The Importance of Magnesium ~~ Part 3

The following is a list of effects/diseases that could be cause by lack of magnesium in our diets:

ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer's, angina pectoris, anxiety disorders, arrhythmia, arthritis (rheumatoid & osteoarthritis), asthma, autism, auto-immune disorders, cerebral palsy in children of Mg deficient mothers, chronic fatigue syndrome, congestive heart failure, constipation, crooked teeth/narrow jaw in children from Mg deficient mothers, depression, diabetes-- types I and II, eating disorders--bulimia and anorexia, fibromyalgia, gut disorders including peptic ulcer, crohn's & colitis, heart disease, hypertension, hypoglycemia, insomnia, kidney stones,  Lou Gehrig's disease, migraines, mitral valve prolapse, multiple sclerosis, muscle cramping, weakness & fatigue, myopia in children of Mg deficient mothers, obesity especially associated with high carbohydrate diets, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, PMS including menstrual pain & irregularities, primary pulmonary hypertension, Reynaud's syndrome, SIDS, stroke, syndrome X & thyroid disorders.

The following are your best food sources for Magnesium....ranging from the best to the worst:

kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, nutritional yeast, buckwheat, brazil nuts, dulse, filberts, peanuts, millet, wheat whole grain, pecans, walnuts, rye, coconut meat (dried), collard greens, shrimp, sweet corn (organic), avocado, cheddar cheese, parsley, prunes, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, beef, asparagus, chicken, green pepper, winter squash, cantaloupe, eggplant, tomato & milk.

Sources: internet, westonaprice.org

The Importance of Magnesium ~~ Part 2

Magnesium is utilized by the body for all sorts of detoxification pathways and is necessary for the neutralization of toxins, overly acidic conditions that arise in the body & from protection from heavy metals. It plays a vital role in protecting us from the onslaught of man-made chemicals all around us. Glutathione, an antioxidant normally produced by the body & a detoxifier of mercury, lead and arsenic among others, requires magnesium for its synthesis. A deficiency of magnesium increases free radical generation in the body & causes glutathione loss, which is not affordable because glutathione helps to defend the body against damage from cigarette smoking, exposure to radiation, cancer chemotherapy, toxins such as alcohol and just about everything else.

When our bodies are abundant with magnesium (and in balance with other essential minerals) we are protected from heavy metal deposition and the development of associated neurological diseases. Research indicates that ample magnesium will protect brain cells from the damaging effects of aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury & nickel. We also know that low levels of brain magnesium contribute to the deposition of heavy metals in the brain that can cause Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It appears metals compete with magnesium for entry into the brain cells. If Mg is low, metals gain access much more readily. There is also competition in the small intestine for absorption of minerals. If there is enough Mg, aluminum won't be absorbed.

For the average person, magnesium supplementation is safe to experiment with on your own, especially if you know you have symptoms that could be related to Mg deficiency or are under extra stress, etc. Excess magnesium is excreted in urine & the stools, and the most common response to too much Mg is loose stools. Those with renal insufficiency or kidney disease, extremely slow heart rate or bowel obstruction should avoid magnesium therapy.

General dosage recommendations range from about 3-10 mg per lb. of body weight, depending upon physical condition, requirements for growth (as in children) and degree of symptoms.

Oral magnesium supplements are available in organic salt chelates, such as magnesium citrate and magnesium malate and are fairy easily absorbed into the body. It is important to divide your dosage during the day so that you do not load your body with too much Mg in any single dose. Dr. Dean recommends taking your first dose in the morning & another in later afternoon --  these correspond to times when magnesium levels are low in the body. Is it just a coincidence that these times of low magnesium and low energy also correspond to the cultural rituals of morning coffee & afternoon tea?

Loose stools indicate you are not absorbing the magnesium & therefore it is acting as a laxative. When the Mg travels through your intestines in less than 12 hrs, it is merely excreted rather than absorbed. If you cannot overcome the laxative effect by varying your doses, you may want to try an oral supplement that is chelated to an amino acid, such as magnesium taurate & magnesium glycinate, which some consider to be better absorbed than the salt forms. For those who need a little help with digestion, such as young children, older adults and anyone with reduced stomach acid or bowel dysbiosis, consider homeopathic magnesium, also referred to as tissue salts or cell salts. Magnesia phosphorica 6X is the appropriate dosage & it works to usher magnesium into the cells where it belongs. It is also indicated as a remedy for muscle spasms and cramps of many varieties. Mag phos can help reduce and eliminate loose stools while your are supplementing with oral magnesium, giving you a positive sign that your body is indeed taking the magnesium into the cells.

