Prirodno Liječenje: 2016

Here Is What Happens If You Eat Honey and Cinnamon Every Day

People have been using honey and cinnamon for centuries, and these products are popular in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Honey never expires, and cinnamon was so valuable a thousand years ago that only an emperor could get it as a gift. Now everyone has access to them, and their benefits are scientifically proven. The mixture of honey and cinnamon is super tasty and effective.

Bright Side collected some evidence of the strength of this combination and would like to share it with you. Be healthy!

Prevent aging

Free radicals (oxidants) aggressively oxidize tissues and destroy body cells. This may lead to premature aging and diseases. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, thus slowing the aging process.

Honey contains phenols, enzymes, flavonoids, and organic acids, all powerful antioxidants. Studies have shown that darker honey, such as buckwheat honey, is a rich source of these compounds. sciencedirect, NCBI, pubs
Cinnamon contains polyphenols which are also strong antioxidants. Cinnamon outperforms 26 other spices and herbs in the number of antioxidants, including garlic and oregano. naldc, NCBI

Improve heart function

Honey and cinnamon help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases that are reported to be the most common cause of death worldwide.

Honey increases the blood flow to the heart, thus dilating artery walls. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent the blood clots that often lead to heart attacks and strokes. NCBI
Cinnamon was found to reduce “bad“ cholesterol (it forms atherosclerotic plaques on arterial walls) and increase the level of ”good" cholesterol in our bodies. NCBI

Add several spoonfuls of cinnamon to a jar of honey, and mix thoroughly. Eat it regularly for breakfast with a piece of bread or a cookie.

Fight bacterial infections

Both honey and cinnamon have an antibacterial effect, so you can use this combination not only when you have a cold but also with infectious diseases, such as infections of the kidneys or bladder.

Honey is a natural antibiotic. It has long been used for disinfecting wounds. It contains protein defensin-1 and the enzyme glucose oxidase that destroy bacteria. globalresearchonline, SciShow
Cinnamon has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal actions. It contains cinnamic aldehyde that gives the product its famous scent and useful qualities. authoritynutrition, NCBI

Aid weight loss

Honey and cinnamon aren’t weight loss products. However, they can help you reduce weight faster if your goal is to have a slim body and you already do some exercises and eat right.

Replace sugar and sweets with honey. Moderate consumption of honey will reduce the number of calories in your diet. Moreover, refined sugar causes high blood glucose levels, and then sudden blood sugar drops. These changes in glucose levels may lead to emotional instability, as well as to overproduction of insulin. Honey is slowly absorbed into the body’s bloodstream, preventing blood sugar spikes. authoritynutrition
Cinnamon reduces blood sugar levels and increases the sensitivity to insulin that is responsible for the metabolism. Therefore, it helps to speed up metabolism and convert glucose into energy, not into fat. authoritynutrition, well-beingsecrets

Drink a glass of water with 1 teaspoon of honey and ½ tablespoon of cinnamon 30 minutes before breakfast or 30 minutes before bedtime. healthonlinecentral

Lower blood sugar levels

High blood sugar can cause many diseases, and diabetes is among them.

It’s proven that honey may reduce blood glucose levels. Only 17% of honey is water, the rest being mainly fructose and glucose. They are easily absorbed by the body and don’t cause blood sugar spikes. Therefore, diabetics can eat honey. NCBI
Cinnamon also helps reduce blood sugar levels. This is shown by studies of both healthy volunteers and diabetics. Of course, it is not a medication, but cinnamon is an effective food supplement. NCBI, findmeacure

When choosing honey, be aware that it is often diluted with sugar, chalk, flour, and starch. Make sure you buy honey from a trusted seller, and always test its purity. It’s better to use unfiltered and unpasteurized raw honey. wikihow

Buy cinnamon sticks instead of ground cinnamon, so it’ll be easier to distinguish Ceylon cinnamon from cassia that is usually sold under the same name but has fewer benefits. peashealth

Honey is not recommended for babies under two years old because of the risk of infant botulism. SciShow

7 Habits We Were Wrong to Think Were Useful

All of us have a particular set of habits that we think are important for maintaining our health and figure. And while some of them, such as washing fruit before you eat it or getting regular exercise, undoubtedly are important, others have question marks hanging over them.

Bright Side put together a list of seven habits that you can give up without any consequences — because they’re actually useless.

Taking multivitamin tablets

Consuming multivitamins and all kinds of bio-additives doesn’t reduce the risk of developing certain diseases and has no effect on your memory or ability to work. A group of scientists in the US reached this conclusion after carrying out a series of clinical tests involving the participation of more than 450,000 people. The results of other pieces of research indicate that taking multivitamins might actually have a negative effect on your health.

Sources: Annals of Internal Medicine, NY Times.

Using anti-bacterial hand gel that contains no alcohol

Anti-bacterial hand gels really do help get rid of many different kinds of bacteria and other germs. However, this applies only in the case of those gels that are no less than 60% alcohol. Other hand sanitizers don’t remove all kinds of microorganisms. They have no effect, for instance, on the Norovirus or cryptosporidia. Moreover, any contact you have with pesticides or pollution will not be alleviated by the use of cleaning fluids containing alcohol. In this case, you just need to wash your hands.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Avoiding monosodium glutamate

Research shows that the unpleasant symptoms that monosodium glutamate is believed to cause in human beings, such as nausea and headaches, only occur when you eat something with no less than 3 g of this substance in its purest form. You’re quite unlikely to encounter this. At the same time, the food products to which glutamate is added aren’t very good for you even without it.

