I have always loved honey. I actually put it in my tea to replace sugar, but I didn’t realize it had so many health benefits. After surfing the web about it, here’s what I found: 

Easily digested:

Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars (e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to function better.

Good source of antioxidants:

It plays a big role in the prevention of cancer as well as heart disease.

Has a low calorie level:

Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.

Does not accommodate bacteria:

This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named “the inhibition effect”. Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision – as if they know this feature of the honey.

Do you have a cut?

Honey is a natural antiseptic. Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds. By applying honey to your wounds, you prevent infections. Honey contains antimicrobial agents, which prevents infections by killing the bacteria in and around your wounds. When using honey it may help to heat it up before putting it on your wound (caution test the heat before you place it on the wound). Many types of bacteria can’t survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases, and tissue can grow back.

Long used as a culinary sweetener, RAW honey is valued for its many healing properties as well. Treatment with RAW honey is referred to as Apitherapy and includes replenishing energy, enhancing physical stamina and strengthening those weakened by illness or stress.

RAW Honey can also help calm the mind and promote rejuvenating sleep.  RAW Honey relieves indigestion and is used to treat cardiovascular disease and respiratory complaints. Finally, a thin coat of RAW honey can be applied to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped lips.  This is because honey is anti-bacterial.

HAS YOUR HONEY CRYSTALLIZED?
Since honey is made up of honey, wax, pollen, nectar, and other wondrous natural properties – it is only a matter of time for honey to crystallize, to ‘attempt’ to take itself back to some kind of ‘original’ state. In fact, when some of the tombs were opened in Egypt, they found honey (it was put there for the entombed – so they would have it in their next life) that had crystallized – it was still perfectly good – even though it was more than 5,000 years old!

To restore honey to its liquid state, boil some water in a pan…REMOVE FROM HEAT. Place the container in the hot water, let it sit there, turn the container periodically, and the honey will go back to its liquid state.  This is not pasteurization.  Keep in mind that some varieties of honey will crystallize faster than others.

There are advantages to crystallized honey. It is easier to ‘spread’ on your toast, bread, butter, etc., and doesn’t drip! Plus it is perfectly ‘good’ honey.

Remember, never refrigerate honey…always keep it in the cupboard, as cold temperatures hasten crystallization – better yet – and this is highly recommended – keep the jar on your table! Enjoy it with your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Feel free to put some on whatever you’re eating!  It’s delicious and good for you too!!

Honey varies in color, texture and flavor depending on the source of pollen and nectar,

deletereply starfishred wrote on Sep 4, ’08 One thing people forget is that to get the benefits all this suggests you would need to eat a ton of honey and there go your calories and you couldn’t hold enough of it to actually help,not that honey isn’t good and it is okay to eat except in your body it still is SUGAR  it is so overhyped sorry to take a little magic out of ithis for you.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 4, ’08 Ok but, it also says, “Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.”

deletereply dianahopeless wrote on Sep 4, ’08 Wonderful post. All good information to know. My family uses honey a lot, and has for many years. Thanks for sharing.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 4, ’08 I love to dunk bread in it, too !

deletereply strongwilledwoman wrote on Sep 5, ’08 I don’t usually buy honey, but your post made me hungry for it…….so its off to the store….thanks for the info.

deletereply slohomeles wrote on Sep 5, ’08 One thing that I love about honey, is that depending where the honey had been harvested, it has subtle differences in flavor because of the flowers where the bees gather their nectar.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 5, ’08 That’s very intersting. Thanks.