What’s all the buzz about honey? It’s become a popular item on many roadside vegetable stands and farmers markets around the country and in a growing number of homes. It’s a nutritious, natural sweetener, a concentrated energy source and a folk remedy for health and healing as well as an key ingredient in beauty products. But what exactly is this sweet superfood, and how can it help you?
Raw honey is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants, all of which combine to make it better for your health than consuming granulated sugar or other kinds of sweeteners.
Also, as bees in the hive turn the nectar into honey, one byproduct is a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. The antibacterial qualities of hydrogen peroxide has led honey to be used at time topically to help with skin healing and to prevent infection in wounds, burns, pressure sores and various types of leg ulcers. As more antibiotic-resistant bacteria emerge, researchers are renewing their interest in honey’s antibacterial qualities.
Beyond its medicinal value, honey can also help with your diet. You can substitute honey for sugar in almost any dish or drink. But because honey is sweeter than sugar, you probably should use less. While animal studies have shown that honey can lower both blood sugar and triglycerides and increase the amount of insulin released into the bloodstream, these benefits occurred while using honey in combination with diabetes medications and have yet to be confirmed in humans.
Honey can be a valuable addition to your pantry, but educate yourself on all of the properties of this natural marvel for the best results.