Uses

What? Honey is healthy for the body? To most people, this is common knowledge. However, the average American consumers only 1lb of honey per year with some that have never even tried it! In a society that has gone into “health” mode, you may ask yourself, “why?” There are many reasons families do not eat and enjoy honey. Cost, availability of pure, quality honey, and lack of knowledge all play their part. So, instead of attacking the reasons why we do not, let’s focus on the reasons to develop a love for nature’s own finest sweetener.

White sugar is 100% carbohydrate, no-vitamins, and no minerals. Thus, assists in the heavy production of body fat. Honey, on the other hand, fights obesity one ounce at a time. An ounce or two of honey prior to bed refuels the liver, activates recovery physiology, and allows fats to be burned. Honey promotes glucose metabolism and therefore fat metabolism. And all of this overnight!

Honey is also an anti-diabetic. It reduces the overproduction of cortisol, which prevents cells from clearing glucose from the circulation. This is diabetes.

Honey can also supply your diet with thiamine and riboflavin (along with B-vitamins) and a good proportion of food minerals, plus some hormones and a few amino acids (proteins), together with diastase and enzymes to help digestion. It also has high Vitamin C content.

Instant energy is another strong attribute. Honey is predigested, so the body can make quick use of the energy. Dextrose is instantly usable. Honey is 99% dextrose.

There are a lot of medicinal benefits…When applied to burns and wounds, raw honey can promote healing. It may be strong enough to kill bad bacteria in the gut like E.coli, shigella, and salmonella, which can improve diarrhea. Several small studies in humans have concluded that honey, when consumed daily, halts the growth of helicobacter pylori; this is the bad bug implicated in ulcer formation. Honey has powerful antimicrobial properties, which can soothe your raw tissues, and cure your sore throat. Honey is also good for your skin. It is a natural moisurizer for your skin and your hair.

Allergies can be treated and sometimes cured with continued use of honey. If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may help prevent your seasonal allergies. Bees use the pollen from local plants and eventually it ends up in your honey.

The benefits are endless. Honey has been used for ages. We must get back to our roots and eat healthier, which includes consuming honey. A diet rich in honey leads to a much “sweeter” life.

From quick natural energy to beautiful skin, honey has many uses:

The benefits of honey go from A…to…Z

Allergies can be lessened and sometimes overcome with eating honey.
Burns heal faster and better.
Cooking with honey gives more flavor without weighing you down.
Diabetes can be helped using honey.
E.coli, shigella, and salmonella stand no chance with honey.
Fatigue can be a thing of the past with instant energy honey.
Good source of vitamins and minerals.
HONEY ROCKS!
Immune systems grow stronger and better with daily doses of honey.
Just an ounce a honey prior to bed refuels the liver and allows fats to burn.
Kills viruses, bacteria, and funguses.
Lubricating….thus it has a mild laxative effect.
Moisturizing for your skin as well as your hair.
Natural….no artificial flavors or preservatives.
Obesity is fought by taking daily doses of honey.
Predigested…so it is easy for the body to digest unlike sugar.
Quick source of energy.
Raw honey is a great way to build immunity to allergens.
Sweetener…man’s oldest and healthiest.
Thiamine and riboflavin for your diet can come from honey.
Ulcers can be treated and healed by honey.
Very good shelf life….100 years!
Wounds for centuries have been healed using honey.
Xellent source of B and C vitamins.
Your health increases day by day if honey is a part of your diet.
Zinc exists in honey.

And the best part…………..it is NATURE’S FINEST SWEETENER!

