What a Difference a Day (and a little honey) Makes

After yesterday's slow and painful slog on the roads, I probably needed my scheduled cross training day today. But with a snow storm predicted for tomorrow and a busy work day planned, I decided I'd better save the cross training day for tomorrow.

Yesterday's run was the longest distance I have done on pavement in ages, but I felt bad right from the first mile so that can't be the whole reason for my terrible run. I think the real reason has to do with not taking care of myself during the preceding days. I was coming off 5 twelve-hour shifts in a row and had been sitting in the car driving for hours and hours each day. I hadn't eaten at regular times or made healthy choices when I did eat. I avoided drinking much water because I didn't have time for bathroom stops. I drank too much coffee coming home in the evenings. You can see how a job that has a person traveling all day can be bad for one's health! Thank God I'm not a truck driver.

I noticed yesterday evening that my legs were swollen and my weight was up a few pounds. I had trouble getting my jeans off over my calves, although I had no problem putting them on! Every muscle in my body hurt, including my chest, arms, legs, back and neck. This is definitely not a normal reaction to a 19 mile run.

So I re-hydrated well, ate a balanced and healthy dinner and breakfast, and avoided salt. I also took a teaspoon of raw honey. Kevin's chiropractor recommended it for him so I (a supplement skeptic) did some research on it. I found that many people from different cultures and different nations believe in it's health benefits. So it isn't just the Americans-gone-crazy-spending-money-on-diet-and-supplement-products-thing. It's inexpensive and sold in it's pure form right at the supermarket. (And yes, the supplement companies are trying to cash in and sell it in pill form. How can that be pure and unfiltered? Or even called honey?) Anyway, even if it doesn't do anything for me I really like the taste of it. By this afternoon my weight was back to normal and my jeans fit over my calves. My run felt awesome! I ran six miles on hard packed and icy snow mobile trails in my screw shoes at sub ten minute miles.

Here's the spiel on raw unfiltered honey. Take it with a grain of salt... (figuratively, not literally!) And never give it to infants, no matter what the honey enthusiasts tell you.

HONEY PROCESSING Most honey sold today has been commercially processed, resulting in enzymes (which help digestion) and vitamins, being destroyed and protein (pollen) being removed. This processing involves heating and filtering through a cloth or fine filter paper.

WHAT CAN RAW HONEY DO FOR YOU?

Raw Honey was and still is credited with marvelous curative powers. A whole book could be written on all the medicinal uses of honey, from thousands of years of folk medicine to the scientific of the present time.

As honey is a pre-digested food (a process done by the bees) it enters the blood stream directly producing energy quickly, unlike refined sugar which has to be digested.*

Proline, an amino acid in Raw honey is the primary component in collagen. Collagen is the main structure in bones. Calcium is also found in two forms in Raw Honey.*

Increases Haemoglobin count and can help with Anaemia. It is rich in iron and copper.*

Is an excellent mild laxative*

It has been shown to be useful in Rheumatic and Arthritic conditions, especially in combination with Apple Cider Vinegar (Dr D.C. Jarvis).*

It has been used successful in the treatment of liver and kidney disorders, diseases of the respiratory and digestive tracts, weak heart action, infectious diseases, colds, insomnia, poor circulation, and bad complexion.*

It is not mere theory, but has been proved that bacteria cannot live in the presence of raw honey, for the reason that raw honey is an excellent source of potassium. The potassium draws from the bacteria the moisture which is essential to the very existence. A bacteriologist who did not believe this, after a series of tests discovered to his amazement that the disease germs he tested (typhoid, Bronco-pneumonia and Dysentery producing germs) were all killed off in the presence of raw honey.*

In this book “Folk Medicine”, Dr Jarvis an ear, nose and throat specialist reveals some startling facts about raw honey and honeycomb. He says the honeycomb is excellent for the treating of stuffy nose, nasal sinusitis and hay-fever. He always says that raw honey can produce healing for skin burns and is essential in the diet of children because it provides the composite of minerals needed for the growing body ( iron, copper, manganese, silica, chlorine, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, aluminium, magnesium, zinc, lead and sulphur ).*

Probably the most beneficial effect of pollen (contained in raw unfiltered honey) is that, taken internally it quickly produces the same anti-putrefactive effect as lactic foods and thus contributes to a healthy digestive system and good assimilation of nutrients—absolute prerequisites for good health and long life.Eating pollen rich raw honey causes rapid combustion, consuming fats which speed up the burning of fat, and continues through the bloodstream at a trickle stimulating the heart without harmful side effects.