HONEY FACTS

Honey

The color & flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source gleaned from the blossoms by the honey bees.
There are more than 300 unique types of honey in the U.S.A. alone, each one from a different floral source.
As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder and dark-colored honey is more flavorful.
Since Honey is anti-bacterial & anti-microbial, it is self-preservative and needs no refrigeration.
Honey should be stored at room temperature, cool temperatures tend to hasten crystallization.
Since honey is a super-saturated solution, it is unstable as a liquid and tends to crystallize to a semi-solid form. It is not spoiled, just warm it up again to bring it back to a liquid state.
Honey is healthy for you! It contains vitamins, minerals, Amino acids & Antioxidants, but no sodium, cholesterol, or fat!
Honey has more sweetening power than sugar (so you can use less) and only 60 calories per tablespoon.

20 Natural Remedy Uses for Honey

If you’re ready to incorporate raw honey into your diet, then check out these honey uses.

Improve digestion – Ingest one to 2 tablespoons of honey to counteract indigestion since it doesn’t ferment in the stomach.
Relieve nausea – Mix honey with ginger and lemon juice to help counteract nausea.
Acne cure – Honey can be used as an affordable face cleanser to fight off acne, and it’s gentle on all skin types. Take half a teaspoon of honey, warm it between your hands and spread it on your face gently. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water and pat dry.
Exfoliator – Honey makes a great exfoliator! Use honey on dry winter skin by adding two cups of honey to a bath, soak for 15 minutes, then add one cup of baking soda for the final 15 minutes.
Improve diabetes – Consumption of raw honey can reduce your risk of developing diabetes and help aid medication used to treat diabetes. Raw honey increases insulin and decreases hyperglycemia. Add a little at a time to your diet and see how your blood sugar reacts to it.
Lower cholesterol – Honey can help reduce cholesterol and, therefore, decrease your risk for coronary artery disease.
Improve circulation – Raw honey makes your brain function optimally by strengthening the heart and improving blood circulation.
Antioxidant support – Consumption of raw honey increases plaque-fighting antioxidants.
Restore Sleep – Raw honey promotes restorative sleep. Add a tablespoon to warm milk to help increase melatonin and help you sleep.
Prebiotic support – Raw honey is full of natural prebiotics that promote the growth of good bacteria in the intestine.
Improve allergies – If sourced locally, raw honey can help reduce seasonal allergies. Add one to 2 tablespoons to your diet daily.
Lose weight – Substituting raw honey for white sugar can help in weight management.
Moisturize – A spoonful of raw honey mixed with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon can be used as a hydrating lotion.
Hair mask – A raw honey hair mask can help boost shine by hydrating your hair. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of raw honey with 5 cups of warm water, apply the mixture to your hair and let it sit, then rinse thoroughly, allow your hair to air dry and style as usual.
Eczema relief – Use honey as a topical mixture along with equal parts cinnamon to relieve mild eczema.
Reduce inflammation – Raw honey has anti-inflammatory agents that can treat respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Heal wounds – Raw honey used topically can help quicken healing time for mild burns, wounds, rashes and abrasions.
Cure UTI – Honey can help improve urinary tract infections due to its antibacterial properties. (28)
Shampoo – Raw honey can cleanse and restore the health of your hair and scalp.
Relieve sore throat and cough – Using honey for sore throat and cough is another fantastic remedy. This is especially useful for children with a cough. Simply swallow one teaspoon of honey or add it to tea with

What Is Raw Honey?

Raw Honey vs. Not Raw

Raw honey is a crude form of honey immediately taken out of the cells of the honey combs within a bee hive. This form of honey is far from pure. It commonly contains bee pollen and propolis, which are both two very positive health additions. However, raw honey can also possibly contain dead bees, legs, wings, hunks of beeswax and other impurities. Don’t worry though — if any of these unwanted items get into the honey they’re strained out before bottling.

Raw honey cannot be heated above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the normal temperature of the bee hive. While it’s OK to strain raw honey, it’s never filtered or pasteurized. It also cannot have any other additives.

On the other hand, commercial honey is often heavily processed and may even have been chemically refined. Excessive heat destroys the natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals in honey, making honey processing a very bad thing. Filtering and processing eliminate many of the beneficial phytonutrients, including pollen and enzyme-rich propolis. The only way to achieve sparkling clear honey is by heat, so avoid the golden, syrup-like honey in favor of opaque, organic raw honey.

Non-raw honey or regular commercial honey can be sourced from bees that are treated with antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin in China’s honey). They also may likely be given winter nourishment in the form of sugar or a low-cost syrup. Hives are made of non-organic materials, which can have pests and be cleaned with non-organic substances. Honey that isn’t raw is pasteurized and filtered, and it can have additives.

Research by the Palynology Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University tested 60 honey products from supermarkets and grocery stores and found that 76 percent contained no trace of bee pollen, which is also loaded with health benefits. The Food and Drug Administration maintains that any honey products that have been ultra-filtered, as these have, are not actually honey and therefore the health benefits of honey cannot be assumed. Some “honey” may even contain high fructose corn syrup.