Today’s blog is republished from my friends at RealDaily, a leading publisher of alternative health tips that I personally read every day…

We just can’t stop talking about raw honey. This incredible natural remedy has so many uses, we feel like we can’t live without it!

Here are 15 of the best uses for natural, unpasteurized honey.

1. Soothes allergies

One of the best ways to soothe allergies is with locally sourced, unpasteurized honey. It is said that the compounds in the honey improve one’s tolerance to the pollens found in the local area. Try mixing the honey into cooled nettle tea for an excellent remedy.

2. Fights infection

Feel a sore throat coming on? Have a teaspoonful of honey; its natural antibacterial properties will help fight the bad bugs.

3. Clears acne

Honey fights infection, balances moisture, and heals wounds effectively, so it’s basically the ideal acne fighter! Simply dab a small amount of raw honey onto affected areas to help prevent and heal acne.

4. Natural energy drink

We recommend avoiding commercial energy drinks which are laden with sugar and artificial ingredients. Drink water with raw honey instead.

5. Assists with memory loss

Studies have indicated that consuming raw honey can help prevent hormone-related cognitive decline in older people.

6. Suppresses a cough

If you have a dry, tickly cough, there is no better cure than a spoonful of raw honey. This amazing remedy also reduces inflammation and fights infection, so a respiratory infection or even chronic asthma will certainly benefit from regular honey consumption.

7. Supports better sleep

Raw honey promotes blood sugar stability to keep you sound asleep all night long. It also increases the production of the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin to assist with well-being and overall healing.

8. Natural shampoo

Did you know that you can wash your hair with raw honey? Try mixing a tablespoon with a little warm water to create a gentle shampoo that is moisturizing and smells great. Don’t worry, it rinses clean and won’t leave hair sticky.

9. Antibiotic for wounds

Honey has been used on wounds since ancient times. It fights infection naturally and can be used as an antiseptic. Hospitals even use honey on bandages to prevent infection.

10. Natural face wash

There is no need to buy expensive skin-care products, which are full of chemicals and perfumes. Raw honey cleanses the skin while also providing moisture. In addition, it contains antioxidants that fight the signs of aging. What’s not to love!

Honey is the best natural face wash. To use, wet your face with warm water, then smooth on about half a teaspoon of honey. If you want an exfoliating scrub, mix a little baking soda, salt or sugar into the honey before applying in circular motions. Leave on for a minute or two, then rinse with warm water.

11. Healthy baking ingredient

Try sweetening recipes with honey instead of refined sugar or other “healthy” sweeteners. Honey is a functional food — it’s our top choice for a naturally healthy sweet flavor. Use in coffee, tea, grain-free baked goods and smoothies.

12. Reduces inflammation

Raw honey is known to reduce levels of an inflammatory marker called homocysteine. This is considered to be an important indicator of protection against chronic inflammatory illness such as heart disease.

13. Treats dandruff

Since honey is known to be antibacterial and antifungal, it is effective against flaky skin conditions such as dandruff and eczema.

14. Preserves food

Honey’s natural antibacterial properties make it the perfect food additive to prevent spoilage.

15. Improves digestion

Raw honey is rich in prebiotics, which provide fuel for healthy bacteria in the lower digestive system. It is also known to fight nausea and indigestion because it does not ferment in the stomach.

Try making a digestion-boosting drink by mixing a teaspoon each of lemon juice, raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey into a tall glass of water and drink two or three times daily. Add a little freshly squeezed ginger root juice if nausea is an issue.

Risks of raw honey

Sometimes, eating raw honey can cause a form of food poisoning called botulism, which results in muscle weakness and breathing problems. This is due to bacterial spores that can contaminate unpasteurized honey.

However, this is only a concern with infants younger than 12 months old, or people with a compromised immune system. Children and adults can safely consume raw honey because they have a more robust digestive system, which is not disturbed by the presence of spores.

Here is link to the original article.

Remember to always purchase and use raw, unfiltered honey for the best results. You can find raw honey in your favorite health food store. If you’d like local honey, check your community farmers’ market for the best results.