Another potential way to get more magnesium into your system is via the pleasant method of soaking in a bath of magnesium sulfate, otherwise known as Epsom salts. Commonly used to ease muscle aches & pains, magnesium sulfate also helps with detoxification when sulfur is needed by the body for this purpose. When used intravenously, magnesium sulfate can save lives in such crises as acute asthma attack, onset of myocardial infarction and eclampsia in pregnancy.

A couple of cups of Epsom salts added to a hot bath will induce sweating and detoxification, after the water cools a bit, the body will then absorb the magnesium sulfate. According to Mark Sircus, the effects from a bath of Epsom salts, although pleasant, are brief as magnesium sulfate is difficult to assimilate and is rapidly lost in the urine. Magnesium chloride, which can also be used in baths, is more easily assimilated and metabolized and so less is needed for absorption.

Finally, magnesium may be applied topically in a form commonly called magnesium 'oil'. This is actually not an oil at all, but a supersaturated concentration of magnesium chloride and water. It does feel oily and slippery when applied to the skin, but it absorbs quickly, leaving a slightly tacky, 'sea salt' reside that can be washed off. There are many advantages to transdermal magnesium therapy, since the gastrointestinal tract is avoided altogether, there is no laxative effect.

It is likely safe to say that most people would benefit from an increased supply of magnesium in their diets, especially in these times of so many dietary, environmental and social stressors. Of course the first priority is to eat a varied diet of whole plant and animal foods from the best sources nearest to you. Adding extra magnesium, however, might be the missing nutritional link to help guard against heart disease, stroke, depression, osteoporosis and many other disorders. In the prevention and alleviation of these diseases, magnesium can truly be miraculous.


Resources: internet, WestonAPrice.org, Mark Sircus, Dr. Carolyn Dean.

The Importance of Magnesium~~ Part 1

Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal, the 8th most abundant mineral found in the earth's crust. Because of its ready solubility in water, magnesium is the 3rd most abundant mineral in sea water, after sodium and chloride. In the human body, Mg (magnesium) is the 4th most abundant element. Most Mg contained in the body is found in the skeleton and teeth -- at least 60-65% of the total. Nearly the entire remaining amount resides in muscle tissues and cells, while only 1% is contained in our blood. Magnesium must be bound to another substance before it can be adequately absorbed into our body.

The importance of Mg being beneficial to overall vibrant health is hard to overstate. It is required to give the "spark of life" to metabolic functions involving the creation of energy and it's transport (ATP, the body's fundamental energy currency), and the creation of proteins, RNA and DNA, in all known living organisms. In plants, Mg is found at the center of every chlorophyll molecule, vital for the creation of energy from sunlight. Mg is an essential element for both animals and plants, involved in literally over 300 enzymatic reactions & over 600 bio mechanical reactions in the human body affecting virtually all aspects of life.

Every single cell in the human body demands adequate Mg to function, or it will perish. Strong bones & teeth, balanced  hormones, a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system, well-functioning detoxification pathways and much more depend on magnesium sufficiency. Soft tissue containing the highest concentrations of magnesium in the body include the brain and the heart -- two organs that produce a large amount of electrical activity and which can be especially vulnerable to magnesium insufficiency. They have discovered a deficiency in magnesium has been identified as a precursor to heart disease.

Magnesium works in concert with calcium to regulate electrical impulses in the cell. Magnesium concentration inside healthy cells is ten thousand times greater than calcium and the body keeps this safeguard as it is necessary to prevent calcium accumulation in the cell, which could cause dangerous hyper-excitability, calcification, cell dysfunction and even cell death. When excess calcium enters the cells because of insufficient magnesium, muscle contraction is sustained for too long and we suffer, for example, twitches & tics in mild cases. When the magnesium deficiency becomes chronic, we suffer symptoms of heart disease such as angina pectoris, hypertension & arrhythmia, or the spasms and contractions characteristic of asthma, migraine headache or painful menstrual cramping. Magnesium operates as a natural calcium channel blocker & is responsible for relaxation -- counter to calcium's contraction. There is ongoing research which promises to uncover further associations between Mg deficiency and other illnesses.

