles and the like. Chinese cinnamon is not recommended in the diet because it contains more coumarin than allowed. Ingredient coumarin in larger doses can cause liver and kidney damage.

See why cinnamon is good for your health.

1. It controls blood sugar levels - Several studies have shown that cinnamon has a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is a popular natural remedy used by people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

2. Treating fungal Infections - Studies have shown that cinnamon oil is effective in the treatment of infections caused by Candida, such as Candida Tropicalis and Candida Albicans.

3. It relieves the symptoms caused by poisoning - Cinnamon has a strong antibacterial effect and is excellent in the treatment of stomach problems caused by salmonella and E. coli. Ground cinnamon, oil or tea of cinnamon, are effective in neutralizing stomach problems.

4. Helps in the treatment of symptoms of irritation bowel syndrome - Cinnamon drastically reduces the unpleasant symptoms of irritation bowel syndrome, especially helps with flatulence. This plant stimulates digestion and helps in the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, cinnamon is an excellent remedy for stomach cramps.

5. Helps with osteoporosis and arthritis - Cinnamon is rich in manganese, which helps build bones, blood and connective tissues in the body. People who have less of manganese in the body frequently suffer from osteoporosis and arthritis. In pain due to arthritis can help massage oil of cinnamon or sipping tea cinnamon.

6. Cinnamon affects cognitive development and memory - Regular consumption of cinnamon protect the health of the brain and improve concentration.

7. It is powerful antioxidant - Cinnamon is one of the top foods rich in antioxidants. They help regenerate cells and relieve the body of harmful free radicals.

8. Helps with weight loss - Cinnamon improves circulation and can speed up metabolism. Therefore, you will be successful in the fight with overweight.

9. Relieves muscle pain - If you feel pain in your muscles it will help you massage cinnamon oil.

10. Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides - This spicy plant operates Prevents heart disease, due to lower the level of triglycerides, cholesterol, and excess fat.

11. Cinnamon improves the health of teeth and gums - Cinnamon oil is often used in the production of chewing gum, candy freshening breath, mouthwashes, and toothpaste. This is primarily due to the strong antimicrobial effect of cinnamon.

12. Relieves colds, sore throat, and cough - Tea made from cinnamon or tea with cinnamon positive effect on problems caused by a cold or a sore throat, and can alleviate a cough.

13. Relieves symptoms of PMS - Since it is rich in manganese, cinnamon is a great way to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of PMS. This spice relieves spasms and relieves tension.

14. Against the symptoms of food poisoning - Cinnamon calms ailments caused by food poisoning, can neutralize bacteria, fungi, and other microbes.

15. Regulates menstrual cycle - Cinnamon helps women who have polycystic ovaries so they can regulate the menstrual cycle.

16. Relieves a headache - If you are suffering from a migraine or regular headaches, first aid can be tea of cinnamon.

There are so much more cinnamon benefits, but we should use it carefully because if we use it too much it could cause damage. Use Ceylon cinnamon to eliminate coumarin related side effects.

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Healthy Sugar Alternatives For Guilt Free Desserts

If you're at all concerned about your health, then you probably know that sugar is, perhaps, the worst thing that you can eat. But, if you have a sweet tooth, it can be hard to give up those comforting desserts. Luckily there are some healthy sugar alternatives you can use to make your own guilt free desserts that will actually help your health instead of harm it.

Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is made by culturing white rice with enzymes. It is not made from brown rice as you might assume from the name, the name actually refers to the color of the syrup which, obviously, is brown. By combining enzymes with rice the starch is broken down and the resulting liquid is cooked, turning into a syrup that has about half the amount of sweetness as sugar.

To use it in your baking you want to substitute 1 1/3 cups of brown rice syrup for every cup of sugar and reduce the other liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup and then add a quarter teaspoon baking soda to the ingredients of the recipe.

Honey

Honey is one of the healthy sugar alternatives that everyone should be considering as a substitute in baking. Honey, especially raw honey, is extremely healthy and loaded with antioxidants as well as antiviral and anti-bacterial properties. It has a host of vitamins and minerals that will help your health unlike white table sugar that is devoid of any nutrients, vitamins or minerals.

To use it in your baking substitute equal amounts of honey for white sugar. You'll also need to reduce the liquids in the recipe in order to get the batter to come out to the proper consistency since honey has more liquid than sugar.

