Is Honey Good for You?
It’s been eulogized in Holy Scripture, but is honey actually good for you?
Honey has been eulogized in the scriptures of every major religion since the dawn of time, but is the “food of the gods” really that good for you? Yes – in moderation. Natural honey is valued for its sweetness, and is chock full of unexpected goodness. Because it’s predigested by insects many people who can’t stomach cane sugar can more easily metabolize honey and enjoy its natural energy – so it’s almost the perfect food.
Honey is composed of two main sugars, levulose and dextrose. These sugars do not need to be broken down by the digestive process, so honey is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick energy boost to the body. It also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol.
Honey has certain potassium salts that make it a phenomenal moisture absorber and a great killer of germs and bacteria. In fact, honey kills bacteria more effectively than some antibiotics.
This also helps it draw excess fluid from the blood stream, lowering blood pressure. Honey, if taken on an empty stomach with water and lemon, reduces obesity and weight. Beauticians recommend using it liberally for a glowing complexion and silky hair. If taken at night with hot milk, it cures constipation.
Honey has been used in many medical applications over the years, but recent studies are now able to prove its benefits as a topical antibacterial treatment for burns and ulcers.
Known antioxidant compounds in honey are chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin. Unlike most other sweeteners, honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, which include a wide array of vitamins, such as vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid.
In addition, honey contains essential minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc as well as several different amino acids have been identified in honey. Dark honey has more nutrients than lighter varieties. Vitamin and mineral content depend on the floral source of the honey. Honey has less than 2% sodium.
Because of its antibacterial properties, pure honey can be preserved indefinitely.
Are there different flavors of honey?
Single varietal honeys are creating quite a buzz in the gourmet food scene these days, but this trend is nothing new to beekeepers. Honey is a natural product that has always been highly dependent on the local environment in which the bees gather their nectar. Much like wine regions and coffee regions, different honey regions also exist.
For the first time in the history of apiculture, beekeepers are now being encouraged by food connoisseurs to situate their hives in areas that will allow honey bees to frequent one particular plant. The hope is that these insects will then produce a unique flavor that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
Perhaps the first and most popular flavor to be recognized in Canada is Buckwheat Honey, which is a really dark honey with a VERY distinctive taste and aroma. Harvested in mid-August, the buckwheat plant blossoms for about ten days before going to seed in the fall. Unfortunately not many Canadian farmers grow buckwheat anymore, and so this highly coveted product is becoming very rare indeed. When my dad, brother and uncle spy a field of buckwheat that’s about to bloom they quickly move a dozen hives as close as possible. Unlike wild flowers that grow randomly in meadows and fence rows, farmer’s fields are the best places to harvest single varietal honey crops. Here’s a huge concentrated source, and to ensure purity my family will harvest it as soon as possible.
The most interesting single varietal crop harvested in Ontario, Canada has got to be something called Purple Loosestrife. Botanists may be familiar with this plant, which is quite controversial. It originated in Asia and first appeared in Canada about twenty years ago. Since that time it has invaded and subsequently dominated of most of the province’s wetland. Natural lovers and bird watchers fear it’s destroying the marshes and have organized armies of high school students to pull these plants right out of the ground and thereby SAVE THE SWAMPS. Beekeepers however love this plant – with its roots firmly embedded in the quagmire it always flowers, even in the driest seasons, and it yields a marvelous tasting honey with a very interesting tang – it’s a single varietal honey with a complicated taste. When preserved in glass, Purple Loosestrife Honey has a slight green / blue tint.
American beekeepers are proud of their Pumpkin Blossom Honey which is a dark amber-colored liquid with a robust aroma and flavor. And California’s Black Button Sage Honey is absolutely excellent when served with vanilla ice cream. And of course the Savannah region’s Tupelo Honey is probably the most famous varietal honey of them all.
Harvested over two or three weeks in the early spring, tupelo nectar is one of the rarest and most valuable liquid resources in the world.
Yes the golden age of honey has finally arrived, and North American consumers owe it to their own taste buds to ignore Billy Bee’s plastic tubs in the supermarket – cheap Argentinean Chinese honey blends that are practically inedible – and sample a single varietal honey from a local beekeeper in their area.
Liked it
K | Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
Loved this article! Just what I was looking for.
k
Liane Schmidt. | Jul 13, 2007 | Reply
Thank you for sharing this informative, interesting article.