Magnesium is one of the most depleted minerals in farm soils today. Of course, when these mineral-depleted crops are eaten by animals or by us, they will sooner or later cause disease. Organic raised crops isn't always a better bet either, you have to know how your supplier replenishes the minerals in his fields. It became a serious national concern more than 70 yrs ago and the deficit has been affecting us -- while steadily getting worse -- since our grandparents' generation. So due to soil depletion, storage, handling, harvesting, cooking, preparing, milling...all of these processes cause a loss of magnesium in our foods. Since our foods loose less calcium than magnesium, it can cause a troublesome dietary calcium overload to our systems. Fluoride in our drinking water binds with Mg creating a nearly insoluble mineral compound that ends up deposited in the bones, where its brittleness increases the risk of fractures. A diet of processed, synthetic foods, high sugar content, alcohol and soda drinks all 'waste' magnesium, as a lot of it is required for the metabolism and detoxification of these largely fake foods. The body requires at least 28 molecules of Mg to metabolize a single molecule of glucose. Phosphates in carbonated drinks and processed meats (so-called "luncheon meats" and hot dogs) bind with magnesium to create the insoluble magnesium phosphate, which is unusable by the body.

Many commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs cause the body to lose magnesium through the urine, such as diuretics for hypertension, birth control pills, insulin, digitalis, tetracycline and some other antibiotics and corticosteroids and bronchodilators for asthma. With the loss of magnesium, all of the symptoms being 'treated' by these drugs over time inevitably become worse. Magnesium is responsible for converting vitamin D to the active form that allows calcium to be absorbed, and also regulates calcium's transport to hard tissues where it belongs. Lactose is another inhibitor of magnesium absorption (and milk is not a good source of the mineral to begin with), along with excess potassium phosphorus and sodium.

Both calcium and magnesium are necessary for the healthy body --  in proper balance to one another. Yet calcium and magnesium must both be present in balanced amounts for either one to function normally in the body. Some researchers suggest that the healthy ratio of calcium to magnesium in the diet should be 2:1. Others say 1:1, but this number is based on our diets prior to the advent of agriculture. In modern industrialized countries the ratio from diet is anywhere from 5:1 to as much as 15:1. The imbalance of these 2 very important minerals produces many dire consequences in the body that are often overlooked by medical practitioners when treating the diseases they could cause. Aside from the intricate electrical dance that calcium and magnesium perform together, Mg is necessary to keep calcium in solution in the body, preventing its inappropriate deposition in soft tissues. As long as we have sufficient hydrochloric acid in our stomachs we can dissolve calcium from the foods we eat. After calcium leaves the acidic environment of the stomach and enters the alkaline arena of the small intestines, it is magnesium that is necessary to keep calcium soluble. Without sufficient magnesium, a whole host of physiological aberrations can occur with serious health consequences.

Information provided by the internet & WestonAPrice.org

Diabetes Information....

We need 90 essential nutrients every day to help prevent & reverse 900 diseases, out of these 90...60 are minerals & plants can not make minerals. Our bodies make vitamins from minerals. So if you don't give it the minerals it needs to make said vitamins, it will take what it needs from other areas of your body which can cause disease.  Fact is if you did a diet with little to no carbs, fruit or anything with sugar & base a diet on veggies & proteins you could possibly get it under control w/ the help of some supplements. So you have to become a huge label reader, almost everything out there contains some form of sugar (which is also a gmo, by the way)?

According to James Anderson, MD, dieticians/nutritionists and the ADA (american diabetes assn.) the diet info is all wrong, (taken from the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine) He recommends diets high in cereal grains, legumes, root veggies & low in simple sugars & fats. It’s called the high complex-carbohydrate, hi-fiber diet.

SUPPLEMENTS:
Chromium picolinate -- there is a chromium deficiency in the U.S. the optimal daily dosage is 200 mcg. It’s an important mineral in blood sugar metabolism. It can also lower body weight while increasing muscle mass. Chromium levels can be depleted by consuming refined sugars & white flour products & lack of exercise.

Vitamin C -- we know it assists in helping the immune system, but the transportation of vit. C into the cells is facilitated by insulin. Many diabetics do not have enough vit. C. recommended daily dosage is 500-1000 mg -- 3x/day.

