Liquid gold

health

Since ancient times, honey has been used as both a food and a medicine. Honey is food made by bees. Humans have prised honey for its sweet taste for many thousands of years. Some researchers say honey is more than a sweetener. It’s very high in beneficial plant compounds and offers several health benefits. Honey is particularly healthy when used instead of refined sugar, which is 100% empty calories. Also, honey adds flavour that white sugar does not have. Honey is a sweet liquid made by bees using nectar from flowers.

Here is a closer look at some of the most popular types of honey around the world.

Clover Honey: This is something we have all seen and probably have in our kitchen. This mild honey is known for its taste and not so much for its healing properties. It is light yellow in colour and has a mild, but sweet, taste.

Eucalyptus Honey: Eucalyptus Honey has a slight menthol aftertaste which makes it a favourite for those battling a cold or annual allergies as the traces of eucalyptus shine through the herbal sweetness that this honey provides.

Buckwheat Honey: This hearty honey is rather dark in colour. It is a favourite of mead makers due to its resemblance to molasses more so than honey in both taste and texture. Due to the strong aftertaste, it is rarely used in teas or cooking.

Dandelion Honey: A rising popularity of the dandelion flower started when herbalists realised how medicinal this common garden weed actually is! Much like the tea and tincture that it is made into, dandelion honey carries the same medicinal properties It has a bright golden yellow colour and a sweet, floral taste making it a great addition to teas or as a spread on bread.

Sourwood Honey: Don’t let the name fool you: it is anything other than sour. On the contrary, it has a buttery, caramel taste, and texture that has notes of anise and light spices. Eaten plain or on bread or muffins, this popular honey has a sweet taste that will pleasantly linger.

Although these are just a few different varieties of honey found around the world, these are among the most popular and most useful. Not only is it delicious, but it has natural healing properties that have been used for hundreds of years. The next time you are shopping around for honey; keep these in mind for specific needs in your daily life. Some studies have found that consuming raw honey may help with seasonal allergies, and others have concluded that honey can help wounds heal. Below are some benefits of honey:

Add honey to your diet: While honey has health qualities that other sugars only dream of, it’s still an added sugar — and eating too much of it can wreak havoc on your health. Those limits include all sources of added sugar in your diet, so use honey in moderation to avoid exceeding the limits. Try sweetening plain yogurt with a light drizzle of honey and add your own fruit, instead of eating flavoured yogurt with too much added sugar.

Honey for weight loss: It is believed that drinking warm water with honey and a splash of lime first thing in the morning is an effective anti-cellulite treatment, as it helps to increase body metabolism. But with 64 calories per tablespoon, how can honey help you shed those extra pounds? According to a study, honey helps control your appetite. If you consume honey before bed, the body begins to burn more fat during those early hours of sleep. You can even take a step further and replace all refined sugar in your diet with honey in order to rebalance the brain signal that compels you to consume more sweet stuff.

Honey for fabulous skin: Honey is a fantastic moisturiser and works wonders on patches of dry skin. You can use it to soften up your knees and elbows, even chapped lips. During the cold winter months, just rub some honey onto your face and wash off after 30 minutes. You can even create a moisturising scrub - all you need to do is add some sugar and voila! It works as a natural exfoliator. Give your skin the benefit of honey's powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ultra-moisturising properties.

Honey for silky hair: Honey acts as a natural agent for moisturising hair and cleansing the scalp, leaving you with silk smooth hair without stripping away any natural oils. Add a teaspoonful of honey to your usual shampoo or mix with olive oil for a deep conditioning treatment for 20 minutes, before washing your hair with shampoo.

Relieving cold and cough symptoms: A study found that honey was more effective than a placebo at reducing children’s coughs during the night. Another study evaluated whether a honey and milk solution could treat acute coughs in children.

Heals wounds and burns: A review found that honey may help heal burns, the defensin-1 protein in honey promoted wound healing. It is worth noting that many products such as face creams, deodorants, and shampoos contain honey in varying amounts.

Honey for immunity: Honey’s antioxidant and antibacterial properties help improve the digestive system and boost immunity. It is also a powerhouse of antioxidants, which are very effective for the removal of free radicals from the body. Start your day by adding a spoonful of honey and lemon juice (from half a lemon) to a cup of warm water. Drink this cleansing tonic before breakfast to reap the benefits.

Improves sleep: Do you lie awake all night staring at the ceiling, tossing and turning? Use the famous milk and honey remedy to fall asleep quickly. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of hot milk. Honey releases serotonin (a neurotransmitter that improves your mood), and the body converts serotonin into melatonin (a chemical compound that regulates the length and quality of sleep. You can also add a teaspoon (or two) of honey to a cup of chamomile tea, if you’d prefer.