Seasonal Anti-Inflammatory Food - Eggplant.
Part of the nightshade family of vegetables, eggplant (called aubergine in France, which may be why we use that term to indicate a deep purple color) is a low calorie source of nutrients: it provides fiber, potassium, manganese and vitamins B1, B6 and folate. It's also a good source of phytonutrients and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and help neutralize free radicals, which in turn lessens oxidative damage to cell membranes.

Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging.

Butter Facts

Healthy Diet:
Butter: Some Definitions

Butter is made by churning pasteurized cream. Federal law requires that it contain at least 80 percent milkfat. Salt and coloring may be added. Nutritionally, butter is a fat; one tablespoon contains 12 grams total fat, 7 grams saturated fatty acids, 31 milligrams cholesterol, and 100 calories.

Whipped butter is regular butter whipped for easier spreading. Whipping increases the amount of air in butter and increases the volume of butter per pound.

The USDA grade shield on butter packages means that butter has been tested and graded by experienced government graders. In addition to checking the quality of the butter, the graders also test its keeping ability.

* U.S. Grade AA Butter has a delicate sweet flavor, with a fine, highly pleasing aroma, is made from fresh sweet cream, and has a smooth, creamy texture with good spreadability.

* U.S. Grade A Butter has a pleasing flavor, is made from fresh cream and is fairly smooth in texture.

Tips on Butter:

* Unsalted butter may be labeled "sweet" or "unsalted" butter. Some people prefer its flavor.

* When using whipped butter in place of regular butter in recipes, use 1/3 to 1/2 more than the recipe calls for if the measurement is by volume (1 cup, 1/2 cup, etc.). If the measurement is by weight (1/4 pound, 1/2 pound, etc.), use the amount called for.

* Store butter in its original wrapper or container so it won't pick up flavors from other foods.

* Butter thinly spread in sandwiches adds moisture and flavor, and keeps the filling from soaking the bread.

Note: The milkfat content of butter is set by a Federal law. The FDA has established a regulation that allows a product to deviate from the standard composition in order to qualify for a nutrient content claim. Products such as reduced fat butter fall into this category.

Source: USDA

Healing Benefits of Honey

Healing Benefits of Honey

Honey for Burns

Apply freely over burns. It cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring. Apart from being a salve and antibiotic, bacteria cannot live in honey.

Bed Wetting

A teaspoon of honey before bed, aids water retention and calms fears in children.

Sleeplessness

A dessert spoon of honey in a mug of hot milk aids sleep and works wonders!

Hyperactivity

Honey is a mild sedative with minerals, vitamins, amino acids etc. Replace all white sugar with honey. White sugar is highly stimulating with no food qualities!

Nasal Congestion

Place a dessertspoon of honey in a basin of hot water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very effective.

Wounds or Grazes

Cover wound with honey and a bandage. Excellent healer.

For Fatigue

Dissolve a dessertspoon of honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a jug and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and glucose and so it is quickly absorbed by the digestive system. (Honey is a unique natural stabilizer - ancient Greek athletes took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver after competition.)

Facial Deep Cleanser

Mix honey with oatmeal approx. 50/50 till thick and apply as a face-pack. Leave on for half an hour then wash off. Great as a deep cleanser for acne etc.

Poor Digestion

Mix honey with apple cider vinegar approx. 50/50 and dilute to taste with water - aids digestion. (Also reputed to be wonderful for the joints.

Hair Conditioner

Mix honey with equal quantity of Olive Oil and cover head with a warm towel for half and hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp. Hair will never look or feel better!

Sore Throats

Let a teaspoon of honey melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat. Eases inflamed raw tissues.

For Stress

Honey in water is a stabilizer - calms highs and raises lows. Use approx. 25 percent honey to water.

Anaemia

Honey is the best blood enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey the more minerals it contains.

Food Preservative

Cakes with honey replacing sugar stay fresher longer due to natural antibiotics. Reduce liquids by approx. one-fifth to allow for moisture in honey.

Heart patients

These people are well advised to replace white sugar (sucrose) with honey, natural fructose and glucose.

Hayfever

Chewing the tops of comb honey stimulates the immune system due to minute amounts of pollen. During the season chew for 20 minutes a teaspoon of bee cappings (tops) five to six times per day. Highly effective and useful for asthma suffers as well.

Osteoporosis

English research has shown that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilisation and prevents osteoporosis. Essential from age 50 onwards.

Long Life

One common fact worldwide is that the most long-lived people are regular users of honey. An interesting fact yet to be explained is that beekeepers suffer less from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group worldwide.

Migraine

Use a dessertspoon of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Sip at start of attack. If necessary repeat in 20 minutes. Always effective (so tip goes) as migraine is stress related.

Conjunctivitis (pus in the eye)

Honey dissolved in equal quantity of warm water. Apply when cooled as lotion or eye bath.

COUGH MIXTURE
6 ozs liquid honey
2 ozs glycerine
Juice of 2 lemons
Mix well. Bottle and cork firmly. Use as required

Keep honey in first aid cupboard for emergency bums etc and another in the kitchen cupboard.

Source: http://home.mchsi.com/~prayerwarriorsunited/hints.htm

Those interested in a more scientific explanation can refer to Kaye M. Russell's
1983 MSc thesis, Waikato University,
"Antibiotic qualities of NZ honeys" -
a NZ explanation of knowledge long-buried
and available through the public library on request.