Biotin -- this mineral functions in the manufacturing and utilization of carbs, fats & amino acids. It’s manufactured in the intestines by gut bacteria. A vegan diet has been shown to alter the intestinal bacterial flora so that it enhances the synthesis & promotes the absorption of biotin. Supplementing w/ biotin has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity.

Vitamin B6 -- appears to offer significant protection against neuropathy. 100 mg/day. Neuropathy from a B6 deficiency is indistinguishable from diabetic neuropathy. It appears to be caused by having too much sorbitol in the system. A particular cell salt called Kali Phos (potassium phosphate) helps nerves recover, relax & gain strength.

Vitamin B12 -- this is your stress vitamin!! It’s also been used with some success in treating diabetic neuropathy. Dosage: 1,000-3,000 mcg/day. There’s 2 types out there, you want methylcobalamin…it’s the real B12, it's also the most uncommon one!

Vitamin E -- d-alpha is the real one….dl-alpha is the fake! 800-1200 IU improves insulin action, but also may prevent long term complications of diabetes.

Magnesium -- It’s involved in several areas of glucose metabolism. Magnesium is used in over 300 processes in the human body. Without B6, Magnesium can not get inside the cell. There’s a world wide deficiency in Magnesium because of all the processed foods & soil depletions. 300-500 mg/day. But stress & anxiety causes the body to use up more & if those aren’t replaced, you get into a vicious cycle.

~*There are fat soluble & water soluble vitamins…fat soluble ones are retained in the fat in our bodies, but the water soluble ones have to be replaced on a daily basis.*~

CoQ10 -- the islet cells in the pancreas make insulin to control blood sugar levels. They use CoQ10 as the fuel they need for energy. Without CoQ10 the islets get tired and can’t make insulin as efficiently and at the same time, it powers them up it also protects them & that’s a good thing! In supplement form, the powder & tablets are useless, your body can’t absorb them. The best form is ubiquinol CoQ10 --  50 mg/day.

Vitamin K -- helps to keep blood sugar under control. It’s found in dark, leafy greens, pumpkins seeds & traditional Japanese foods like natto. And 2 foods that it’s abundant in are 2 foods people are told not to eat anymore and that’s eggs & beef. It’s a fat soluble vitamin, so try to get between 45-90 mcg a day, try to get it with your steak, the healthy fats improve absorption.

Zinc -- this mineral is involved in virtually all aspects of insulin metabolism and has a protective effect against beta cell destruction. Diabetics typically excrete excessive amounts of zinc in their urine, so they would require supplementation. It also helps with the wound healing process. 30 mg/day, but I think you can only find them in 50 mg, that’s ok too! It’s found in whole grains, legumes, nuts & seeds.

FOODS:
Onions/garlic….as much as you want!!! I love both & eat them daily! They both help to lower glucose levels along with providing the body with so many other benefits.

Cucumber juice -- contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is beneficial as well.

HERBS:
There are quite a few herbs that can help: bitter melon (balsam pear), fenugreek, bilberry (which is about the only herb that helps to support eye health), gingko biloba, chicory & ginseng. Foods: prickly pear cactus, cinnamon, turmeric. And plenty of exercise!!! But my favorite herb in my opinion that helps most is Gymnema Sylvestre -- it’s known as the sugar destroyer!! When this is applied to the tongue, it blocks the sensation of sweetness. It’s actually thought that it increases production of beta cells. It’s been known to decrease glucose levels, decrease sugar cravings, and blocks 50% of the absorption of sugar! It supports the blood, spleen, pancreas and the endocrine system which the pancreas belongs too. 400 mg/day, but I know of people that take 550-600 mg twice day.

Anxiety & Magnesium

Anxiety can affect our lives dramatically. In a time when our society is more stressed than perhaps ever before, feelings of anxiety have become an everyday occurrence in many people's lives. Anxiety disorders are also becoming evermore prevalent. Because of this, natural anxiety remedies are more relevant than ever. Magnesium (Mg), a vital mineral nutrient is perhaps one of the most important natural anxiety remedies because of its effectiveness, record of safe use, availability and value.

Anxiety impairs concentration and causes sleeplessness, it increases the risk for illness, chronic back problems and even fatal accidents. Truly, anxiety can damage your mentally, physically & emotionally.

Although there are numerous anxiety medications in the market today, these medications can only relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety and are not a long-term solution. Anxiety medications come with a long list of side effects and safety concerns, not the least of which is the risk of drug dependence.

