Who knew that eating glue could actually bee good for your health and have so many antibacterial properties? Well, a certain type of glue, that is, called propolis. Propolis (also known as “bee glue”) is a resin-like substance produced by honey bees that’s formed from the bees’ secretions and the sap from certain trees and plants, and used to line the inside of beehives. Not only do bees use propolis to build and mend their hive; they also use it to mummify intruders they’ve killed (could we also use it to seal our children’s mouths shut when we want to have an uninterrupted phone conversation? Just a thought).

Nothing to see over here… just a bowl of boring old rice—OH WAIT. There’s actually everything to see over here: IT’S A BOWL OF RICE!! That’s right. What once was basic is now all the rage. Celebrities like Megan Markle and Kim Kardashian West are raving about rice water, and it’s now used in many skin and hair products. But, eh-hem, that’s no surprise; rice water’s benefits aren’t actually anything new and innovative. Asian countries like Japan and Korea have been using it for years. 

Is there anything worse than a little crusty cluster on the side of your lip? I’m not talking about leftover potato chip crumbs from your late–night snack. I mean our nemesis, the cold sore, a.k.a. the fever blister. More than 50% of the population has oral herpes (yep, I said it: herrrrrppeeess) and about 90% has been exposed to the virus before the age of 50. And once you have the herp you cannot get rid of it (it’s called the gift that keeps on giving for a reason). Similar to the chicken pox and the shingle virus, and a sibling of the virus that causes herpes in our downstairs area, cold sores, or Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (or just HSV-1) affects our mouth, nose, cheeks, fingers and more. It hides out in your nerve cells, which is why it’s so difficult to eradicate. Although no cure exists, there are allopathic and naturopathic suppressive therapies available.  

Once-endearing names like “Sweetie,” “Honey” and even “Sweetheart” might now be considered blasphemous. Well, at least I would assume so, what with all the scrutiny sugar has been under as of late. Sugar is blamed for serious health issues, like obesity, diabetes and heart disease, these days.  So, you can take that pretty little pink macaron and shove it! What was once considered a sweet little treat is now a weapon of mass destruction.