Honey The Skin Healing Benefits

Question:  can you use honey  to heal  a cut.  
Answer:  Given that  sugars like honey  should not be part of a diet for diabetics, the idea  of honey  wound treatment is bizarre, but here’s the shocker– its actually a good treatment option.  Honey is  a centuries old remedy for a wide  variety of skin problems. It  contains an astonishing number of beneficial ingredients including carbohydrates, different forms of vitamin B, minerals( eg calcium, zinc, and potassium) antioxidants, lactic acid , and powerful flavinoids.  These  components  give  honey powerful  antibacterial, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory  powers.
Some studies have shown that honey can heal burns, ulcers and wounds while other research  has indicated that it  stimulates the production of fibroblasts. These are the fibers that  go on to  become collagen and elastin. Seriously.

Not All Honey is Alike

Some honeys have more  healing properties than others. Darker honeys  like buckwhat    have higher levels of antioxidants.  From a health stand point, Manuka honey is considered  the most effective.  It  is made from bee hives where the buzzy inhabitants  dined on  the Manuka bush. Manuka honey is usually used  for medical grade honey.  To avoid contamination, honey used for skin care management is treated with radiation to kill stray bacteria and mold spores.  While this sounds   hyper technical, medical grade  Manuka honey is available  from Amazon.  Buy it here
Commercial  beauty products use honey primarily  for its  impressive moisturizing properties.   Homemade honey  skin care products  are both popular and genuinely helpful. My favorite mask for dry skin  is a quick combo of  an egg yolk and a teaspoon of honey  Simply  mix these two kitchen staples together, spread on the face and  let  the mask dry and harden.  Leave it on for  about 30 minutes, and rinse of with lukewarm water.
A different  but equally effective treatment comes from the National Honey Board.  To clean and exfoliate   normal/ oily skin, combine  one tablespoon  of honey with an equal amount of  cornmeal. Rub  gently into the face, then rinse off.


Also on today's episode  

Question: What is CoQ10

Answer:
 This  seemingly  simple question has a complicated answer.   Let’s start  with the easy part.  CoQ 10 is similar to a vitamin and is a powerful antioxidant.  It is  made by the body and is essential for providing energy to the cells.  As with so  many self made substances,  the levels drop  both as we  age  and in health problems such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, some cancers,  Parkinson’s disease  and heart disease.
The assocition between lower levels of CoQ10 and health issues  have led   to the study of the benefits of CoQ 10 supplementation.   It has been extensively studied  in both animals and humans– and yet there is no consensus.   Many animal studies indicate  CoQ10 can slow aging, strengthen muscles and reduce heart stress.  But   literally  hundreds of studies  with humans  had ended with conflicted  results.  It  seems  that  for every small study that shows benefits, there are seven  with no benefits. ?????

How Much CoQ10 Do We Need?

The decision to add  CoQ10 to  your supplement routinue starts with a look at how much of this pseudo vitamin we actually need.  Scientists estimates that we require 3-5 mg/day.  About 75% of CoQ10 we need is  manufactured by the body and 25% comes  from our diet.   And  here  we get  on a bit of solid information.   The best food sources of CoQ10  are beef and chicken– about 2mg in a three ounce serving.  Fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy  have  very small amounts., so if you are  a vegetarian or vegan, you may be genuinely low in CoQ10.
   Most experts   would agree that its safe to take a 20mg supplement several times a week.  Because it is fat soluble  it will be better absorbed  when taken  with meals.  It can genuinely give you so  much of an energy boost that it should be taken in the morning to avoid  problems with insomnia.
Traditional  doctors are often  reluctant to prescribe CoQ10 because it can interfere with medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and chemotherapy.  In fact, both  the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society do not recommend taking  CoQ10.
Bottom Line:  If you don’t eat  beef or chicken, you can consider taking  small ( 20 mg) amounts of CoQq10 several times a week  to supply  what you  are missing from your diet.  But right now there is just not enough evidence to use CoQ10 therapeutically  to manage serious health problems. IMO future studies  will demonstrate  both its true value and the best way to get benefits, but right not we do not  have the needed info.

  Can CoQ10 really help my skin?  

Answer: CoQ10 is a vitamin like nutrient that is naturally found in the body. With  strong antioxidant  and anti-inflammatory powers,  its sad but  true that  its levels drop with age and illness.  To promote health and healing there  is a great interest in using it as an oral supplement. It  is equally intriguing in skin care.
CoQ10 and Your Skin
This mighty  substance is on the short list  of ingredients tht can actually be absorbed into the skin.  Studies have show that it  is  a sunscreen on steroids.  Unlike traditional sun protection chemicals, it does not absorb UV rays but acts as a cellular shield to actually boost the value of  a sunscreen. But wait, there is more. It  protects  the production of collagen.     CoQ10 also spurs the production of fibroblasts which are the building blocks of collagen. And    It inhibits the production  of a precursor  of melanin.  What This means is  it  can be  useful as a  skin brightener.

CoQ10 is fat soluable which means it works best in a rich, slightly greasy environment.  If you are   have oily or acne prone skin,  CoQ10 is not  the right ingredient for your face.  Alone  it won’t hurt your skin, but  to be effective, it needs to be in a rich base which can trigger breakouts.
As with so  many potentially  effective ingredients,  the value of a product depends on the formulation.  Cosmetic chemists recommend that a skin care product contain at least .5% of CoQ10 to be effective.  

http://nononsensebeautyblog.com/beauty-foods/

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