Side effects of anti-anxiety medications include low libido, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, trouble concentrating and many more. We should not have to live with these terrible side effects, nor should we be subjected to being overwhelmed by anxious feelings. Fortunately, magnesium offers a safe & effective solution for anxiety, without side effects.

Magnesium contributes to over 375 processes throughout the human body and is used by our bodies to make over 300 different enzymes!

Mental and physical stress, with its related continuous flow of adrenaline, uses up magnesium rapidly, as adrenaline affects heart rate, blood pressure, vascular constriction and muscle contractions, actions that all demand steady supplies of magnesium for smooth function. The nervous system depends upon sufficient magnesium for its calming effects, including restful sleep. Hibernating animals, by the way, maintain very high levels of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency will accelerate a vicious cycle and amplify the effects of chronic stress, leading to more anxiety, irritability, fatigue & insomnia--many of the symptoms of adrenal exhaustion--as well as to hypertension and heart pains--symptoms of heart disease. Staying in the anxious state also causes the body to use up greater quantities of magnesium.

A magnesium deficiency can cause or worsen symptoms of anxiety. Magnesium naturally calms the nervous system and the muscles (leg cramps at night/restless leg syndrome?); whereas, a deficiency can result in a tense body and an anxious mind.

Eating foods that are rich in magnesium is an important step in correcting a deficiency naturally. Magnesium can be found most abundantly in coconut water, kelp, cashews, buckwheat, molasses, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, rice bran, nettles, spinach, coffee, purslane, swiss chard, almonds, avocado, bananas, almonds, peanut butter, raisins, oatmeal, halibut, cooked black-eyed peas, baked potato with skin, natural plain yogurt, cooked lentils, sea vegetables, chickweed, bone broths, whole grains -- as refined grains remove 80-97% of magnesium. Oh my goodness, look at all the magnesium rich foods out there!!!

Those with anxiety will often benefit from magnesium supplementation. The optimum daily amount should be between 500-700 mg and depending on if you need more, work your way up. Too much magnesium can cause loose stools & may signify your body isn't absorbing it properly. Try smaller doses throughout the day. Most people find that 400-800 mg taken in divided doses helps to ease their anxiety symptoms considerably.

Magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate & magnesium chloride are among the most absorbable forms. Magnesium oil & epsom salts can also be used externally to boost magnesium levels.

Information provided by the internet, NaturalNews.com & WestonAPrice.org

Honey...A Superfood!

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is one of the most popular quotes of Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”. This is the same man who coined the phrase “First do no harm”, the Hippocratic Oath that all doctors take.

Honey has been used for eons both as a food and as a medicine in oriental as well as Ayurvedic cultures. According to one report archeologists found 2,000 year old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs and they still tasted delicious. Kept in an airtight container in a dry, cool place, honey never expires.

In our country we often see honey as nothing more than a handy sweetener but, in all reality, raw honey is antibiotic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and therefore has amazing healing properties. It can be taken internally or applied externally. Honey contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6, phytonutrients and 5,000 live enzymes. Summer and warm weather harvested honey can contain 10 forms of friendly bacteria. Oddly enough, honey harvested from hives fed sucrose during the winter months does not contain these healthy bacteria which are integral to its healing qualities.

82% of households currently use honey that is processed, heated and pasteurized rendering its health benefits void. That’s bad enough but even worse is that most grocery store brands contain high fructose corn syrup, may contain botulism and some brands contain minimal to no honey at all. These are dangerous for diabetics. These products not only do not help but actually can cause more harm to your health. Avoid them.

Instead, be sure to read the label and look for the following words: “raw, unprocessed, unfiltered, unpasteurized, unheated, organic 100% pure” honey. Honeys are Graded A for the best and D for the worst. Most raw honeys are Grade A and these are the honeys that have powerful healing capabilities.

Australia has approved Manuka honey as a medicine. “Manuka Honey is the only kind that retains its bacteria-fighting power when ingested,” says Peter Molan, Ph.D., Director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. But its 80% sugar content means those with diabetes or insulin sensitivity should talk to their healthcare provider before taking.