Speaking of all of the powerful health benefits of honey… My good friends at TheAlternativeDaily wanted to offer you a FREE copy of their new book, The Honey Phenomenon, which details dozens of ways to use honey to heal and revitalize your skin, hair, teeth, and even help improve your heart health, brain health, fight aging, and help with coughs or allergies too! It really is a miraculous substance.

Don’t miss your FREE copy of The Honey Phenomenon before they run out of copies.

The post 15 Health Benefits of Raw Honey appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

In the oil/fat wars, there are some clear winners and losers. First the losers–processed vegetable seed oils including corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil are extremely dangerous to our health; can cause inflammatory diseases, an increase in harmful free radicals, damage DNA and even increase the risk of certain types of cancer. High omega 6 vegetable seed oils lose BIGTIME.

The Benefits of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

First, let’s talk about monounsaturated fatty acids—the primary type of fat in both olive oil and avocado.

Oils containing monounsaturated fats are considered some of the healthiest types of oils. Monounsaturated fats are surprisingly stable for cooking, unlike other processed vegetable oils which contain polyunsaturated fats.

Monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFA’s, protect our cells’ DNA and add energy to the mitochondria. MUFA’s are one of the best fatty acids for our cell walls, unlike polyunsaturated fatty acids which make cell walls weak, brittle, and vulnerable to pathogens.

MUFA’s support and strengthen immune function, helping us fight off pathogens, improving wound healing, as well as tempering autoimmune disease.

Monounsaturated fatty acids are known to prevent and reduce breast cancer, according to this meta-analysis. The primary type of MUFA in both olive oil and avocado oil, oleic acid, fights tumors, especially those found in treatment-resistant breast cancers. Oleic acid also enhances the effectiveness and reduces the dosage of some chemotherapy treatments as well.

Monounsaturated fatty acids are also known to raise the levels of good HDL cholesterol in our bodies and lower the more harmful LDL cholesterol. In addition, when LDL oxidizes, it sticks to our blood vessel walls, contributing to arthrosclerosis and heart disease. An interesting feature of those wonderful MUFA’s in olive oil and avocado oil, is that they help prevent oxidation in LDL. MUFA’s also help keep triglycerides low—another component of heart disease.

This study from the Medical Science Monitor, showed that elderly subjects who had just 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day, had significant drops in their total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. In addition, the ratio of HDL (you want this one to be high) to LDL (you want this to be low) was greatly improved.

Monounsaturated fats also protect the endothelium in our blood vessels which helps in lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation in the blood vessels, and preventing atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.

MUFA’s also help with diabetes. Monounsaturated fats improve blood sugar control in type 1 and 2 diabetics, while helping to prevent diabetes complications such as diabetic retinopathy. In type 2 diabetics, MUFA’s reduce insulin resistance, especially compared to diets high in vegetable seed oil which contain polyunsaturated fats. Vegetable seed oils are known to cause inflammation, and a worsening of chronic disease.

One more important benefit worth noting—olive oil and avocado oil consumption can help burn body fat. This study published showed the addition of olive oil to the diet brought about greater weight loss. Other support for these monounsaturated oils’ fat burning ability comes from another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, which suggests that MUFA’s help break down fat in the body more efficiently.

Antioxidants

Research suggests that the health benefits from both avocado and olive oil are due not only to their high content of monounsaturated fats, but also their collection of valuable antioxidants, including chlorophyll, carotenoids, and the polyphenols, tyrosol, hydrotyrosol and oleuropein— all of which have some pretty powerful free-radical scavenging abilities. Free radicals contribute to chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes.

The polyphenols in olive oil and avocado oil are powerful antioxidants that come from the plants. Antioxidants in the plants protect them from oxidative stress and keep away insects. Polyphenol antioxidants don’t hurt humans–of course, but the natural irritation they create in our bodies induces a positive adaptive response in our cells.

Oleic acid is one type of monounsaturated fat in both olive oil and avocados. Oleic acid is also known to inhibit the clotting process that causes platelets to adhere to blood vessel walls, thus further preventing heart disease and strokes. Oleic acid has also been shown to reduce blood pressure, as this study shows.

First Comparison: Olive Oil vs. Avocado Oil

Olives are one of the oldest known foods in the Mediterranean and have been in existence for at least 6,000 years. Most olive oil still comes from the Mediterranean area of the world, or California. Extra virgin olive oil is considered one of the healthiest of all oils. The highest quality extra virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of olives.

