Benefits of Honey

Honey is a sweet fluid made by honeybees using the nectar of flowering plants. There are about 320 different varieties of honey, which vary in color, odor and flavor.

Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent.  Honey is a common ingredient in many foods and is available in many forms. However, it's important to remember that honey is still a sugar and counts towards your daily added sugar total.  

Honey can help fight infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Honey can also help cure sore throats and speed up the healing process of wounds, burns, and cuts.

Honey is a natural source of energy that can help prevent fatigue and improve cognitive and physical performance.  Honey contains antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which may help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Antioxidants may also help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and some types of cancer. Topical use of medical-grade honey has been shown to promote wound healing, particularly in burns. 

A variety of research has shown antioxidants in honey might be associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies also suggest that honey can act as a reliable cough suppressant for some people with upper respiratory infections and acute nighttime cough. 

Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. Honey might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy. 

Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits. In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorders. 

Honey may help prevent metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high levels of triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol.  

Honey is generally safe for use as a natural sweetener, cough suppressant, and topical product for minor sores and wounds with no remarkable side effects.

Honey should not be given to children under 1 year because it can cause a rare but serious gastrointestinal condition caused by exposure to Clostridium botulinum spores. Bacteria from the spores can grow and multiply in a baby's intestines, producing a dangerous toxin.

Some people are sensitive or allergic to specific components in honey, particularly bee pollen. Although rare, bee pollen allergies can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, adverse reactions. 

• One spoonful of honey is enough to keep a person alive for 24 hours
• One of the first coins in the world featured a bee symbol
• Honey contains live enzymes. The metal spoon kills these enzymes. The best way to consume honey is with a wooden spoon, if not, you can use a plastic one.
• Honey contains a substance that helps the brain function.
• Honey is one of the few foods on earth that alone can sustain human life.— at White Gate St Helena.
• Bees saved people from starvation in Africa.
• Propolis produced by bees is one of nature's most powerful antibiotics.
• Honey has no expiration date.
• The bodies of the world's greatest emperors were buried in golden coffins and then covered with honey to prevent them from rotting.
• The term "honeymoon" comes from the fact that the young couple consumed honey for fertility purposes after marriage.
• A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey, but for her it is the work of a lifetime.