Even though Manuka is the newest of the wonder honeys, many others tested do seem to be very helpful as well.
Internally honey can:

1) boost the immune system [1 spoon of honey and 1 TBSP of lemon juice in warm water before breakfast]
2) help with weight loss [ when taken prior to bed, speed up fat-burning metabolism],
3) help reduce the following risks of heart disease; cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and homocysteine
4) increase HDL (the good cholesterol) and improve function in the lining of blood vessels
5) contain cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties
6) be a very effective cough suppressant for children ages 2 to 18 (especially since the FDA recommends no over the counter cough or cold remedies for children under age 6) [use buckwheat or Manuka honey] (never give honey to infants under 1 year old)
7) promote better blood sugar control and insulin control compared to other sweeteners (proper fueling of the liver at night helps optimize glucose metabolism during sleep)
8) help improve athletic performance [1 spoon of honey before exercise] and maintain blood sugar for 2 hours after a workout
9) inhibit e coli and Candida albicans (fungal infections)
10) increase bodily strength
11) eliminate muscle fatigue
12) be effective against morning sickness
13) be effective against sore throats [take 1 tsp of honey OR gargle with a mix of 2 TBSP of honey, 4 TBSP of lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt]
14) heal allergies
15) help with bronchitis
16) kill ulcer causing bacteria (Manuka honey in particular) [ 1 heaping spoonful on an empty stomach while symptoms persist]
17) prevent ulcers if taking NSAIDS like ibuprofen (Manuka) [1 spoonful 30 minutes before taking the medication]
18) improve sleep quality and minimize insomnia [1 TBSP of lavender honey before bed or 1 tsp of honey in 1 cup of chamomile tea]
19) relieve a hangover [ 15 ml liquid honey, 80ml orange juice, 70 ml of natural yogurt]
20) aid stomach digestion
21) fuel the liver [take before bed]
22) ease stress hormones [take before bed]
　

‎1) clean wounds, inhibit bacterial growth, promote healing and prevent scarring
2) deeply condition dry hair [apply from root to tip to hair after shampooing and rinse thoroughly]
3) moisturize skin [apply 1 tsp honey with lukewarm water on your face daily]
4) exfoliate, clarify and unclog pores
5) heal burns significantly better and more effectively with far fewer infections than silver sulfadiazine
6) help to heal diabetic ulcers (“Applied every 2 to 3 days under a dry dressing, honey promotes healing of ulcers and burns better than any other local application.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Robert Bloomfield.)
7) help improve eczema
8) help decrease acne
9) relieve arthritis pain and inflammation
10) reverse cataracts [ ancient Egyptian cultures put a few drops of raw honey in the eyes]; (it may sting at first)]
11) remove warts [ apply honey and cover with bandage daily…should take 1 ½ to 2 weeks]
By combining Hippocrates two favorite food cures, apple cider vinegar with honey, other maladies can be improved:

1. premature aging
2 food poisoning
3. heat exhaustion
5. heartburn
6. brittle nails
7. bad breath
8. high blood pressure
9. constipation
10. migraines

Try this healthy and refreshing vinegar and honey drink!
Essentially, to prepare:
* Mix a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of raw honey. (Start out with 1 tsp of each) or see the sipping drink below on this page.) Dissolve in cold or lukewarm water.

Yet another powerful combination is honey and cinnamon. This duo can have a positive impact on:
1) bladder infections [mix honey and cinnamon in lukewarm water and drink]
2) toothache [mix cinnamon powder and honey and apply to aching tooth]
3) hair loss [mix a paste of hot olive oil, 1 TBSP of honey, 1 tsp of cinnamon and apply before bath, leave in 15 minutes and then wash]
4) arthritis [mix 1 part honey, 2 parts lukewarm water and some cinnamon powder; apply the paste to sore joints = pain relief in 15 minutes]
5) cholesterol [honey and cinnamon powder in 16 oz of tea reduces cholesterol in 2 hours]
6) common cold [mix 1 TBSP lukewarm honey with ¼ tsp cinnamon powder; take daily for 3 days]
7) stomach ache
8) reduce the accumulation of fats
9) help people recover from strokes

A sipping drink containing all 3 of the above listed power foods: put 2-3 tsp of ACV in 16 oz of filtered water, add raw unfiltered honey and 2 cinnamon sticks for flavor and to use as a stirring utensil. Mix in a glass container and sip throughout the day, stirring each time before drinking. In the cold winter months you may heat the water first and then add the ACV (but do not heat/cook the ACV or the honey because it will destroy the vitamins, minerals and enzymes)
Information here was provided by Kathy Sullivan, CNC.