Avocados are considered a fruit, native to Central America and grown in warm and subtropical climates all over the world. Avocados contain about 60% oil, depending on their size. The primary growers and producers of avocado oil in the world include New Zealand, Mexico, the United States, South Africa, and Chile.

Avocados and their oil have become very popular for nutrition and are common in grocery stores all over the world, as well as skin care products, hair care, and cosmetics.

Avocados have a similar fatty acid profile as olive oil and similar health benefits.

Both olive oil and avocado oils should be from the first-pressed, cold processed oils to possess the above health benefits. Both avocado and olive oil extracted using heat or chemical processing lose their health benefits and are not much better than standard vegetable oils at that point.

For olive oil to be labeled “extra virgin” it must be free of certain defects in flavor and contain the important attributes of fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency. Many olive oil companies will label their olive oil as “extra virgin” even when it has not met the above quality standards.

Avocado oil can also be extracted in a variety of ways including the use of hexane (chemical processing), enzymes, or microwave/heat methods. These methods are far less desirable than the first cold pressing.

Both avocado oil and olive oil have similar fatty acid profiles and calories, while olive oil contains slightly more vitamin E. Both are beneficial for skin health and eye health, while avocado holds a slight edge towards being more absorbed through the skin.

Cooking with Avocado Oil and Olive Oil

First let’s talk about cooking with olive oil. We have been conditioned to believe that olive oil is not great for cooking, but that is simply not true. Olive oil is more stable than polyunsaturated, highly inflammatory vegetable seed oils, making EVOO a great oil to cook with.

The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it starts to degrade and release harmful free radicals. Extra virgin olive oil works best with low to medium heat, and will smoke at about 375-400 degrees F.

Good quality extra virgin olive oil does have a fruity, olive oil taste to it. This sometimes enhances cooking but may not always work for baking and other types of cooking where you don’t want the flavor of olive oil to stand out.

Avocado oil has a much milder, more buttery flavor which makes is suitable for many types of cooking, including baking. Avocado oil can also be heated to a higher temperature without smoking or altering the components of the oil. Avocado can be heated up to about 480 degrees F, making it ideal for frying, searing, and grilling.

Cooking with both olive oil and avocado helps the food being cooked to be healthier. For example, when you combine Mediterranean foods like onions, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes with either oil, it increases the antioxidants and the bioavailability of the nutrients in the vegetables.

Cooking with olive oil and avocado have been shown to protect and enhance the polyphenols and antioxidants found in the vegetables and increase the bioavailability of the polyphenols.

How to Avoid Fakes

Both avocado oil and olive oil are subject to being ‘fake’, adulterated, rancid or labeled improperly. However, there are a few pointers when it comes to purchasing high quality, extra-virgin, cold-pressed oils full of antioxidants, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fats.

Tips for Choosing the Best Olive Oil

• First, always choose ‘Extra Virgin’ olive oil when purchasing olive oil. This is the first pressing of the olives, which contains the most flavor and nutrients and should be free of taste defects, and contain the olive oil attributes required for that label. The “Extra Virgin” on the olive oil label also means the olive oil is free of taste defects detected in the certification process. These include rancidity, fustiness, winey/vinegary, and mustiness. Many olive oils put “Extra Virgin” on the label despite these defects, leading to what many refer to as ‘fake olive oil’.
• A high-quality olive oil should be fresh, so always look for a harvest and use by date. Olive oil does not improve with age and is best used up quickly.
• Contrary to popular belief, high quality olive oil does not have to come from the Mediterranean. In fact, there are a lot of award winning, fresh olive oils that come from California. California has very high standards for olive oil certification.
• Look for seals of quality and certified origin, such as 100% Qualita Italiana (for Italy), or the California Olive Oil Commission (COOC) 100% Certified Extra Virgin seal. Or look for the North American Olive Oil Association’s NAOOA Certified Oil, bearing a red circular logo with a green olive branch.
• A good quality extra virgin olive oil should smell and taste green, bright, peppery, earthy, grassy, and with a slight bitterness that sticks in the throat after swallowing.
• A high-quality extra virgin olive oil will produce throat-stinging sensation. This is in direct correlation to the amount of polyphenols in the olive oil, especially oleocanthal. Although oleocanthal is present in all extra-virgin olive oil, concentrations vary depending upon a range of factors, including the quality of the olives.
• Consider the price point. Olive oil is a quality food, so the price should reflect that. Very inexpensive olive oil usually means low quality. That doesn’t mean you should spend exorbitant amounts of money on olive oil, but it’s also probably a good idea not to choose the cheapest option on the shelf.
• Purchase olive oil in a dark-colored glass bottles. This helps protect the oil from oxidation — or the degradation of quality when exposed to oxygen — before it even hits the shelves. Avoid any oils sold in clear glass container, it’s probably rancid.
• Look for a harvest date or pressing date on the label. This tells you how long ago the pressing occurred. Choose the freshest oil possible, although when properly stored olive oil generally retains its goodness for as much as 18 months after bottling.