Maple Syrup

If you are looking for healthy sugar alternatives that will add unique flavor to your baking, then look no further than maple syrup. Made from the sap of Maple trees, this thick syrup can add n interesting flavor to any recipe. Be careful when buying it though because you want to be sure to buy pure maple syrup otherwise you are just simply buying flavored corn syrup with no nutritional value. Pure maple syrup is loaded with nutrients and is actually three times sweeter than table sugar.

To use maple syrup in your baking, substitute 3/4 cup maple syrup for every cup of sugar and reduce the other liquids in the recipe by 3 tablespoons.

There are two reasons why you want to consider using a healthy alternative to sugar in your baking. The first is that the process of making table sugar, strips all the nutrients out of it. It is just empty calories that does your body no good. The second is that table sugar is very high on the glycemic index and, therefore, will cause a spike in your blood sugar which is harmful to your health and will also eventually result in a drop in your blood sugar, thus creating moodiness, tiredness and food cravings.

Look for healthy sugar alternatives that have vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as well as ones that are low on the glycemic index like brown rice syrup (which has a GI of 25) so that you can bake desserts that are nutritious and good for your overall health and that won't give you that sugar high and subsequent crash or result in food cravings.

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The Health Benefits of Oregano Oil

Oil of Oregano has been renowned for hundreds of years for its wonderful healing power. The oil extracted from wild plants of oregano is different from kitchen oregano. Oregano oil belongs to the hilly regions in the Mediterranean. However, due to its many advantages it is widely cultivated today.

The advantages of oregano oil are in abundance. It is used as an anti fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory cures. The oil with medicinal value can be administered internally or applied externally. It is obtainable in the forms of oil, tablet or gel. It has been found that the oil forms and gel forms are more beneficial than the capsule forms.

Oregano oil has been found to be very effective in the treatment of yeast infections, also known as candida albicans. It is useful in various other persistent fungal diseases like athletes foot, ring worm etc. Oregano oil wards off viruses which cause cold and fever, if taken on a daily basis. It is effective in eradicating already existing infections and speeds recovery.

Oregano oil is also famous for its ability to fight bacteria. It matches up to the strongest of antibiotics known as Vancomycin. The oil successfully eliminates Escherichia coli or rather known as E. coli and staph infections. Natural antibiotics like Oil of Oregano do not produce altered strains caused by bacteria which are drug- resistant. They are free from side effects also.

The powerful oregano oil ward off parasite, reduce the effect of worms and amoeba and eliminates fleas, mosquitoes, lice, bed bugs, ticks etc. The magical oil is a super antioxidant which can slow or stop the oxidation process of molecules. It also has the ability to neutralize free radicals, lessen possible harm to your body and repair already prevalent damages of the body. It also acts as an anti aging agent, safe guards against different types of cancers, degeneration of eye sight, wrinkles, mental disorders and many other age connected issues.

Oregano oil has the power to relieve inflammation. The presence of terpenes which is a natural kind of anti-inflammatory present in the oil is the cause for this healing effect. This feature also makes it a good cure to reduce the pain of inflammation caused due to arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis, eczema and much more!

Oil of Oregano is found to be loaded in two key compounds namely, carvacrol and thymol. When you buy Oregano Oil, you should check if the strength of carvacrol is no less than 70%. If the oil is not thinned in carrier oil when you buy it, ensure you dilute it before you use it internally or externally.

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Which Honey to Buy?

"Which honey to buy?"

"Which honey is best?"

"Which brand shall I buy?

"What's the difference between pure honey and raw honey?"

"Is raw honey or organic honey more superior?'

"Where can I buy quality honey?"

"Is local honey better?"

"Which floral varietal is the best?"

These are probably the most frequently asked questions from people who have just discovered honey and want to know which bottle of honey to pick. I wish life were simple enough for me to address all these enquiries in a sentence or two. I'm afraid it isn't. Nevertheless, I'll attempt to get some of the terms "raw", "local", "pure", "organic" clarified here.

My first and foremost advice on which honey to buy would be - get it directly from a trusted beekeeper. This way, not only you can play your part for the environment and reduce your food carbon footprint, you can be pretty sure that the honey you eat is local, 100% pure, unadulterated, and you can easily find out if it's raw and organic, without even really understanding what those terms mean. And if you have the zest of going the extra mile to trace the source of the food you eat, request a farm visit from your beekeeper and witness for yourself the whole process of obtaining the honey to be 100% assured of the honey quality.