Source: Food and Drug Administration.

Cleansing your body with a detox diet

Detox diets, which are currently gaining popularity at a rapid pace, promise to rid your body of toxins. But specialists unanimously point out that the body can deal with them on its own. If your liver and kidneys aren’t performing properly, that’s a reason to visit the doctor and not to simply drink more smoothies or cocktails.

Source: The Guardian.

Consuming organic products

In many countries, there is no legal requirement to mark organic food products with any kind of certification. This is why if you see the words “eco“ or ”bio," it’s more often than not going to just be a marketing ploy rather than a guarantee that the food has been produced without the use of chemicals. So the fact is it won’t be any better for you than the ordinary fruit or vegetables you buy at the market.

Source: mercola.com.

Refusing to use microwaves

Using microwaves to heat up your food really can destroy the useful substances it contains, but the same thing can happen when you reheat food using your oven or stove. And in some cases, the fact that it works faster can make a microwave the preferred option. For example, reheating in a microwave can better preserve substances like vitamin C.

Source: Harvard Health Publications.

Consuming only low-fat products

As with carbohydrate and protein, our bodies require fat, and so swapping ordinary food products for their low-fat equivalent is not the best way to cut out calories. Moreover, in many products the reduction of fat is compensated for by a higher sugar content which can be harmful to your health.

11 Examples of Celebrity Friendships That Have Stood the Test of Time

It’s often believed that long-lasting relationships and friendships are almost impossible in Hollywood. Actors and singers have one thing in common: they’re all creative personalities, and there is always an endless struggle for popularity.
However, we at Bright Side have found 11 celebrity friendships that have stood the test of time and are characterized by true devotion and sincerity.

Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling

These two handsome Hollywood guys have known each other for over 20 years. The actors met on the popular TV show The Mickey Mouse Club during the early 1990s. Gosling even used to live with Timberlake and his family because of some citizenship issues.

Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson

Kate and Liv have known each other since childhood thanks to their celebrity parents. They became super close after starring together in the movie Dr. T and the Women in 2000. Liv Tyler even became the godmother of Kate’s first child.

Cara Delevingne and Rihanna

Pop diva Rihanna and supermodel Cara Delevingne became celebrity besties only a few years ago. The girls love to spend time together at parties, social events, and fashion shows. Due to her age and experience, Rihanna is kind of a career mentor for Cara and always supports her in the most crucial moments.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire

Tobey and Leo met 25 years ago when they used to go to auditions together. "After I met Tobey at an audition, I felt like I wanted this guy to be my friend. I jumped out of my car in the middle of the scene, as they were shooting practically. I was like, ’Tobey! Tobey! Tobey! Give me your number.’ He was like, ’Yeah, who are you again?’ " said Leo, recalling his first meeting with Tobey.

Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller

These two talented Hollywood stars met on the set of the film The Edge of Love and since then their friendship has gone beyond the boundaries of the professional arena. The actresses can spend hours together shopping or sitting in a café. Sienna recently revealed that Keira is her beauty icon and described her as "the most beautiful woman."

Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr.

As frequently happens, these actors met during the shooting of the film Air America in 1990 and quickly went from being onscreen pals to real-life buddies. Downey supported Mel Gibson in his scandalous divorce proceedings, and Gibson helped Robert recover from drug and alcohol addiction.

Kim Kardashian and Nicole Richie

Kim and Nicole were among the brightest of Hollywood’s "golden youth." Nicole is the daughter of legendary singer Lionel Richie, and Kim is a reality TV star. They became friends when they were 12 years old, and since then they have been best friends, despite periodic reports in social media about their arguments and quarrels.

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato met on the show Barney & Friends when they were only 7. Though not everything went smoothly in the friendship of the two young ladies — they fell apart for a while because of some personal issues — they succeeded in overcoming all the difficulties and now their friendship is stronger than ever.

Robert Pattinson and Tom Sturridge

Tom and Rob have been good friends since school (they got acquainted when they were 12 years old). Neither fame nor the rumors about a love triangle with Kristen Stewart could ruin the guys’ friendship. Paparazzi often shoot the celebrities walking together in the park or sitting in a bar.

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds

Though fans of these two actors really hoped that after starring in the film The Proposal (2009) Sandra and Ryan would tie the knot in real life, the celebrities announced that they were "just good friends." Sandra is often present at Ryan’s movie premieres to support her dear friend.

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox

We can safely say that the friendship of Jen and Courtney is one of the strongest and most sincere friendships in Hollywood. The ladies met on the set of the popular show Friends in 1994 and became real-life besties. Though the actresses have gone through many difficulties (Cox’s divorce from David Arquette and Aniston’s divorce from Brad Pitt), they never cease to support and encourage each other in everything. In one of her interviews, Aniston revealed, "I’ve slept in her guest bedroom a lot. All I can say is she’s been there for me through thick and thin."

Our Christmas Trees Will Tell What’s Waiting for You in 2017

The New Year is on the brink, and we at Bright Side decided to share with you our most sincere wishes. Our magical Christmas trees will give you a prediction for next year. Simply choose the one you like.

15 Magnificent Dogs Who Have No Idea How Enormous They Are

Whatever kind of dog a person owns, it needs only one thing — the love and affection from its owner. And even if your pet is the size of well-fed pony, hugs, regular belly-scratching sessions, and all the other things he loves are still part of your daily duties.

Here are 15 of the largest dogs that we’ve ever seen — yet they’re all still as utterly adorable as their smaller cousins. We can’t stop ourselves from smiling when we look at these giants — it seems they just don’t realise how enormous they are!