Bottom line: Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use if you follow the above guidelines.

Tips for Choosing the Best Avocado Oil

• The extraction method very important to the overall quality and taste of the avocado. High quality avocado oil is cold-pressed virgin oil. Expeller pressing is another extraction method that uses mechanical means to make avocado oil rather than chemicals or heat. Avoid any oil that is chemically extracted or extracted with heat. Keep in mind if the oil doesn’t specify a high-quality extraction method, it’s a good indication that chemical or heat extraction was used and should be avoided.
• Unlike olive oil, there is no certifying body for avocado oil.
• Check harvest and production dates which should be printed on the bottle. Don’t just rely on the “best before” date.
• Avocado oil, like olive oil should be purchased as fresh as possible. Avocado does not age well.
• Purchase avocado in dark colored glass bottles to preserve the antioxidants and nutrients.
• Avocado oil comes from several different varieties, and Hass variety, from Mexico, Australia, California/United States, and New Zealand, has been characterized as having the best proportion of healthy fats.
• Be sure to use your sense of smell to check its freshness. Rancid avocado will have a taste and smell a little like “play-dough”.
• Taste is also a good indicator—the avocado oil should taste buttery, grassy, and with a slight mushroom-like taste.
• Always choose organic and fair-trade whenever possible, to be sure of sustainably harvested oil.
• And lastly, like olive oil, cold-pressed virgin avocado oil is not cheap. You generally will get what you pay for, if you go by the above guidelines.

Bottom line: Avocado oil is a super healthy oil, like olive oil with similar nutrients and healthy benefits. Avocado oil works best if you want an oil with a milder taste or a higher smoke point.

If you’re looking for a recommendation, I highly suggest you click here to discover more about my all-time favorite brand of avocado oil from my friends at Ava Jane’s Kitchen. It’s delicious, smells amazing, and is full of flavor.

Coconut oil

While avocado oil and olive oil are very similar in taste and health benefits, coconut oil is an oil of a whole different breed.

Coconut oil comes from the meat of the coconut and can be extracted using a “wet” or “dry” method. Virgin coconut oil is extracted from the meat of the coconut using the wet method, and like olive oil and avocado oil, the virgin coconut oil is the most nutritious and has the most health benefits.

The biggest difference between coconut oil and avocado and olive oil is the ratio of saturated fat to monounsaturated fat. While olive oil and avocado oil contain mostly monounsaturated fat, coconut oil contains about 90 percent saturated fat. This makes coconut oil very stable for cooking and is also what makes it solid at room temperature.

Coconut oil contains three unique fatty acids, all of which are medium chain fatty acids.

• Caprylic acid
• Lauric acid
• Capric acid

Over 60 percent of the oil in coconut is made up of these three fatty acids—all of which have health benefits.

Most of the fats we consume consist of long chain fatty acids. These fats take longer to break apart, digest and metabolize. Long chain fatty acids take about 26 steps to be metabolized.

However, coconut oil consists of medium chain fatty acids. These shorter fatty acids provide an excellent source of energy, as MCFA’s only require three steps to be turned into fuel for the body. Because of this, they are not as readily stored as fat in the body and instead readily used as energy.

Coconut oil is known for boosting endurance and enhancing athletic performance. Because coconut oil is a fat, not a carbohydrate, it is a great source of energy without increasing blood sugar or stimulating insulin. This makes is one of the best body fat burning fuels you can find, which is why coconut oil is a favorite of the keto diet crowd.

