People have discovered what their ancestors knew a long time ago:  the earth can be used to heal the people who live on it.   Some remedies for cuts, scrapes, cold, fever and internal ailments are as close as the kitchen in your home.  Two of those cures are found in honey and garlic.

Bees have known since the beginning of time that they were special.  They spend their entire lives gathering pollen to create nectar and turn it into honey.  You enjoy the sweet-tasting fruit of their labors in your tea and desserts, but what about when you are sick?  Honey has a wide range of applications for curing what ails you.

Honey has properties to fight infections in the body.  When you cut yourself, apply a little honey to the wound to kill any bacteria in the vicinity.  It is sticky and dries quickly to form a seal over whatever it is resting on.  If it happens to be your scrape or cut, honey can be just as good if not better than a bandage for keeping dirt and bugs out of a healing wound.

Honey has been added to tea to soothe tired vocal cords and reduce the irritation of a sore throat.  Forget the tea and eat a spoonful of honey every day to induce a restful night of sleep and keep your immune system operating at optimal levels.  That same spoonful of honey can turn that irritating cough into a productive one by loosening mucous secretions.  Mix it with vinegar and apple juice for a stomach soother.

What about garlic?  It is not a desirable smell on your breath, but it does wonders for your body.  Garlic and onions are from the same family of plants that contain a substance called allicin.  This substance has been found to lower blood cholesterol, blood pressure and cut the symptoms of a cold.  Those who ingest garlic regularly are doing a good thing for their heart and vascular systems.

The best way to get garlic is to include it in your diet.  Pills are a second choice, but the garlic tastes so much better sprinkled on a baked potato or baked into a steak.  Garlic is activated when it is cut; that is when the smell of the allicin is given off.

Garlic is known to be an anti-microbial agent, fighting bacteria, fungus and viral infections.  It strengthens the immune system to fight colds and their symptoms.  Eating hot soup infused with garlic keeps the body strong against colds, flu and sinus issues.   You can use garlic in a paste or poultice directly on the body to aid in healing of cuts.

Garlic has a strong odor but it also does a mighty job.  Add a little garlic to your daily menu to keep the body healthy proactively.  As for honey, just ask a bee how helpful it is.

Cannellini Beans and Squash Medley

This is a great hot low fat vegetarian dish with plenty of protein and fiber.

Ingredients:
3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon brown mustard
1 pound fresh spinach
2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon sage
1/4 cup Romano cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a cookie sheet with a non stick cooking spray.
3. Coat the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
4. Sprinkle the squash with 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
5. Place the squash on the prepared cookie sheet.
6. Bake 25 minutes or until fork tender.
7. Place the 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the vinegar into a mixing bowl.  Whisk to combine.
8. Add the brown mustard and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper.
9. Whisk to incorporate the ingredients together.
10. Place the remaining olive oil into a skillet over medium heat.
11. Heat the oil to hot but not smoking.
12. Add the spinach and cook until wilted.
13. Sprinkle on the remaining pepper.
14. Remove the spinach from the heat and set aside.
15. Place the beans in a microwave safe bowl.
16. Add the squash, vinegar mixture, garlic and sage.
17. Stir gently to combine.
18. Microwave on high 1 minute or until warm.
19. If not warm enough after 1 minute,  microwave at 30 second intervals until hot enough to your liking.

Serve over the wilted lettuce and sprinkle with the cheese.

Serves 5

Nutritional Information (Approximate Values)

330 calories
12 g fat
2.5 g saturated fat
17 g protein
41.5 g carbohydrates
4 mg cholesterol
770 mg sodium
10.5 g fiber