The history of honey is as long and as rich as the history of the honeybee. Honeybees are believed to have preceded humans on earth by more than 10 million years, perhaps longer.

As early as 7,000 B.C. prehistoric carvings indicate that man enjoyed honey from the honeycomb, with drawings even illustrating early man risking his life against angry honey bees intent on protecting their hive.

Mentioned in ancient texts, such as the Indian Vedas, the Jewish Torah, the Koran, the Chinese Shi Jing, and depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, honey directly from the honeycomb appears to have been as much a delight then as it is now.

From these ancient recordings it is clear that civilizations across the globe have enjoyed the benefits of honey throughout history. In fact, though frequently mentioned throughout the Christian Bible it is worth mentioning that when the Christian Messiah, Jesus, arose from the grave, the gospel of Luke states that he was first fed broiled fish and a honeycomb.

Julius Caesar even reportedly accepted honey as a type of currency that was used to pay taxes in place of gold. And in the 11th century German citizens actually paid their property taxes with honey and beeswax.

Widely credited as being the father of modern medicine, the Greek physician Hippocrates of Cos (460 BC - ca. 370 BC) valued honey for its medicinal properties. He is noted as using it as an expectorant and claimed that it caused heat, which was useful for cleaning ulcers, wounds and running sores.

He also believed that honey was good for the skin's complexion. Hippocrates is noted to have encouraged the planting of seeds that had been soaked in honey, which he believed made the fruit that grew from the seedlings taste even sweeter.

After his death, the history of honey and Hippocrates continues as legends tell of a swarm of honeybees that lived in his sepulcher, which is the tomb he was buried in and continued to produce their sweet substance, which was then used to cure sick children when nothing else would.

The first century Greek philosopher, pharmacist, botanist and physician, Dioscorides, who authored one of the oldest journals of medicine, even cited honey as one of the greatest remedies ever.

As a natural food with incredible nutritional and medicinal value, Homer, Aristotle and Pythagoras all are added to the list of those in the history of honey who believed it to be a key ingredient to good overall health.

The history of honey as a celebrated medicine extends all the way to the Second World War when honey was widely touted for its use as an effective wound treatment on injured soldiers. This treatment is widely used on our brave soldiers of today also.

Prior to the production of penicillin, the history of honey shows it to have been the leading antibiotic treatment used for open wounds and lesions.

The history of honey is as old as the written word. For the longest time, it was the only sweetener that was widely available to humans before the mass production of sugar grew to replace it after the 1800s. As a food and as a medicinal agent, the history of honey is actually older than the history of man and certainly older than the history of modern medicine.

From ancient carvings and manuscripts discovered all over the world, honey appears as a delicacy and a heavily lauded medicine, it definitely deserves the recognition.

Many risk factors and conditions can cause high blood pressure (hypertension). One of the major causes is a hidden toxin found in numerous food items and products we consume every day. Even if you suffer from essential hypertension, you can eliminate it without taking potentially harmful prescription drugs. By making a few diet and lifestyle changes, you can eliminate or lower high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure (also called the silent killer) causes more than 54,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. The World Health Organization estimates it kills more than 7 million people worldwide.

In at least 90% of the cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown, according to the American Heart Association. When the cause is unknown, it is called essential hypertension (or primary hypertension); when the cause is known, it's called secondary hypertension.

The connection between prescription drugs and your blood pressure

Many drugs increase the risk of high blood pressure. Studies in the U.S. have found that the consumption of aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen increase the risk of developing hypertension, especially in middle-aged men. In fact, one study concluded that, for people over 75 years of age, the risks of taking aspirin to prevent stroke outweigh the benefits.

Drugs that increase the risk of high blood pressure include (but aren't limited to): • Amphetamines • Anti-rejection drugs (Imuran, Cyclosporine, CellCept) • Birth control pills • Corticosteroids (synthetic hormones such as Prednisone) • Cough and cold medicines, decongestants and appetite suppressants • COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx) • Ritalin • Sorafenib (Nexavar) • Illegal drugs (such as cocaine, methamphetamines, steroids) • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Rufen), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn)

Before filling a prescription or taking any drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it will cause hypertension and how it will interact with other drugs or supplements you're taking.

Other hypertension causes

Age - Risks of hypertension rises for a male over 45 years of age and a female over 55. More than half of Americans over 59 have hypertension.

Race/Ethnicity - African Americans experience a higher occurrence of hypertension than Caucasians or Hispanic American adults.

Weight - Clinical studies have proven obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension. The incidence of hypertension and prehypertension is on the rise in individuals under 18 years of age as the obesity rate in that age group increases.

Stress - When experienced over a prolonged period of time, stress does put you at risk. Exercise and relaxation techniques reduce stress and blood pressure.

Diet - Hypertension is closely associated with the western diet of developed countries. Some factors believed responsible for this connection include the sodium-to-potassium ratio, low fiber and magnesium content, and total fat content. Another culprit is the toxin found in countless food items in the western diet, but rarely found in the diet of undeveloped countries.

Caffeine - Studies have demonstrated a small elevation in blood pressure for those consuming five or more cups of coffee a day.

Alcohol - Studies have confirmed a relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension. The more alcohol consumed, the higher the blood pressure.

Smoking - Increases both blood pressure and the heart rate.

Sedentary lifestyle - Elevates blood pressure. Regular exercise lowers blood pressure by stimulating nitric oxide (helps keep blood vessels open) produced by endothelial cells inside the blood vessels. The accelerated pumping of the heart forces more blood through the vessels causing more nitric oxide to be released. A brisk walk or taking the stairs instead of an elevator can accomplish this.

Congratulations! By doing this research, you are being proactive with your health and wellbeing. Continue your research efforts and always be involved in the decision-making process with healthcare professionals. With information and knowledge, you can make informed decisions about your health.

Drugs mask underlying high blood pressure causes. Many times taking a drug for one health problem actually causes other health problems. Thousands die each year because of adverse drug reactions (taking a single drug) and adverse drug interactions (taking more than one drug).

Before taking prescription drugs for hypertension (for years or perhaps the rest of your life), try the prevention and/or elimination method. A simple diet change and lifestyle changes could eliminate high blood pressure, along with many other health problems as well.

These are 3 quick simple yet effective tips to lose weight in one week. Follow these with persistence and enjoy the results.

Do 15 - 30 minutes of workouts every day:

I think this is not a lot. By spending a little time for body movements will crush your excess fat constantly. The reason behind this is, if you stress your muscle hard; it consumes lot of energy from the fat deposited in the fat stores. So either walk or run for at least 15 minutes, or do some other weight loss workouts. This will burn extra calories that you consume from junk diets If you feel lazy, you can play with children or take your dog for a walk for fun. I promise this will benefit you and saves lot of bucks from expensive gyms.

Avoid too much intake of junk foods and allow fiber:

Here your target is to maintain the rate of metabolism constant in every frame. So take your diet in small portions about 3 - 5 times a day instead of eating a full plate of food and one thing i have to clear is don't starve yourself, it may cause harm to your body. If you want then take the medical advice from your local doctor. Increase the intake of fiber by taking raw veggies or your favorite fibered supplements.

Drink plenty of hydrogenated water:

Remember every human body is working with mechanism of water power! Make sense? Yes you know that our body contains almost 70% water in it. Water can burn your fat by stimulating all muscle parts in the body and uses in emergency situations by supplying oxygen. Generally most people do know this. It is better to drink 10 - 15 glasses per day. Water will also get you to have more bowel actions similar to eating fiber and this should definitely get you to melt some fat and loss weight in just one or two weeks.