Best wishes!
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
jasmine m | Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
Thanks! Very informative. I have jars of raw honey and I was wondering if I can include it in my everyday diet.
Alessandra | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
thx you. my mother is in very serious condition & i think that honey is the best way for her to get better
Anon. | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
I know its recommended for people with allergies to consume honey from a local sources as well.
Ruth | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
WOW!this is good news for me, I have adding honey to my plain oatmeal every morning and I was wondering if it was a bad or good thing. Honey just tastes so much better than regular sugar to me!
lkool7 | Mar 16, 2008 | Reply
Thank this was an informative article.
Pooh Bear | Jul 12, 2008 | Reply
Yep! It is great!
malathycha@yahoo.com | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
to become slim how many spoons of honey to be taken with water and lemon please suggest me
Trevor | Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
If you are going out on a hike and you want a great way to keep hydrated while getting carbs? Try putting a few tablespoons of honey in a 20oz. water bottle. Also, since honey can last for a very long time, its great to keep in a survival guide. I’m not an expert but it’s sounds like common sense to me.
bg | Oct 2, 2008 | Reply
very good article. I am using honey with oat meal and always doubtful whether it is good or not. Any suggestions on how to buy honey meaning what to look for?
as | Dec 11, 2008 | Reply
great informative article. just what i was looking for.
rodeo | Dec 19, 2008 | Reply
This article will probally make my husband very happy. I have a true sugar addiction, as in 3 tablespoons per cup of coffee, and I have been having trouble losing weight. I will try replacing the sugar in my coffee with honey for a month and will let you know how it goes.
radia | Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
thanx
this really helps
i knew that honey was good but didnt know all these things
anywayz thanxxxxxxxxxx:)
Paris | Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
Thanks, it was very interesting and i really admired your research.
Tsabap | Feb 14, 2009 | Reply
I have been taking honey with my coffee and tea every AM and PM for the last 8 years.It helps to keep my enery level high and weight low. A natural gift from God.
ON | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
Many thanks.
Wareen sid | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Daamn every day like warren sid, you dont no nan nanaa like warren sid
Dub Sizzle | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
LOOOOOOOOOL, ah man, It was just one of those dayssss, where I wanted to catch sun raysss, it’s fun to get blunted on a sunday…afternoon……..
Vinnie | Apr 7, 2009 | Reply
This is awesome, but simply cause ive been taught to only trust sources from an .EDU, .GOV, .ORG etc, and not .COM how authentic is this information? does anyone know where I can verify it?
Vinnie | Apr 7, 2009 | Reply
I posted the prior comment, and did alot of checking around, read alot of articles, from various sources, .COM, .GOV and everything I found accept for one, from some Veagan site that i cant seem to find again (.org), but whoever wrote the article seemed to be an anti-honey activist, the way the acticle was written you might think it had kicked his dog or something. anywho, thank you for the information.
Raj | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Many Thanks … Very good article
KAB | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
Very informative! Good to know there is actually something natural that works as I am someone who HATES to take medicine…and have suffered with high blood pressure for about 7 years now. Although I know it won’t replace the meds it’s good to know it may help a little. Also, for the ladies, I recently read honey is also good for sex drive…great news, huh?!
James DeVere | Apr 29, 2009 | Reply
I can see why this article was a hit – nice work . j
NZ_Honey.. | May 28, 2009 | Reply
Great article, its obviously quite a passion for you and your family.The content is very comprehensive, Im off to make some honey toast right now
Looking for answers | May 29, 2009 | Reply
I think the article is great but may be a little too enthusiastic. Other sources do not always confirm this information.
Unknow | Jun 12, 2009 | Reply
Its a nice article, i got a lot of information, which i always wanted.
& its nice to feel that i got what i was looking for,
but still thinking of where would i get the Buckwheat honey in INDIA (mumbai)
someone from the other side of the world | Jun 16, 2009 | Reply
Very good article my friend. Whenever I get a cold or the allergies I just simply get a spoon, fill it with honey, put on some lemon and it makes you much better. To me it works better than the medicines I have in my drawer! Kudos! Very informative! You should all try this when you get a cold!! It works!!!
lolly | Oct 6, 2009 | Reply
thank you for this wonderful idea but if i try it and i dnt work i will hunt you down. just kidding