Health and Honey: How Can You Benefit from Nature’s Perfect Food?

As Mary Poppins would say, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Well, isn’t it awesome that, in the case of raw, natural honey that Allisons’ Apiaries sells, the sugar IS the medicine!

At some point in the relatively short history of humankind, a cave-dwelling homo sapiens (or maybe even a Neanderthal) looked up into a tree or a niche in a cliff and spotted a beehive dripping with sticky sweetness. Despite the buzzing of insects he probably knew would sting, he may have turned to a companion and said: “Hey, I think I want to try eating some of that stuff.”

We are so glad he did! Honey proved to be a great resource for us as we developed our societies, agricultural practices, and medicines to help us cope with a harsh, unforgiving planet.

This CNN article, “The proven health benefits of honey“, gives a pretty good overview of what honey does for us.

For example:

• Honey, because of its acidity, low water, and hydrogen peroxide content, can be used as an antibacterial covering for wounds to help them heal.
• Honey helps treat fevers and stomach problems.
• Honey is great for soothing a sore throat and easing nighttime coughs. Mixed with a little cayenne pepper, honey acts as a cough suppressant. (But never give it to anyone under the age of 1 year.)
• Bees provide pollination to help other beneficial plants grow, which in turn can feed and heal us as well as feed animals we also use for food and clothing.
• Beeswax was used by our ancestors for waterproofing. Today it is used in cosmetics and salves.

There are even indications that, with more study in human trials, honey could be found to be a way to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells. The antioxidants it contains could also help reduce incidences of heart disease.

Along with other good eating choices such as fresh fruits and vegetables found each Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Winter Garden Farmers Market, where we have our booth, honey is a delicious way to improve your health and to heal wounds.