Benefits of Honey

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January 8, 2014

Mmm I love honey.  I actually used to hate honey but over the past few years, my taste buds have changed for the better.  My favorite way to eat honey is with butter on a piece of sour dough toast.  I’ll be having that tonight as a late-night snack.  Mmm.  OK back to the point of this post.

The possible benefits of eating honey have been documented in early Roman, Vedic, Greek and Islamic texts.  The healing powers of honey were mentioned by philosophers and scientists since ancient times.  We’re talking about Aristotle and Aristoxenus here. 

honey
(source)

Raw honey is honey that hasn’t been heated, pasteurized or processed.  If you can get raw honey, I highly recommend it, because the differences in benefits between raw and pasteurized honey are substantial. 

Raw honey:

  • contains natural vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants and other natural nutrients that can help people digest food more easily and help treat ulcers and diarrhea
  • can be used as a probiotic because some varieties of honey possess large amount of friendly bacteria including up to 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria
  • has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties
  • promotes body and digestive health
  • strengthens the immune system
  • eliminates allergies
  • is an excellent remedy for skin wounds and infections
  • is useful in treating upper respiratory infections.  Studies have shown that a small amount of raw honey was more effective than an over-the-counter cough treatment.
  • can be a great at-home skin treatment to nourish and moisturize

Talk to Me

  • Do you like honey?
  • What’s your favorite kind of honey/where do you buy it?
  • Did you know about the health benefits of honey?
Comments ▼
Meredith @ DareYouTo

I do like honey! I prefer to use honey or maple syrup as a sweetener when baking.

Just stumbled over your post on twitter. Beautiful article! I feel with you, I used to hate honey and couldn’t stand the smell. Now I’m adding it to almost everything sweet and couldn’t imagine living without. My favorite is honey-mustard dressing. You can read about it on my blog if you like http://www.eatcooksmile.com/homemade-mustard-dressing/
Maybe it’s something you can use your honey for 🙂
Cheers
Yulia

Tara @ A Daily Dose of Fit

Thanks for sharing this! I have what I like to call a Honey Lady at my gym. She has bees, and brings me jars of the gold stuff every so often. There is always locally produced honey in my kitchen…and I forget how great it is!

I’m a honey snob! Love local yummy honey.

Pamela Hernandez (@ThriveFit)

If I have a cold nothing beats honey in my tea. 🙂

LOVE honey in my tea. PERFECT DRINK.

great post! i love honey so these reasons just are an added bonus!!!

Thanks Linz! Hope you’re enjoying pregnant life!

Chelsea @ A Fit LittleOne

I love honey! I eat it every day with my banana. I had no idea it had that many health benefits. Off to go check if mine is Raw, which I’m pretty sure it isn’t haha

I def need to get raw honey. I keep buying the processed stuff!