Honey and Its Benefits

Source: Google

Until today, despite drinking lots of warm water, eating more vegetables and light food, and taking medicines regularly (including antibiotic), my sore throat hasn’t recovered yet. It even gets worse. The phlegm appeared days ago and now its color has turned into yellow (sign of too much heat inside my body – perhaps the throat infection??).

I was asking my colleague why my throat was so itchy. Was it a sign of recovering??? She told me, for her, it was a sign that the sickness would get worse. O oh… Then how??? My medicines were almost finished. Some had even finished. What should I do?? Panic had stricken my brain. I even thought of visiting the doctor again this morning and who knows he would give me MC for today… Hehe… my wishful thinking :P

So she suggested me to drink honey. She asked me to buy a good quality of honey, not those cheap one as it could help up in sore throat recovering. I forgot to buy it last night since I was too tired to walk after dinner gathering. So this afternoon, after finishing lunch, I went out and looked for my honey… :)

Oh.. the weather outside was soooo… hot!!! No wonder I got sick so easily… After a desperately hot sun, I entered into a cool air-conditioned mall. It felt good, but that was how the sickness all came and got worse (drastic change of temperatures). And I think, I was not the only one who suffered from this. There were few colleagues not feeling well too and I could hear people coughing and sneezing inside the MRT. So, blame it to the hot weather la! Hehe…

I walked down the escalator. First stop, Chinese medicine shop. They sell honey. There are many different types of honey. I focused on Manuka Honey and originated from New Zealand. After that I took a closer look on those categories. There were still different types. Manuka Honey plus Active UMF 5+ (S$30), UMF 10+ (S$40), UMF 15+ (S$58), with Royal Jelly and with Ginseng (both at S$25).

The sales promoter explained that UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) is a certified process to measure the level of anti-bacterial strength within the Manuka Honey. The higher the number, the better the function is. You could also notice with the changing of number, the prices have dramatically increased too…

She said, if for normal drink, I could choose the one with UMF 5+ and 10+. I should buy the UMF 15+ only if I need a much stronger remedy. In fact, I need that la. But I was thinking again, if after I recovered, how about the honey? If I keep drinking it, would it be too strong effect to my body? Because I was not very familiar with honey and its benefit and also, the price was so expensive la, so I decided to go to other shops and compare :)

After carefully consideration, I decided to buy the Manuka Honey with UMF 10+. I bought it at $35.60. It was imported from New Zealand. The brand was ok too.

Once reached my office, I boiled the water and took few slices of lemon and took a spoonful of thick honey put into my cup. I mixed the water with a cold one as not to kill the good enzymes inside the honey (Luckily my colleague reminded me that before I poured the hot water into my cup).

Hhmmm…. It tasted so good. Honey lemon drink. After having it, I felt very comfortable on my throat. For some time, it wasn’t itchy. Also, I burped few times (removed some gas from my full stomach).

As I was curious, I browsed internet to find the benefit of honey. And here is what I found:

Cinnamon and Honey  
Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey. 

Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. 

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists: 

HEART DISEASES:  
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins. 

ARTHRITIS:  
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain. 

BLADDER INFECTIONS:  
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder. 

CHOLESTEROL:  
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol. 

COLDS:  
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses. 

UPSET STOMACH:  
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root. 

GAS:  
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas. 

IMMUNE SYSTEM:  
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases. 

INDIGESTION:  
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals. 

INFLUENZA:  
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu. 

LONGEVITY:  
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old..

PIMPLES:  
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root. 

SKIN INFECTIONS:  
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections. 

WEIGHT LOSS:  
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet. 

CANCER:  
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day. 

FATIGUE:  
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week. 

BAD BREATH:  
People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day. 

HEARING LOSS:  
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. 

After reading it, it made me want to drink it three times a day for everyday. Hahaha… One, on an empty stomach after waking up, one before sleeping (both could help up in weight loss), and another one after lunch – for other benefits mentioned above. People say it is good for the skin too… :D

No wonder my father was willing to spend so much money to buy a bottle of honey when he was traveling to New Zealand few years ago and he drank it every morning regularly. Aiyah.. I should have learned about it before. Hope it’s not too late now to start the honey drinking habit. Perhaps you can also start doing it now :)