Often considered a sweet treat, honey is much more than just a natural sweetener. With approximately the same relative sweetness as granulated sugar, honey possesses a variety of nutritional benefits that typical sugar does not. With a medicinal history that dates back to ancient Egypt, honey can be used to treat and prevent a wide variety of health conditions.
What is Honey?
A sweet liquid, honey is made by bees from the nectar of flowers. While other varieties of honey exist, the most common form is that produced by honey bees. Honey bees transform flower nectar into honey using a process that involves regurgitation and evaporation. As it is created, the bees store the liquid in wax honeycombs inside the beehive as a primary source of food.
Organic honey is collected from wild bee colonies or domesticated beehives. The honeycomb is carefully removed from the hive, and then the honey is extracted from that, typically using an extractor. Following extraction, the honey is filtered and then stored for use.
Health Benefits of Honey
An effective concept to live by is Hippocrates’ statement, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Honey is one such substance that exemplifies this statement. Considered nature’s energy booster, honey is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries. A rich source of natural sugars, honey also contains a host of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Riboflavin, Niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium are among honey’s most prevalent nutrient resources. However, the golden liquid contains a variety of others as well. As such, honey can be thought of as one of the most effective yet simplest forms of nutrition and health support.
The substance is effective for treating variety of conditions including skin disorders and ulcers, the common cold, sore throat, acne, eye infection and others. Consumed daily, the substance also helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, weight gain and inflammatory diseases.
While the sweet liquid actually contains more carbohydrates and calories per serving compared to regular table sugar, honey possesses a variety of health benefits whereas sugar has none. Used as a medical treatment and preventative, honey is considered the simplest yet most effective option available.