7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Honey

1. In general, the darker the honey the higher the antioxidant content. The exceptions to this rule are light clover honey (high in antioxidants) and dark mesquite honey (low in antioxidants).

2. Bees work really really hard to make it. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "bees travel an average of 55,000 miles and need to tap over two million flowers just to bring you one pound of honey."

3. Honey should not be fed to babies. Do not feed honey to children under the age of one year because infants lack the ability to kill botulism spores that lie within.

4. Honey may have powerful wound-healing properties. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "A special preparation of honey called Medihoney, known for its high antibacterial properties, was used in treating wound care in Children's Hospital in Bonn, Germany, for three years. Researchers observed significant reductions in even the most resistant wound infections as a result of using the honey preparation."

5. Pasteurized and processed honey has fewer nutrients. Many of the health-promoting nutrients and enzymes are destroyed by high-heat processing. Seek out raw, unfiltered honey to get the most health benefits.

6. Consuming local honey is thought to help to relieve allergies. The idea is that you will gradually build up a resistance to pollen.

7. Honey masks may help treat acne. Honey is a natural antiseptic and may help to reduce breakouts caused by bacteria. Check out this Anti Acne Honey Cinnamon Mask Tutorial or The Best Natural Face Scrub For Winter! 

We hope you enjoyed learning about honey! Don't forget to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/eatgroovy/) and subscribe via email here!

Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Holick about Vitamin D

Eat Groovy Q & A: Why Is Garlic Good For Your Heart?

Question: Why Is Garlic Good For Your Heart?

Answer: Studies suggest that garlic can help to lower cholesterol and thin the blood. According to The Best Things You Can Eat: For Everything from Aches to Zzzz, the Definitive Guide to the Nutrition-Packed Foods that Energize, Heal, and Help You Look Great by David Grotto, "Garlic lowers LDL by 

dampening the activity of the main cholesterol-producing enzyme in the liver. Eating as little as a clove a day has been shown to rev up the body's ability to dissolve blood clots, which can precipitate a heart attack by sealing off plaque-filled arteries."

Garlic Recipes To Try:
How to Make Garlic Roasted Cauliflower - Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe!
Broccoli Gratin Recipe
How To Make Delicious Grilled Veggie Kabobs

More Eat Groovy Q&A:
Eat Groovy Q & A: Are Steel-Cut Oats Healthier For You Than Rolled Oats?
Eat Groovy Q & A: Can Spicy Mustard Boost Your Metabolism?
Eat Groovy Q&A: Does Frozen Yogurt Contain Live Cultures?

Don't forget to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) !

5 Potential Health Benefits of Ginger

1. Ginger may help to relieve joint pain. According to The Top 100 Foods for a Younger You: 100 Remedies to Turn Back the Clock by Sarah Merson, "Because ginger is such an effective anti-inflammatory, it is among the most respected herbs for the treatment of joint problems such as arthritis." 

2. Ginger may help to relieve nausea. Ginger has been recommended as an especially great natural remedy for those experiencing motion sickness or morning sickness during pregnancy. In one study of women in the early stages of pregnancy, over half reported a reduction in pregnancy related nausea and vomiting after taking a ginger capsule. Ginger is an extremely safe remedy for pregnant women compared to many antivomiting drugs which can cause severe birth defects. 

3. Ginger may help to treat ovarian cancer. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Ginger induced apoptis (programmed cell death) and autophagy (cells digesting themselves) in ovarian cancer cells. Ginger was also effective at controlling inflammation, thus stopping the cancer cells from growing." Other studies suggest that ginger may help to treat other types of cancer as well. The cancer fighting properties of ginger are likely due to its powerful antioxidant properties. 

4. Ginger can help to improve the absorption of essential nutrients. Ginger has been long recommended for its ability to help promote healthy digestion. Ginger contains unique enzymes which may help to soothe the stomach lining and break down proteins. Ginger can also help to relieve bloating and stomach cramps. 

5. Ginger may improve circulation. Many people eat more ginger during the winter and holiday season and there may be a good reason to! The circulation stimulating properties of ginger can help to warm you up. The blood thinning qualities of ginger may also help to lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of blood clots.

We hope you found this information helpful! For lots of great healthy eating tips be sure to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and subscribe to our blog via email here.

You may also be interested in:

Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie Recipe!

Why Ginger Is So Good For You?

4 Foods That May Help Relieve Nausea

5 Delicious Ways To Eat Pumpkin Seeds!

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Licorice!

1. When many people think of licorice, they think of certain candies, but the true licorice content in most candy is actually very low. In fact, some do not contain real licorice root at all! Twizzlers aside, real licorice root is a popular herb with some great health benefits.

2. Licorice may help treat certain cancers. According to http://www.ilovelicorice.com/, "Current research conducted at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, supports the use of licorice in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer."

3. In the United States, anise seed is commonly used as a substitute for licorice flavoring, but it is not related to the true licorice plant.

4. Although licorice root can have many health benefits, you should not eat real licorice on a regular basis if you have high blood pressure. The glycyrrhizin content can raise blood pressure.

5. Licorice is the second most prescribed herb in China, with the first being Ginseng.

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Eat Groovy Q & A: Are Steel-Cut Oats Healthier For You Than Rolled Oats?

Question: Are Steel-Cut Oats Healthier For You Than Rolled Oats?

Answer: Not really. The nutritional difference between steel-cut oats and rolled oats is not significant. The protein, carbohydrate, calorie, fiber, fat, calcium, and iron contents are basically the same. Although rolled oats are processed a bit more and flattened this process does not destroy nutrients. Both kinds are very good for you! (See A Few Reasons Oatmeal Is So Good For You! to learn more.)

The kind of oats that you do want to avoid, however, are the instant packet varieties which may contain a lot of added sugar, salt, flavorings, and preservatives.

If you're looking for a new way to eat oatmeal you may be interested in trying this Baked Banana Oatmeal Recipe! It looks delicious, right?

We hope you found this information helpful. Be sure to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EatGroovy) for lots of great healthy eating tips:) Thanks!

This Is 200 Calories

Watch this helpful video by ASAPScience to see what 200 calories looks like for different foods. You might be surprised!

Five Foods That May Help You Sleep Better

1. Salmon

Salmon is high in vitamin B6 which is needed to make the sleep inducing hormone melatonin. Other foods high in B6 include tuna, chickpeas, and bananas.

2. Walnuts

According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Walnuts contain the powerful
antioxidant melatonin, which promotes restful sleep. University of Texas researcher Russel Reiter found that adding walnuts to the diet increased blood levels of melatonin three-fold!"

3. Chamomile Tea

Steeping a cup of chamomile tea before bed may be just what you need in order to fall asleep quickly. Researchers have found that the tea may cause an increase of the chemical glycine, which relaxes the body and acts as a natural sedative.

4. Kale

Kale is rich in calcium which helps the brain use tryptophane to manufacture melatonin. Research has suggested that being calcium deficient can cause sleep problems.

5. Cherries

According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Tart Montmorency cherries are rich in the antioxidant melatonin, which may help in promoting sleep." In one study, drinking tart cherry juice twice a day appeared to provide some relief to chronic insomnia patients.