If bee farms and beekeepers aren't within any possible reach for you and accessing the freshest raw is out of the question, then regular, pasteurised, commercial honey from the stores and online shops would probably be what you are looking at. First, before we try to understand the marketing labels on honey, we need to know that no all honey is "created" equal. Multiple factors related to the floral source of the honey can affect the quality of honey, for instance weather, soil, landscape, environment pollution level (e.g. New Zealand boasts exceptionally low levels of environmental pollution for beekeeping operations). Other determinants are beekeeping practices, ethics, culture, and legal policies in the country (eg the administration of sugar syrup and antibiotics to bees), etc.

Making choices on which honey to buy for us consumers can appear to be complicated when so many beekeepers from different parts of the world are shouting unverifiable claims that they offer the best and purest honey in the world. Also, some honey varieties have more medicinal value than others due to its higher anti-bacterial properties e.g New Zealand's Manuka UMF 10+ and above, Malaysia's Tualang honey, Yemeni Sidr honey and European honeydew honey. Such varietals of honey are tagged 10 or 20 times more in price than regular honey and are simply beyond the reach of many consumers' purchasing power. So, these expensive varietals are usually not consumed on a daily basis but kept as a treasure for treating burns, cuts, coughs, sore-throats, infections, and other ills.

The appeal of raw honey is that is unprocessed, unheated and has all its live, nutritious enzymes preserved. However, there are no strict legal requirements for claiming and labelling honey as "raw". You may find raw honey that are unprocessed but slightly warmed to retard granulation for a short period of time and allow light straining and packing into containers for sale. Claims of "pure honey" on labels can be ambiguous and may not necessarily be equivalent to 100% pure honey as the product may contain "real honey" in an unknown amount. Most commercial honey, even those labelled as "natural" is pasteurized or treated with heat to slow down the process of crystallisation so that they remain smooth and presentable on the shelves. They are also well filtered, and thus look clean and speck-free. I agree this could be partly due to allergy concerns, but many consumers also associate honey containing pollens and brown substances, and even crystallisation with impurities and poor quality and refuse to buy it. What a sorry irony.

Imported, foreign honey can be much cheaper than local honey, and this makes it extremely hard for small local beekeepers to compete with the big honey suppliers who are exporting in huge volumes to different countries. So, support your local beekeepers by buying local honey but be wary, as a lot of foreign honey is now locally packed and sold as "local honey". For instance, America imports most of their honey from China to repackage and label it as their local products. Nonetheless, I reckon it's not an easy subject to deliberate when the harsh reality of life sets in and cuts deep - while beekeepers find it ridiculous to sustain pleasures in beekeeping when confronted with dire livelihood issues, consumers feel it's impossible to support relatively more expensive local honey with their limited spending power.

Whether it has to be organic honey depends on whether you are an ardent believer of organic foods as a whole. For honey to be certified organic, the manufacturer has to meet a set of stringent organic standards and conditions during the honey production (set by a organic agriculture certification body), which include source of the nectar, honey bees foraging area, bees management, honey extracting process, transportation, processing temperature, and packaging materials. Go for organic honey if you feel that it's a healthier choice worth paying the extra and you could have that peace of mind by eating honey that has been tested and guaranteed to be free of any residues of pesticides or environmental pollutants.

Another very important consideration regarding which honey to buy (at least for me as a consumer) is the palate. Taste of honey labelled "floral blend" or "multiflora" varies according to the different floral types from which nectar is collected. If you are not satisfied with eating honey of unidentified floral varietals, then explore the mono-floral varietals. Choose a floral varietal that goes down well with you especially if you are taking direct or mixing it with just water for daily consumption. Taste can be very subjective and personal, so not every variety is going to wow everyone. If you are using honey in your beverage and other foods, experiment with get a few varietals, do some trial and error to see how combinations of food and honey types work for you. Generally, for food or dishes with very distinct, strong taste, go for a mild light taste honey, whereas for food that is blander, you can try a stronger honey to create a tastier concoction, e.g English breakfast tea tastes a world of difference when a flavoursome honey such as a leatherwood or eucalyptus floral varietal is added to it. But of course, if you are prepared for a more adventurous experience with honey, you can break all rules and combine any type of honey with any type food. Possibilities with honey flavour nuances are never-ending.

