Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, once said, “Nature itself is the best physician.”

And he was absolutely right.

Think about it—Nature has provided us with many ways to maintain and improve our health.

For instance, spending time outdoors with your skin exposed to the sun (without wearing sunscreen!) allows your body to manufacture vitamin D like it was designed to.

Swimming in salt water (such as the ocean) can improve skin health, lower inflammation, and support respiratory function due to the minerals present in salt water. 

Walking barefoot outside (on a safe surface such as grass, soil or sand) can help curb pain and inflammation, improve sleep, boost your immune system and reduce stress.

Rely on the farmer—not the pharmacist

Nature has also created a variety of compounds and substances that provide very impressive health benefits and/or serve as safe, natural remedies.

Here are four of the finest:

1) Local honey

Honey has been a prized sweetener for centuries, and it also boasts of several health benefits too. 

But there’s a catch. The best source of honey is not your grocery store—instead, it’s your friendly neighborhood bees, otherwise known as local honey.

Local honey is honey harvested by bees from flowers in your immediate area. This type of honey is typically raw and unprocessed, retaining all its natural enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients. Because it’s created from bees and flowers in your specific region, local honey offers health advantages you won’t find in any mass-produced grocery store product.

Local honey can help:

Relieve allergies. Local honey contains small amounts of pollen from the flowers in your area. When ingested on a regular basis, these pollens can function as a natural immunotherapy, gradually desensitizing your body’s immune reaction to local allergens.

Boost your workouts. Honey’s natural sugars—glucose and fructose—are quickly absorbed by your body, making it an effective pre- or post-workout snack. And unlike processed sugars or sports drinks, honey offers sustained energy without the sugar crash.

Support gut health. Local honey’s prebiotic properties promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract, improving digestion and enhancing immunity.

Combat infections. Local honey has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, due to its enzyme content. This makes it effective in fighting infections, soothing sore throats, and even healing minor wounds.

Check your area for local honey producers. You can add local honey to smoothies, stir it into yogurt, or even take a spoonful straight every day (that’s what I do!). Just be sure to use a plastic or wooden spoon, as metal spoons can damage the natural enzymes in the honey.

2) Apple cider vinegar

Several types of vinegar have been around for the better part of the last 5,000 years, but one that stands out apart from the others is apple cider vinegar (ACV). 

A type of vinegar produced from fermenting apples; ACV has become very popular due to its noteworthy health benefits.

Here are just some of the ways consuming ACV can create a healthier you:

Improved blood sugar. Research shows that the acetic acid in ACV enhances the uptake of glucose by your body’s cells, thereby promoting more stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Weight loss. Studies have found incorporating ACV into your meals improves feelings of fullness and promotes a sense of satiety. This means you will feel full sooner; you’ll likely take in fewer calories and not have as many urges to snack—all of which spell weight loss! ACV also enhances fat oxidation, the process by which your body breaks down fat for energy. 

Skin health. The acidity in ACV helps maintain your skin’s natural pH balance, which is crucial for preventing skin infections and supporting overall skin health.

Gut health. ACV is a fermented food, and fermented foods are a natural source of probiotics. A healthy bacterial balance in your gut is not only crucial for digestion and sharp immune function, but also for controlling inflammation and even improving mental health!

When looking for ACV, be sure to get organic varieties that contain “the mother.” Use in salad dressings or virtually any recipe calling for vinegar. You can also add a spoonful to a glass of drinking water. 

3) Fresh lemon

Fresh lemon really packs a punch in terms of nourishing elements including vitamin C, B-vitamins (niacin, folate, thiamin and riboflavin) as well as potassium, zinc, and magnesium. 

Lemons have gotten a bad rap in the past as being “too acidic,” but that’s not entirely accurate. Yes, if you cut a fresh lemon and have it analyzed at a lab, it will register acidic. But once your body metabolizes lemon, it becomes alkaline and health-enhancing.

Here are some of the ways this tangy citrus superstar supports great health:

Look younger. Studies have shown that high vitamin C intake is associated with a lower likelihood of developing wrinkles and less skin dryness.

Lower blood pressure. Consuming lemons (along with regular exercise) has been associated with lower blood pressure levels. 

Kidney stone prevention. Lemons have a high amount of citrate, which has been proven to naturally prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Lower cholesterol. The vitamin C in lemons has been proven to help lower LDL (aka “bad cholesterol”) levels. Lemons also contain flavonoids which can help lower LDL and triglyceride levels.

The easiest ways to incorporate lemon into your diet are to add a wedge of fresh lemon to a glass of water, or juice it and use the juice in salad dressing or to drizzle over fish. Avoid biting directly into lemon as it can be harmful to tooth enamel.

4) Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been considered the #1 most important herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,500 years!

Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen, which is a unique class of plants that work to naturally help balance, restore and protect your body and support its healthy functioning.

Ashwagandha’s adaptogenic nature carefully “tailors” its health-supporting actions based on your body’s unique individual needs, helping it to respond to physical and mental stressors and maintain homeostasis.

Hold on to your hat—here are just some of the health enhancing benefits on Ashwagandha’s resume:

• Combat stress and anxiety; improve depression

• Boost immune function

• Support healthy levels of lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides

• Reduce blood pressure

• Counter insomnia and encourage sound sleep

• Protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease

• Improve underactive thyroid function

• Nourish and protect the liver

• Fight dangerous free radicals

• Curb inflammation

Since you can’t exactly find Ashwagandha in the produce section of your local grocery store, the best way to take advantage of this gem of Nature is to take a top-quality supplement like our very own Ashwa Blend Gummies!

In addition to pure Ashwagandha, our Ashwa Blend Gummies formula also includes CoQ10 (a noteworthy antioxidant), apple cider vinegar (supports healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels as you saw up above), and L-carnitine (for optimal energy levels)!

When you embrace the power of Nature and rely on the farmer—not the pharmacist—you are paving the way for better health and enhanced quality of life well into your golden years! 

I can’t think of anything more important than that. 

To your health,

Sherry Brescia