Do you know how many bees it takes to make about a pound of honey?  Try 60,000 bees traveling over 55,000 miles and 2 million flowers to gather enough nectar for about a pound of honey.  Phew, busy bees for sure!

No doubt, we should be in absolute awe over these buzzing beauties. But what about that one pound of honey?  It’s just as awesome (just ask Winnie the Pooh!) and here’s why…

1. Antioxidants

Perhaps pouring a spoonful of honey instead of sugar is exactly what the doctor ordered.  It’s been shown that a daily dose of honey will raise disease fighting antioxidants in the blood mainly because of the varying concentration of polyphenols found in this golden elixir.  One study verified this exciting finding by proving a direct link between honey consumption and polyphenol levels.  If found that the more polyphenol-containing honey that was eaten, the higher levels of antioxidants found in the study participants blood.  

FUN FACT:

Beehives of the famous…  Did you know there are some famous beekeepers?

• Samuel L. Jackson
• Martha Stewart (why doesn’t this surprise us!)
• The White House – Michelle Obama installed beehives in the White House kitchen garden in 2009 where they still thrive while Karen Pence has added a hive of her own.
• Sherlock Holmes – what does a world famous detective do when he retires?  Manage a hive of his own!

2.  Antiseptic

One of the oldest known antibiotics, honey can be traced back to ancients times when the Egyptians used it as a natural antibiotic and skin protectant (in fact they even preserved their corpses with the liquid gold).  Hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids and bee defensin-1 are just some of the chemical components found in the breakdown of honey and they pack a punch to bugs like staphylococcus and streptococcus not to mention it is a powerhouse bandage when it comes to wounds. Not only can it kill germs that accelerate infection in open wounds but expedites the healing process too.

3.  Soothes our throat and coughs

You may have rolled your eyes but grandma knows! Honey helps soothe your cough. All you have to do is walk the cold and cough aisle of your local pharmacy to see how many bags of cough drops use honey in their ingredients.  And studies back it up, as many have found that honey is a better natural solution than dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine for cough suppression, especially at night.

Try it…  DIY Honey drops

4.  Hangover Cure?

If you’ve suffered from a hangover then you know that you would do anything to feel better (and fast!).  Honey just might be the answer.  Although no scientific evidence shows that honey is a “cure,” it certainly can be used as an effective natural treatment. In fact, studies done by a headache expert in the UK, at the Royal Society of Chemistry, have identified ‘honey on toast’ as a sure hangover remedy. How does it do that? When the body breaks down alcohol the hangover is felt from a buildup of toxins. With a one two punch!  First, the powerful antioxidants in honey neutralize the toxins by converting them into a natural substance that the body can get rid of. The second punch comes in the high amount of fructose that speeds up the rate at which your body can process the alcohol.  And, this is what any hangover sufferer wants… fast relief! (For all those who consider a “hair of the dog” the fast-acting hangover relief, what it really is doing is replacing the pain with the same type of relief (alcohol) that got you to hangover stage in the first place).  

5.  A Better Choice than Sugar

Sweeter than sugar so you will use less (a good thing!) but more specifically, honey has a lower glycemic index so it won’t raise blood sugar as quickly as white sugar does.  And, if you choose raw honey you get the benefits of all the vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants missing in white sugar.

Try it…  Curl up with a good book and cup of tea sweeten with honey

Honey Ginger Lemon Tea (from the thespruceeats.com)

Ingredients:

• 1-inch fresh ginger root (no need to peel)
• 1 cup water (boiling)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 tablespoon honey (raw, unpasteurized)
• Optional: 1 shot whiskey

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Grate the ginger into a teapot, medium bowl or large measuring cup.
3. Pour 1 cup boiling water over the ginger and let it steep for 3 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, put the lemon juice and the honey in a large mug.
5. Strain the ginger tea into the mug.

Do you love honey?  How do you incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle?  Share your ideas on our Facebook Page.

Deb Fries is a freelance designer and writer, she’s worked with Julianna Rae in graphics and customer service and now writes lifestyle pieces for the blog at juliannarae.com/blog.