Cooking

• Reduce the liquid in a recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey you use.
• Replace sugar with honey: Simply substitute 3/4 cup honey in place of 1 cup of sugar. In cookie recipes using eggs and no additional liquid, increase the flour by 2 tablespoons per cup of honey, or enough flour to give the desired consistency. Chill before shaping and baking.
• For every cup of honey used in a recipe, increase the baking soda by 1/2 teaspoon.
• Reduce the oven temperature by 25º to prevent over browning.
• When baking cookies and scones, use honey to help reduce crumbling.
• For easy measuring, coat the measuring utensil with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray before you measure the honey.
• To freeze sliced or crushed fruits for the winter, use 1 part strained honey to 4 or 5 parts fruit. For whole fruits, add 1 cup of water to every 2 cups of honey. Use just enough of the diluted honey to cover the fruit.
• Add honey to fresh fruit or fruit salads. Honey’s acidic nature prevents fruit from turning brown. Use light-flavored honey so it doesn’t mask the fruit flavor.
• Make your own honey butter spread. Beat together 1/2 cup margarine or butter and 1/3 cup of honey until smooth (about 3 or 4 minutes) and you have honey butter spread. Beelicious!
• To glaze meat, such as ham or turkey, turn the oven temperature to 225º and baste with honey every 10 to 15 minutes during the last hour of baking.
• Add honey, 1 teaspoon at a time, to foods that are too spicy or too salty, such as chili. Honey will tame down the spices while enhancing the flavor, and you won’t notice the sweetness.
• Honey contains a wide array of vitamins, such as vitamin B-6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
• Use honey as a topping on ice cream, pureed fruit or on meat.
• For a sweet, shiny glaze on your dessert, mix honey with melted butter and drizzle over angel food cake or pound cake.
• Need a topping for cupcakes or a carrot cake? Soften an 8-oz. package of cream cheese and mix with 1/4 cup of honey and a pinch of salt. Cream until smooth.
• Brush honey on warm baked goods for a sweet shiny glaze.
• Combine equal parts Dijon-style mustard and honey. Spread on sandwiches, use as a dip for vegetables and pretzels, or brush on grilled meat and sausages.
• Drizzle honey over pancakes or cornbread.
• Sweeten your barbecue sauce by adding 2 tablespoons honey into prepared sauce. Add more to suit your taste.
• Granulation does not affect the taste or purity of honey. Honey never spoils. It may be used granulated or restored to a liquid. To reliquify honey place the open glass or can container (never plastic) in a pan of hot water until all crystals melt.

Beauty

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 the natural ability to attract and retain moisture and is an important factor in beauty products because of its ability to help skin maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity.

Relax with a honey bath: Relax with a honey bath: Add 1/4 cup honey to your bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Healthy hair: Keep your hair healthy with a hair shine: Stir 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups of warm water. (Add lemon if desired.) After shampooing, pour the honey mixture through hair. Do not rinse. Dry as normal.

Hair conditioner: Mix 1/2 cup honey with 1/4 cup olive oil. (For normal to oily hair, use only 2 tablespoons oil.) Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap and shampoo well. Rinse. Dry as normal.

Acne remedy: Honey helps clear up acne without drying your skin! Use soothing skin clarifier to help clear up minor acne: Mix 1/2 cup warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture directly to the blemish. Maintain pressure with the cotton ball for several minutes. This softens the blemish. Then, using a cotton swab, dab honey on the blemish and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Skin lotion: Keep your skin smooth with smoothing skin lotion. Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Sunscreen: Protect your skin from sun damage by consuming honey and using smoothing skin lotion.

Cleansing scrub: Make your own honey cleansing scrub. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming mask: Keep your skin looking young with the honey firming face mask. Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Facial toner: In blender, puree 1 tablespoon honey with a peeled, cored apple. Smooth over face; leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Moisture mask: Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Medicine

• When consumed daily, pure honey will reduce your body’s susceptibility to infections.
• Because of honey’s fructose content, many claim it is a cure for a hangover.
• Swallowing a teaspoon of honey may soothe a sore throat or cough.
• Boost your daily supply of antioxidants by eating honey.
• If you’re feeling tired and need a boost of energy, stir a spoonful of honey into a glass of water or add honey and fresh fruit to yogurt for a power-packed snack!
• Honey is a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B-6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.

Energy Boost

Honey is a great source of energy. For a quick boost of energy:

• Stir a spoonful of honey into your morning juice or afternoon yogurt.
• Sweeten your coffee or tea with honey.
• Drizzle honey on your favorite cereal or look for home-sweetened cereals in the grocery store.
• Make a peanut butter and honey sandwich.
• Dip apple slices and other fresh fruit in honey.
• Eat a spoonful of honey before your morning jog or exercise routine.
• To replenish energy and fluids, stir a spoonful of honey into a glass of water.
• Spread honey on toasted bread, bagels or English muffins