This study from the Obesity Research Journal helps explain why MCFAs have fat-burning ability. When studying the rate of fat breakdown in rats, it was observed that fat breakdown occurred as fast as if the subjects were fasting. And on top of its fat burning ability, capric acid in coconut oil can speed up metabolism by helping the thyroid function better.

Lauric acid and caprylic acid are known to have specific antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Research suggests it may have antimicrobial effects against disease-causing microorganisms such as these:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus mutans
• Streptococcus pyogenes
• Escherichia coli
• Helicobacter pylori

Some of coconut oil’s other health benefits include protecting and aiding the brain in those with Alzheimer’s and epilepsy, as the healthy MDFA’s help fuel the brain better than glucose.

Although coconut oil is a saturated fat, it has been shown to be good for preventing heart disease, and can convert harmful LDL cholesterol into the helpful HDL cholesterol. By increasing the HDL in the body, it helps to lower the risk of heart disease. Coconut oil also helps to lower harmful triglycerides in the blood—another risk factor for heart disease.

Coconut oil also helps to lower inflammation and can improve arthritis symptoms—better than some medications. Coconut oil works as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

Coconut oil is also very helpful to the digestive system. It can help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. When coconut oil is ingested with omega 3 fats, it can improve the effectiveness of these healthy fatty acids as well.

Because coconut oil helps the body absorb helpful minerals such as calcium and magnesium, it helps to increase bone volume in test subjects and decrease bone loss due to osteoporosis.

Coconut oil improves gut health by helping destroy harmful bacteria and troublesome yeasts that live in the gut such as candida. Because coconut oil is so easy to digest, it aids the gallbladder and pancreas as well.

Because coconut oil is composed of smaller sized fat molecules, it is easily absorbed into the skin, making it an excellent moisturizer and sunscreen for skin. The fatty acids in coconut oil help to reduce inflammation reducing skin breakouts, dermatitis, and helping to heal wounds.

Coconut oil has a medium smoke point of about 350 degrees, making it a decent option for cooking and baking. It is one of the best options to use for cooking oil, due to its highly stable nature under heat. This makes far less inflammatory, especially compared to processed seed oils such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil and canola oil.

Like olive oil and avocado oil, coconut oil should be purchased as “extra virgin”, unrefined, organic coconut oil, so you know it is not heat or chemically extracted and that retains all of its beneficial health qualities.

Most unrefined coconut oil does have a mild coconut flavor and odor, and can sometimes interfere with your cooking flavors.

Some people with nut allergies may react to coconut oil, as it is considered a nut.

Bottom line: Coconut oil is a very healthy option for cooking, and has a wide variety of health benefits. However, it can cause allergic reactions in some people and virgin coconut oil will impart a slight flavor and coconut scent to foods cooked in it.

Now, the winners–extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil—all good for us. All three oils are very healthy and have many health benefits. It basically comes down to personal taste and the recipe.

Avocado oil is one of the best for cooking since it has the highest smoke point and a neutral taste. Extra virgin olive oil is best as a finishing oil for salads, breads, and other dishes to add flavor. And coconut oil is great for baking, or for adding to drinks and smoothies for extra long-lasting energy and brain fuel.

If you are still unsure which oil is the healthiest to cook with, or to use in general, our friends over at Ava Jane’s Kitchen have a message for you:

Imagine this.

You get ready to make dinner…

You buy quality ingredients…

And then, you make this sinister mistake that actually negates every single nutrient in the food you’re cooking.

What is it?

I’m talking about the type of oil you’re using!

Sure, most people know to avoid vegetable oils…

Yet even if you switch to olive oil… you’re still not off the hook.

A Forbes article reports that over 70% of olive oil sold in the US right now is fake.

So if you’re constantly tired… having the “3PM crash” all the time… or simply feeling bloated every time you eat…

Your olive oil might be to blame!

(===> And click here to get a safer and healthier alternative.)

So, what about coconut oil?

Well, according to Harvard professor Karin Michels, it’s “pure poison”.

Why?

