That Sweet Ooey Gooey Stuff - Invaluable Honey

Hello Everyone!!! It’s another good Thursday……. it’s fast becoming my favourite day of the week. This one seems to have come faster than usual; I suppose it’s because I spent last week making my first ever Sourdough Starter and it turned out right! 👏Did someone ask “what is that?” Simply put, I made my own natural yeast for baking. It’s not hard at all, all you need is flour and water… that will be a topic for another day. Today is about my second favourite thing……….

HONEY

It is one of the best things in life. It’s not only sweet but very valuable. 

That sweet, sticky and gooey stuff from bees is one of the most versatile and nutritious things to have at home. 

According to Benjamin Franklin, “if you have no Honey in your Pot, have some in your Mouth”! I totally agree.

Most people see honey as a sweetener or a better form of sugar. However, it is not only a great replacement for sugar but an invaluable food for health.

To begin, honey reduces blood pressure - a key factor for heart disease; it has a positive effect on cholesterol - it raises the good one (HDL) and lowers the bad one (LDL)

Honey prevents blood clots which lead to Stroke; It soothes and cleanses the digestive tract, making metabolism and digestion better as well as preventing acid reflux. 

It is also known to improve memory, boost immunity and energy, relieve coughs, sore throat, heartburn and allergies. It enhances sleep as it relaxes the body and mind (cocoa and honey before bed is a winner, I can testify to that again and again). 

Honey heals wounds and burns (I use it when I have accidents in the kitchen and it has saved me from many a scar); it also promotes beautiful skin, hair and nails. 

Honey has anti-aging properties, clears and moisturises the skin; it is also antiseptic, which is why it’s used to treat acne. It contains copper which is good for those who think they may be greying faster than they like. 

A teaspoonful of honey daily can bring about a cleansed digestive tract, clearer skin, healthier heart. This may reduce and over time take away the craving for sugar (I bet that’s good news for someone!)

Some honey contain as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables - the same ones that protect our bodies from cell damage. Honey has antibacterial and anti-fungus properties that kill unwanted bacteria and fungus.

A teaspoon of honey and lemon in warm water may soothe coughs and sore throats. A mixture of honey and cinnamon may relieve an  upset stomach and bladder infections. (Please note that there are two types of cinnamon, Cassia (the more common one) and Ceylon. When consuming cinnamon in large doses or over an extended period of time, make sure it is Ceylon cinnamon you use and not the more common type Cassia, which can cause toxic harm if eaten in large quantity).

Infants below a year old should not be given honey to avoid the risk of infant botulism (the bacteria that causes it thrive in soil and dust). And anyone who is diabetic should check with their doctor before consuming honey.

As with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to reap the benefits of honey, one must eat only the good quality ones. Unfortunately, honey adulteration is a widespread problem. Good quality honey is honey that is not altered or mixed with other substances like sugar, corn syrup or molasses.

Most honey sold in stores are honey flavoured corn syrup and they contain preservatives, glucose, sugar, syrup, flour, starch etc. They are also pasteurised to extend shelf life, improve colour and texture. The heat from the process of pasteurisation destroys the beneficial nutrients. 

The best honey is the RAW HONEY, that is, essentially unpasteurised and unfiltered with a moisture content of no more than 14%. A higher level of moisture will cause fermentation , which will cause the honey to lose its freshness. Look for single origin and unblended honey when shopping. 

You can check for moisture content by turning your well sealed honey container upside down and watch bubbles rise. If the bubbles rise fast, it means the water content is high.

Common terms used on honey are:

Natural - this is an unregulated term in the Honey Industry and probably means processed.

Organic - this means the honey is produced from organically grown plants. It has nothing to do with the honey.

Pure - this means it is 100% honey but it says nothing about how the honey was produced. May be pasteurised.

Raw - essentially unfiltered and unpasteurised. This is the type you want to buy.

More..............

One of the five places where people forget to die, start their day with a spoonful of honey. Check it out.

It takes about 1100 bees to produce 1kg of honey. That may be why it is adulterated.

Honey has natural preservatives and can last forever.

Till next week, stay safe!

                                          

                                                Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Live Well! 😊