Benefits and Uses for Honey

10th July is officially "don't step on a bee day", a day to think about these wonderful insects that are in danger of dying out  around us, and which contribute so greatly to our way of life.

Do you realize all the good that bees do for us? Just take pollination alone. Bees are the main creatures responsible for pollinating our flowering plants and foods.. Without bees, it would be an ugly world indeed, without any bright, fragrant flowers to enjoy. Without bees, there would be no fruits to enjoy. Without bees, we would plunge into world famine and all starve to death.

So with that in mind we look at the amazing substance that is honey

Honey contains a treasure chest of hidden nutritional and medicinal value. The sweet golden liquid from the beehive is a popular kitchen staple loaded with antibacterial and antifungal properties that has been used since the early days of Egyptian tombs. Honey has health benefits for the whole body. The healthy natural sweetener offers many nutritional benefits depending on its variety. Raw honey is the unpasteurized version of commonly used honey and only differs in its filtration, which helps extend its shelf life. A tablespoon of raw honey contains 64 calories, is fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free. Its composition is roughly 80 percent carbohydrates, 18 percent water, and two percent vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Eaten in moderation some of the health benefits include

1. Alleviates Allergies Honey’s anti-inflammatory effects and ability to soothe coughs has led to the belief it can also reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. A common theory is that honey acts like a natural vaccine. It contains small amounts of pollen, which if the body is exposed to small amounts of it, it can trigger an immune response that produces antibodies to the pollen. After repeated exposure, you should build up these antibodies and the body should become accustomed to their presence so that less histamine is released, resulting in a lesser allergic response. 2. All-Natural Energy Drink Honey is an excellent source of all-natural energy at just 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon. This natural unprocessed sugar — fructose and glucose — directly enter the bloodstream and can deliver a quick boost of energy. The rise in blood sugar acts as a short-term energy source for your workout, especially in longer endurance exercises.

3. Boosts Memory The sweet nectar is loaded in antioxidants that may help prevent cellular damage and loss within the brain. A 2011 study found a daily spoonful of Malaysian honey may boost post-menopausal women’s memory, which can provide an alternative therapy for the hormone-related intellectual decline. After four months of taking 20 grams of honey a day, the women were more likely to have better short-term memory than their counterparts who took hormone pills. Honey’s ability to help the body absorb calcium helps aid brain health. The brain needs calcium in order to process thought and make decisions. As our populations continue to get older and older, the likelihood of dementia setting in because of poor intake of vitamins and minerals continues to get higher and higher

4. Cough Suppressant Honey can be the all-natural cure when it comes to pesky colds. A persistent cough that won’t go away can easily be remedied with two teaspoons of honey.Children between the ages of 1 and 5 with night time coughs  due to colds, coughed less frequently when they received two teaspoons of honey 30 minutes before bed. The golden liquid’s thick consistency helps coat the throat while the sweet taste is believed to trigger nerve endings that protect the throat from incessant coughing.

5. Sleep Aid Honey can be a health aid for sleepless nights. Similar to sugar, honey can cause a rise in insulin and release serotonin — a neurotransmitter that improves mood and happiness. The body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and the quality of sleep.

6. Treats Dandruff Honey can bring temporary relief to the scalp by targeting dandruff. A 2001 study found applying honey diluted with 10 percent warm water to problem areas and leaving it on for three hours before rinsing led to itch relief and no scaling within a week. Skin lesions healed within two weeks and patients even showed an improvement in hair loss. The patients did not relapse even after six months of use.

7. Treats Wounds And Burns Honey is a natural antibiotic that can act both internally and externally. It can be used as a conventional treatment for wounds and burns by disinfecting wounds and sores, patients who suffered from wounds and leg ulcers showed remarkable improvement after applying a topical application of honey. Honey has been utilized for its medicinal properties for over 2,000 years and continues its legacy as a multi-purpose health aid.

10 facts about honey and bees

1. There are three types of bees in the hive: Queen, Worker and Drone. Honey bees have five eyes, and four wings that are latched into pairs by hooks. 2. Queen bees will lay as many as 2000 eggs on a good day and an average of one every 45 seconds. 3. Honey is a Hebrew word meaning enchant. Initially it was a culinary sweeter, and now is recognized worldwide as a healing ingredient in medicinal treatment.

4. Honey is 80% sugars and 20% water. Honey stored in air tight containers never spoils. Sealed honey vats found in King Tut’s tomb still contained edible honey, despite over 2,000 years beneath the desert sands. 5. Honey was so in demand in the eleventh century that it was a stipulation for German peasants to offer their feudal lords payment in honey and beeswax. 6. Honey bees from a typical hive visit approximately 225,000 flowers per day. Bees must visit approximately 2 million flowers and fly over 55,000 miles to make 1 pound of honey. 7. Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water. It’s also the only food that contains pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.

8. Honey bees never sleep, and they communicate with each other by dancing and by using pheromones. 9. Beeswax production in most hives is only about 1.5% to 2.0% of the honey yield. 10. Two tablespoons of honey would fuel a honey bee flying once around the world.