It’s extremely high in saturated fat (the type of dangerous fat found in McDonald’s burgers and other fast foods)…

It builds up bad cholesterol in your blood vessels like a clog in a drain…

And that causes a sluggish blood flow that can eventually lead to serious health problems.

Now, if olive oil and coconut oil are out of the window…

What’s the best oil to cook with?

Well, over 5,733 health-conscious folks across America have ditched their olive oil and coconut oil for this lush green oil.

This oil is flavorful, aromatic, and absolutely delicious.

===> Click here to find the BEST cooking oil to use.

References
https://www.healthcastle.com/nutrition-faceoff-coconut-oil-vs-olive-oil/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/guide-to-olive-oil/
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/avocado-oil-benefits-skin-hair-cooking/
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/10-reasons-you-should-be-eating-more-monounsaturated-fat/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/monounsaturated-fats
https://honebodymind.net/how-to-buy-real-avocado-oil-avoid-fake-avocado-oil
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/avocado-oil-vs-olive-oil#olive-oil
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/food-fraud-olive-oil-and-avocado-oil/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6600360/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6600360/#B3-molecules-24-02172
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000785.htm
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/your-guide-to-avocado-oil-5196580
https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/seven-ways-to-tell-the-difference-between-real-and-fake-olive-oil-article

The post Olive Oil vs. Avocado Oil vs. Coconut Oil appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day…

Many of you may have been using baking soda around your home for years without ever even knowing what it is. We did a little digging to uncover the mystery.

It turns out that sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a chemical salt that, in its natural form, is the mineral nahcolite. Baking soda can react as both an acid and a base, although in an aqueous solution it is a bit on the alkaline side.

Pure nahcolite is found in abundance in the Green River Basin, which cuts through several states in the central part of our country.

Sodium bicarbonate helps to regulate pH and keep it steady – a process known as buffering. It keeps substances from being too acidic or too alkaline. Its ability to neutralize the pH of any substance it comes in contact with makes it highly effective for so many things.

Now, you may know about all the amazing ways you can use baking soda around your home such as:

– Cleaning coffee makers
– Cleaning drains
– Ridding hair of buildup
– Polishing silver
– Septic care
– Making toothpaste
– Making deodorant
– Cleaning brushes and combs
– Refreshing your fridge
– Easing itching and swelling
– Putting out a grease fire
– Breaking down ice on a sidewalk or driveway

But… did you know that drinking baking soda can be very healthy for you? Yes, it’s true, drinking something as simple as baking soda can drastically improve your health. What is even more amazing is that when you combine baking soda with other powerful ingredients, the healing powers are supercharged.

The only caution we have is that you stick to an aluminum-free brand of baking soda whenever possible.

Here are three of our favorite healthy baking soda tonics:

Ultimate energy booster and electrolyte replacer

Do you know that nagging, dragging feeling you get when you are about halfway through your 5-run, or partway through that spin class? The feeling like you can’t push your body one bit more?

Well, we have great news for you: this ultimate energy booster tonic will not only help motivate you to get moving, it will also help you go harder for longer no matter what physical activity you are doing.

This is because strenuous exercise leads to a buildup of lactic acid – which can cause muscle pain and fatigue. Baking soda has been found to boost performance in athletes due to its ability to neutralize lactic acid buildup.

Ingredients:

– ½ teaspoon unprocessed sea salt
– ¼ teaspoon baking soda
– 7 cups coconut water
– ½ cup lemon juice
– ¼ cup raw honey

Instructions:

1. Heat the coconut water on low and mix in baking soda until it is dissolved.
2. Add other ingredients and pour mixture into glass jar.
3. Shake well before use.
4. This will keep for a week in the refrigerator.

Coconut water: Although coconut water has a deceptively light consistency, it has higher levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, manganese, calcium and zinc than many fruits, including the famously healthy orange. Additionally, coconut water has high amounts of B-vitamins, such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine.

One of the best benefits of coconut water is that it is extremely high in potassium. As your body sweats during exercise or vigorous physical activity, your level of potassium drops. Coconut water has approximately 250 milligrams of potassium and 105 milligrams of sodium in every 100 milliliter serving.

Raw honey: One of the substantial benefits of choosing raw organic honey from your area is that it contains immune stimulating properties from the area where the bees collected pollen. This means that it can actually help to desensitize you to local allergens, potentially lessening your allergy symptoms.

