Honey and Cinnamon Remedy

The combination of honey and cinnamon has been used in both oriental and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to mankind and honey's popularity has continued throughout history. The two ingredients with unique healing abilities have a long history as a home remedy. Cinnamon's essential oils and honey's enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide qualify the two "anti-microbial" foods with the ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi. Both are used not just as a beverage flavoring and medicine, but also as an embalming agent and are used as alternatives to traditional food preservatives due to their effective antimicrobial properties. People have claimed that the mixture is a natural cure for many diseases and a formula for many health benefits:

1) HEART DISEASES: Apply honey and cinnamon powder on bread instead of using jam or butter and eat it regularly for breakfast.

2) ARTHRITIS: Apply a paste made of the two ingredients on the affected part of the body and massage slowly.

3) HAIR LOSS: Apply a paste of hot olive oil, a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath, leave it for 15 min and wash.

4) BLADDER INFECTIONS: Mix cinnamon powder and honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink.

5) TOOTHACHE: Apply a paste of cinnamon powder and honey and on the aching tooth.

6) CHOLESTEROL: Add honey to cinnamon powder mixed in boiled water or green tea and drink.

7) COLDS: Make a glass of lukewarm honey water mixed with cinnamon powder to help boost your immune system during the cold season. It may also help to clear your sinuses.

8) INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on a spoonful of honey taken before food relieves acidity.

9) LONGEVITY: Regularly take tea made with honey and a little cinnamon powder.

10) PIMPLES: Mix honey with cinnamon powder and apply paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash away the next morning.

11) OBESITY: To reduce weight, daily drink a mixture of a teaspoon of honey with half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder boiled in water with an empty stomach in the morning about half an hour before breakfast. Read: Cinnamon and Honey Recipe. <-- Don't Miss It!

Cinnamon has an insulin boosting property (water soluble compounds called polyphenol type A polymers) which have the ability to boost insulin activity about 20 fold and can benefit people who have high sugar levels (obese people, pre-diabetics and diabetics). Also, read the honey hibernation diet theory to find out how honey contributes to the metabolizing of undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid, provides a fuelling mechanism for the body, keep blood sugar levels balanced, and let our recovery hormones get on with burning body fat stores.

12) BAD BREATH: Gargle with honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water so that breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Bioactivity of Greekhoney extracts on breast cancer (MCF-7), prostate cancer (PC-3) and endometrial cancer (Ishikawa) cells: Profile analysis of extracts

Historically, honey has been important in Greek culture. The chemical composition and the potential of Greekhoney extracts (thyme, pine and fir honey) to influence the oestrogenic activity and the cell viability of breast (MCF-7), endometrial (Ishikawa) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells were investigated. All honeys contained total phenolics, phenolic acids and hydroxymethylfurfural, the levels being highest in thymehoney. Sugars and volatile compounds, but not fatty acids, were detected in all honey extracts. Thyme, pine and fir honey showed both antioestrogenic and a weak oestrogenic effect at low and high concentration, respectively, in MCF-7 cells. Thymehoney reduced the viability of Ishikawa and PC-3 cells, whereas fir honey stimulated the viability of MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, Greekhoneys are rich in phenolic compounds, they modulate oestrogenic activity whereas a thymehoney-enriched diet may prevent cancer-related processes in breast, prostate and endometrial cancer cells.

Greek Honey - The Food of the Gods

Greek honey is, quite simply, divine. Few other foods offer such a combination of wonderful flavour and proven medicinal benefits. The hard-working Greek honey bee enjoys an elevated status in Greece, and rightly so; Greek honey mixes the sweet, delicate fragrance of mountain flowers, with a dose of concentrated Greek sunshine.

Greek Honey and the Blessings of Chloris

Despite the relatively small size of the country, its rich diversity of fragrant, indigenous flowers provides the perfect environment for apiculture. Amongst the rugged and tumbling slopes of Greece’s ancient mountains, rows of beehives are set amongst a kaleidoscopic array of beautiful wildflowers. The Greek spring sees the barren, rocky mountain slopes clad with the blessings of Chloris, the bees frantically taking advantage of this annual abundance. 

Most of the Greek mountains are untouched by chemicals, and there are no herbicides or insecticides to disturb the labour of the Greek honeybees. The experienced apiculturist understands sustainable farming, taking only what he needs and leaving the bees with plenty of honey for the hard winter. His symbiosis with the bees is an ancient friendship, and Greek honey stands alongside olive oil as one of the staple Greek foods.

Greek honey is an integral part of the famous Mediterranean diet, long recognised as one of the secrets to good health and long life.

Greek Honey - The Hard Greek Mountains

The best Greek mountain honey comes from the towering White Mountains of Crete, the unforgiving slopes of the Taygetos Mountains, and the parched Mani peninsula. These areas, barren for most of the year, come to life in the spring, as the gentle rain seeps into the limestone. Colourful flowers cling to every crevice, softening the hard mountains and attracting Greek honeybees and butterflies.

What Gives Greek Honey its Unique Flavour?

The rich, complex flavour of Greek honey stems from the unique flowers found in this ancient land. Greek honeybees gorge on nectar from the fragrant thyme, oregano, and rosemary plants, alongside the delicate orange and jasmine blossom. Greece has over 7500 types of flower, with 850 of them are indigenous to the area, and this gives Greek honey its divine blend of delicate floral fragrances and mellow sweetness.

Greek bees have to work very hard for their wealth, and this is what gives Greek honey its characteristic strength and flavour. It is extremely difficult for the bees to extract nectar from the stingy plants, and the bees produce less honey per beehive than in most other areas. The benefit of this is that the honey is dense, containing less water, and the flavours and nutrients are highly concentrated.

Bee Pollen Benefits and Side Effects

For years, herbalists have touted bee pollen as an exceptionally nutritious food. They've even claimed it is a cure for certain health problems. Yet after years of research, scientists still cannot confirm that bee pollen has any health benefits.

What Is Bee Pollen?

Bee pollen contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. It comes from the pollen that collects on the bodies of bees. Bee pollen may also include bee saliva.

It's important to avoid confusing bee pollen with natural honey, honeycomb, bee venom, or royal jelly. These products do not contain bee pollen.

How Is Bee Pollen Used?

Bee pollen is available at many health food stores. You may find bee pollen in other natural dietary supplements as well as in skin softening products used for baby's diaper rash or eczema.

You may also hear recommendations for using bee pollen for alcoholism, asthma, allergies, health maintenance, or stomach problems. But before you take any natural product for a health condition, check with your doctor.

Bee pollen is also recommended by some herbalists to enhance athletic performance, reduce side effects of chemotherapy, and improve allergies and asthma.

At this point, medical research has not shown that bee pollen is effective for any of these health concerns.

Is Bee Pollen Safe?

Bee pollen appears to be safe, at least when taken for a short term. But if you have pollen allergies, you may get more than you bargained for. Bee pollen can cause a serious allergic reaction -- including shortness of breath, hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis.

Bee pollen is not safe for pregnant women. A woman should also avoid using bee pollen if she is breastfeeding.