Honey has always been a folk remedy, and looking at it's benefits it's no wonder why.
It's a great alternative to sweetener, and oh my remember those thick cut pieces of bread, slathered with honey that your grandma used to make for you? yum!
Of course real, healing honey has to be raw. Only when it did not got heated we are able to benefits from all it's glory.
Make sure you get your honey from a trusted source, organic and best locally.
But honey is so much more then just a tasty alternative to sweetener. It is a “functional food”, which means it is a natural food with health benefits.
The nutrition of raw honey is impressive. It contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5,000 enzymes. Minerals include iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous,
magnesium and selenium. Vitamins found in honey include vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin.
One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, yet it has a healthy glycemic load around 10 for 1 tablespoon, which is a little less than a banana.
Raw honey does not cause a sugar spike and elevated insulin release like white sugar.
Although honey is an affordable food, bees spend thousands of hours collecting pollen from around two million flowers to make one pound of pure honey.
Honey is typically about 18% water, but the lower the water content, the better the quality of honey. Best of all, honey does not need
special storage or refrigeration – use it by the spoonful straight from the jar.
Let's have a look at the benefits:
- Antioxidant Powerhouse
Raw honey contains antioxidants called phenolic compounds. Studies have shown that a daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals. - Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties
Raw honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungus. It naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic. Several hospitals in Europe and New Zealand are using
Manuka honey to fight methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph bacterial infection that’s become resistant to antibiotics.
The effectiveness of honey as an antibacterial or antifungal depends on the type of honey. - Wound & Ulcer Healer
Manuka honey is also used in medical settings to treat wounds because it’s an effective germ killer.
Researchers believe this is because it has additional antibacterial properties besides the natural hydrogen peroxide.
Honey has been studied for it use in effectively treating various types of ulcers. Honey may reduce the size, pain, and odor of problematic skin ulcers. - Natural Cough Syrup and Sore Throat Soother
Not only will honey boost your immune system, it is and has been used for centuries as a sore throat remedy.
It has also been shown to be as effective in treating coughs such as over-the-counter commercial cough syrups.
Increasing scientific evidence shows that a single dose of honey can reduce mucus secretion and coughs.
In one study, honey was just as effective as diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan, common ingredients found in over-the counter cough medicines. - Sleep Promoter
Raw honey can promote restorative sleep in two ways. By consuming honey before bed time, it re-stocks the liver’s glycogen supply and prevents the brain from
triggering a crisis search for fuel, which can wake you up. Secondly, eating raw honey fosters the release of melatonin in the brain by creating a small spike in insulin levels, which stimulates the release of tryptophan in the brain, tryptophan converts to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin.
Melatonin also boosts immunity and helps rebuild tissue during periods of rest. - Counters Pollen Allergies
Raw honey contains bee pollen, which is known to ward off infections, provide natural allergy relief, and boost overall immunity.
Honey’s ability to prevent allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy. How so? The bees in your neighborhood are going from flower to flower collecting pollen that is causing you to suffer, but when you consume local raw honey, you are also consuming that same offending local pollen. After some time, an allergy-sufferer may become less-sensitive to this pollen that previously caused them problems and experience less seasonal allergy symptoms. Many seasonal allergy sufferers have found local, raw honey to be helpful because it desensitizes them to the fauna triggering their allergic reaction.
What is raw honey?
It is a pure, unfiltered, and unpasteurized sweetener made by bees from the nectar of flowers. Most of the honey consumed today is processed honey that has been heated and filtered since it was gathered from the hive. Unlike processed honey, raw honey does not get robbed of it’s incredible nutritional value and health powers. It can help with everything from low energy to sleep problems to seasonal allergies. Switching to raw honey may even help weight loss efforts when compared to diets containing sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
Start replacing honey for your regular sweetener, and see feel the benefits for yourself.
Tastes great in tea, can be used for treats, in nut milk and yogurt, for home-made granola, in home-made cosmetics, mix with essential oils of thyme, tea tree, and eucalyptus to create a powerful cough syrup.
We have wonderful, high quality honey at High Vibe from Pennsylvania and Vermont.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that raw honey should not be given to infants under one year of age because of the rare possibility of being infected with the bacteria that causes botulism (Clostridium botulinum). Once a toddler reaches one year old, their digestive system is mature enough to kill any botulism germs.