The supercharged acid reflux reliever

Because acid reflux typically results from having too little acid in your stomach, you can help improve this by mixing 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar into a 6 to 8 ounce glass of water.

Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to this mixture will further help neutralize your internal fire. Be prepared, however: this mixture will foam – so wait for it to slow down before you drink it.

Green tea and baking soda metabolism booster

A recent study out of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that drinking green tea regularly can boost the effects of exercise to aid weight loss efforts. The study was conducted on mice that were fed a diet with high amounts of fat, exercised regularly, and given green tea extract. The mice showed an average body mass reduction of 27.1 percent and an average abdominal mass reduction of 36.6 percent.

There are three compounds in green tea that are thought to help promote weight loss: catechins, theanine and caffeine. These substances work together to block enzymes that are responsible for fat storage in the body.

When you combine the super-metabolizing powers of green tea with baking soda, you rev up your fat burning power while encouraging optimal pH ( 7.2) in the body. This is necessary for balance.

A pH factor that is not optimal will cause excess acid to be stored in fat cells. An acidic person can’t burn fat well, because doing so would release the acid that is stored in body fat – and this would throw the blood pH out of whack. If your pH is not balanced, you may also feel fatigued and ill.

Choose organic green tea and add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to an 8 ounce cup before drinking. Enjoy daily.

Speaking of baking soda…

My friend Susan Patterson wrote an entire book called The Baking Soda Secret, and she wants to ship it to you for FREE!

* How to use Baking Soda as a natural replacement for many products currently in your home like deodorant, toothpaste and even cleaning products.

* The exact recipe she uses to make healthy, energy-filled meals.

* How to soothe skin irritated by eczema, bug bites, bee stings and more.

* A powerful flu-fighting tonic that can help banish symptoms in hours.

* Countless beauty hacks including a hair rinse, face mask, and dark spot remover.

All of this and so much more!

But, like I said, you have to hurry because she only has a handful of these left and if you don’t confirm your address your book will be sent to another lucky individual who will immediately start improving their physical, mental and home health with Baking Soda!

Click here to Claim your FREE Book Now (need shipping address)

The post 3 Ways to Drink Baking Soda for Better Health appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

You probably think of molasses as that black goopy stuff that sits in the back of the cabinet, or the stuff in those yummy molasses cookies your grandma used to make. If you have some molasses sitting in your cabinet, it may be time to dig it out and start using it again. Molasses, especially ‘blackstrap’ molasses, has some very good health benefits.

Where does this stuff that looks like motor oil come from? Blackstrap molasses comes from the sugar-making process. When sugar cane is mashed and boiled, cane syrup is created. A second boiling crystallizes the sugar and yields molasses, and a third boiling leaves blackstrap molasses.

Since most of the actual sugar is removed from this viscous liquid, the remaining syrupy mixture is somewhat bittersweet. But, unlike sugar, which has no nutrients, molasses contains some pretty powerful vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which help to improve bone health, boost skin and hair health, combat anemia, improve brain health and alleviate PMS.

Blackstrap molasses contains loads of vitamin B6, manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron, and selenium. It also has a reasonable glycemic load of 55, making it a better choice for adding some sweetness to foods or drinks, especially for diabetics.

Molasses has been used as one of those ‘cure-all’ elixirs over the years for problems like constipation, anemia and even tummy problems.

As I often mention, nutrients are always better absorbed from whole food sources, because they exist in the perfect balance, along with the various co-nutrients and phytochemicals that come along with them. Blackstrap molasses could really be classified as a whole food supplement.

However, blackstrap molasses should only be consumed in small amounts, since it is still considered a type of ‘sugar’ and ranks fairly high on the glycemic index. Here is a listing of where blackstrap molasses runs with other natural sweeteners:

• White sugar: 64
• Blackstrap molasses: 55
• Maple syrup: 54
• Raw honey: 30

1. Iron

Blackstrap molasses has long been considered as a great source of plant-based iron. Blackstrap molasses is especially useful for menstruating women, as women lose small amounts of iron through their regular menstrual cycle, and many women can become slightly anemic.