A final note on which honey to buy - I believe in eating the best of what you can find and afford. Your choice of honey really depends on a combination of factors such as price, affordability, accessibility to beekeepers and trusted commercial brands, how much you believe in the health and healing benefits of honey, and how far you are willing to go in pursuing good sugar and getting to the bottom of the source and quality of the honey. At the end of the day, my opinion is, even if raw honey is unavailable, commercial and pasteurised honey is still better than refined table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and any artificial sugar. I'm not against buying cheap honey, but I would say think twice and double check, because it's all too easy to find fake or adulterated honey sold at the price of rare floral varietals such as Corsican honey, but just impossible to get quality pure honey at the same low price as corn syrup.

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25 Unexpected And Unusual Uses For Honey

5 Ways to Use Honey In Your Diet

Honey is an extremely versatile food, known worldwide for its numerous health benefits; so versatile is this rich, golden liquid that its usage extends beyond dietary purposes! From food spreads and skin potions to illness remedies and beauty applications, the utilities of honey seem boundless.

Honey possesses hygroscopic, antibacterial, antioxidant and nutritional properties that make it a power food for the whole family. Since honey is an adaptable food, serving multiple purposes, one can include honey in the daily diet in several ways.

1. In your beverages:

Kickstart your day with a tall glass of warm water, two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. This honey-water-lemon concoction is known to help aid faster burning of fats, when coupled with an active lifestyle. You can replace sugar and other calorie-heavy sweeteners. Opt for honey in milk, instead of sugar. You can also whip up your very own, healthy power drink to immediately feel refreshed and energized. Mix two cups of water, one-fourth cup of fresh lemon juice, one-eighth teaspoon of salt and two and a half teaspoons of raw honey in a water bottle. Consume as and when needed to rehydrate yourself, instead of consuming unhealthy sports drinks and mixes.

2. As a bread spread:

Using honey as a breakfast or bread spread is a smart and healthier alternative to the sugar-packed conventional bread spreads available in the market. Generously spread honey onto your morning toast for a delicious breakfast; remember to have some fruit portions as well. Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder and apply it on bread as a spread, instead of jams and jellies. You can also make a honey-mustard spread for sandwiches in a trice - just blend one-fourth cup of prepared mustard, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of mayonnaise, and spread the mixture between bread slices. Alternatively, you can use honey as a great dip to go with breakfast rotis or chapatis. A popular way in some rural ways is to dip freshly made Dosas in a mix of honey & ghee.

3. As a salad dressing:

Salads taste great when married with the right dressing! You can use honey to up your salad dressing game, and turn snack time into a delicious, healthy daily routine. Simply add equal parts honey, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil into a jar; add a sprinkling of your favourite herbs and a pinch of salt to taste. Close the jar tightly with a lid and shake thoroughly, or simply use a spoon to mix the contents well. Add a generous portion of the dressing to your salads, instead of using mayonnaise or other calorie-rich salad dressings.

4. As a power snack:

For a quick and nutritious snack, mix your favourite dry fruits, a cup of raw toasted oats, a little warm milk and three tablespoons of honey in a bowl. This muesli-like snack bowl is super-nutritious and packs quite the punch in filling you up; it works perfectly as a light tea-time snack, thus preventing you from binge-eating salty, fried or processed snacks.

5. In your soups:

Honey is an excellent ingredient in soups such as bisques, broths made with carrots, squash, sweet potato of certain fruit, and in soups or curries seasoned with ginger. Just a drizzle of honey works to add more complexity and balance to soups. In case of soups that work on the bitterness angle such as cauliflower or parsnip based soups, honey makes the soup softer on the palate. Spicy soups gain a slightly sweet dimension when honey is added. Moreover, the natural viscosity of honey helps in adding more body and thickness to soups.

Honey works wonderfully in various food preparations, both as an additive and a key ingredient. Experiment with honey by using recipes for whole-cooked meals with honey. But do note that Ayurveda warns against heating honey. If you want to keep it simple, go the easy route and add honey as a table ingredient in your daily meals such as beverages and snacks.

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