Honey, You're The Best!

Whether its with lemon water in the morning to cleanse the body, mixed with crushed pepper to cure a sore throat, as a healthier replacement for sugar in cakes or desserts, poured on warm French toast or added to a face mask for a warm glow to the skin, honey is a magical food that is popular with people of every age group. This natural sweetener is truly a timeless treasure.

Because of its combination of low water content, high pH and the natural presence of hydrogen peroxide, honey is highly antimicrobial, which makes it a natural healer. An excellent balm for surface wounds, it keeps infection at bay, while sealing in the moisture the skins requires for healing. It’s truly a versatile kitchen essential.

For Good Health

Natural or organic honey contains a variety of compounds such as phytochemicals, flavonoids and ascorbic acid that act as antioxidants helping fight free radicals in the body and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. It also contains a range of minerals such magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc and phosphorus, which makes it a healthy sweetener compared to sugar. Its hydrogen peroxide, glucose oxidase and low pH levels make it a great antibacterial salve. Many studies have also shown that it helps treat cough and soothe the throat and is especially a safe (compared to many over-the-counter medicines) for children over the age of 12 months. Some research also suggests that because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, honey may be beneficial for brain health as well.

For Beauty

Your grandmother may have applied it on her skin as did your mother, and so should you—the beauty benefits of honey are quite magical. It’s a natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and is therefore great for troubled skin, as it helps accelerate the healing process and soothes the skin. Mixed with ingredients such as raw milk and oats, it makes for a great exfoliator. You can also apply it with lemon juice to reduce blemishes, skin tanning and clear up your complexion. Honey can help reduce scarring as well, so it’s great for acne-prone skin. The antioxidants in honey make it a hair health booster as they work to prevent damage, keep the scalp clean and healthy and make hair look soft and shiny.

For Taste

The delicate sweetness of honey makes it a great addition to many dishes. Some use it to coat nuts to serve as a healthy and delicious snack, while others use it mixed with lemon juice and olive oil for a hearty salad dressing. It can be added to butter chicken gravy for that mild sweetness or used to sweeten beverages such as green tea for an antioxidant kick. The possibilities of using honey in daily cooking are endless and there’s just so much you can do with this, provided you choose good quality organic and natural honey.