Iron actually also works to improve your mood as well. Brain chemicals rely on a balance of hormones — including serotonin, dopamine and other vital hormones — that cannot properly be synthesized in the brain when oxygen levels are low. Iron helps the body to carry oxygen, so low levels of oxygen and iron deficiencies can result in depression or anxiety, poor sleep, low energy levels and a lack of motivation. In addition, the essential minerals in blackstrap molasses including magnesium, manganese, and calcium help maintain the health of red blood cells.

2. B Vitamins

One of the great things about blackstrap molasses is its B vitamin content. B vitamins are vital for brain and nerve health, energy, and mood regulation. Since B vitamins are water soluble and can easily be washed out of the body, and have to be synthesized in the small intestine, many people have a B vitamin deficiency and don’t know it.

Many people who suffer from leaky gut, celiac disease, glutton sensitivity, and other inflammatory digestive disorders, have low levels from B vitamins. Stress can also drastically lower B vitamins, leading to depression and anxiety. It is known that people who suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have low or imbalanced levels of B vitamins. Vitamin B6 is also known to work in combination with other B vitamins to boost serotonin levels in the brain, which is one of our body’s primary ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters.

3. Improves Hair and Skin Texture

Blackstrap molasses contains lactic acid, along with antioxidants, both of which are very helpful in healing and preventing acne, smoothing wrinkles and other skin conditions. Blackstrap molasses also helps promote wound healing like cuts, burns, and scrapes.

Blackstrap molasses also helps to get rid of frizzy hair, especially hair that is dyed, bleached or permed. This natural conditioner helps to cover gray naturally, but if you have really blonde hair, it may temporarily darken it slightly.

It’s not a great idea to put it straight on your hair but using it in combinations with other healthy ingredients will help to thicken and smooth out hair, bringing out its natural shine and body. Try this natural molasses hair mask from Wellness Mama:

• 1/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 2 tablespoons organic blackstrap molasses
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• Optional: 2 drops Rosemary essential oil

Directions—Whisk together yogurt, molasses, and ACV. Add essential oil if using. (Tip: rosemary oil helps your hair grow and scalp stay healthier.) Massage into hair and scalp, cover with a shower cap or wrap in towel and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Shampoo out as normal.

4. Bone Health

Blackstrap molasses contains a combination of healthy bone ingredients calcium and magnesium, along with copper, iron, potassium and the trace mineral manganese. It also helps to heal bones faster, and fights osteoporosis.

Manganese plays an important role in bone cartilage and bone collagen formation and is required for bone mineralization. In one study, women with osteoporosis were found to have 25% lower manganese levels of the women who didn’t have osteoporosis. It only takes about two teaspoons a day to get about 20% of the manganese you need to help build stronger bones.

5. Blood Sugar

In spite of the fact that blackstrap molasses is classified as a type of sugar, it has a lower glycemic value than refined cane sugar. Because of this, is often preferred for those with diabetes or those who are trying to keep blood sugar levels low. Blackstrap molasses, unlike refined sugar, contains nutrients including chromium, which is known to increase glucose tolerance. Chromium also plays an important role in stabilizing blood sugar and insulin.

Chromium is an essential nutrient for normal carbohydrate and fat metabolism as well.

Blackstrap molasses also contains plenty of antioxidants which help the body fight diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

How to Use Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is used as a natural sweetener and a refined sugar alternative, but keep in mind, it is still a form of sugar, and is only slightly lower on the glycemic index as sugar. Molasses has a different, rich, caramel flavor, which makes it great as an additive to your morning coffee, your oatmeal, or used for baking. It also makes a great marinade or base for a sauce.

It’s easy to find blackstrap molasses at your local market or health food store. When purchasing blackstrap molasses, look for products that are organic and unsulfured.

Molasses is generally added to sugar to create brown sugar, but you can make your own by adding a small amount to coconut sugar and mixing. This creates a slightly more nutritious brown sugar that still adds the right amount of flavor to your recipes.

Blackstrap molasses can be used in recipes that call for brown sugar, honey and maple syrup.

References
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/use-blackstrap-molasses/
https://draxe.com/blackstrap-molasses/
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-blackstrap-molasses
https://wellnessmama.com/62496/molasses-hair-mask/

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