Shopping aisles are frequently full of cheap honey that will sweeten your palette but will do nothing for your health. It is usually pasteurised (heated) well above 34 degrees which blasts out the natural goodness. Why is this specific temperature so important? It is the temperature at which the honeybee colony keeps the hives & as a result the optimum temperature for their honey. Commercially, bees are frequently fed sugar syrup to increase yield. This cheap alternative is not full of flower power nectar. It won’t contain the subtle flavours & it certainly won’t contain the healing properties.
March 21, 2020
HONEY THAT HEALS
So when is honey not good for you?
Its the real thing.
Along with fructose and glucose, pure, raw honey contains many amino acids, vitamins, minerals & enzymes. Honey has more naturally occurring antioxidants (substances that reduce the negative effects of free radicals) than almost any other botanically/naturally-derived source. So the saying goes, 'you are what you eat'. So eat the good stuff. Raw unpasteurised, & ‘pure’. What do I mean by pure? Not blended from EU and non-EU countries (read the side of the label to find out). Seek out your local beekeepers, check the honey is not heated, and the bees are not fed sugar & you are buying the best for your health.
This photo is of my first honey of 2017, from my Woodland Apiary on the Foothills of the firehills, Hastings. Sold to a parent who's little girl has hay fever. Most of us know from our natural medicine cabinet that honey and lemon make a great cough syrup (A spoonful before bed helps reduce mucus secretion). Remember keep it neat don’t heat!
No more sneezing
Did you know that honey could also help: Allergy sufferers (taken over 4 to 8 weeks), as long as the honey has not been over-filtered, as this will remove the potential of 40 or so pollens that relate to the allergy. Look at it like a homeopathic medicine; as you are taking tiny bits of pollen mixed with all those honey enzymes to build your health and resistance.
Boost your energy with honey
Honey is a natural energy source & boosts immunity because its full of antioxidants. Boom! You won’t need coffee! Honey before bed too helps a restful sleep (& activates serotonin).
Spice up Your honey for serious health conditions
Consuming honey might lower glucose levels, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Islamic Establishment for Education in the United Arab Emirates. They discovered that diabetic subjects consuming 250 ml of water with 75 g of honey daily for 15 days experienced decreases in blood glucose levels compared with those ingesting dextrose. The findings were published in the spring 2004 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food". Other research points to incorporating cinnamon spice to control insulin levels too. It lowers cholesterol & can prevent heart disease. I am currently doing my own research into diabetes & testing these findings on my diabetic partner.
It is said that a spoonful of honey makes the medicine go down but honey is the medicine itself.
Heal that wound
Honey heals wounds as it's antibacterial. On Inside Health (radio 4) lead consultant Dr. Naiem Moiemen explains “Honey is hydroscopic, which means it draws water from everywhere, so it’s good for the swelling of the wound and also the enzymes in the honey combat bacteria, when put directly on the wound."
In my Bee Potion skincare I use propolis, honey, pollen and beeswax because of their incredible anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial properties wrapped up with antioxidants & vitamins.
HONEY IS ANTI-AGING
Surely not (compared to that expensive synthetic face cream). I read about the secrets of histories ancient queens (Cleopatra & Nefertiti) who used honey as part of their beauty regimes. I discovered when using my honey face packs, my complexion was looking fresher and smoother. Not a bad trait as I am turning 50. The photo above is me (with a honey face mask on).
Honey is a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air into the skin & is then able to retain it where it’s needed for hydration. The enzymes in raw honey also clarify skin, which keep pores clean, prevent sunburn & bacterial build-up. Honey has natural peroxide in it, which also means it helps to reduce liver spots. My research has brought me to understand that different types of honey are better than some for anti-aging. This is why I now use African Forest Honey from a co-operative in Zambia in my cleanser & facial products. It’s dark and rich. So says, Sandra Dean (Biochemist) at https://alwayshealthyliving.com/best-honey-face/ ‘The basic rule of thumb when selecting a honey is that the darker it is the higher the level of antioxidants it contains, and the more protective anti-ageing benefits for your skin it provides.”
BEE YOUNG
So this brings me to the amazing Bee Potion product Bee Young. I combine dark African Organic Forest honey, from Zambia, with plant extract of Aloe Vera (also an antioxidant powwow) and incredibly refreshing. I then mix a very expensive ingredient: 2% organic sea algae (Cylindrotheca Fusiformis). This boosts skin collagen, which helps support elasticity and firmness in the skin. Bee Young is an ultimate all-natural skin food. I use it morning and night to both cleanse & tone. I remove light make-up with it and also first thing in the morning its a great wake me up for the skin. What a difference it is making. It’s so refreshing & comes off beautifully with water. Often I will leave it on for 30 minutes or more to let the honey & seaweed do its work to tighten my skin and deeply moisturise it. The 100ml bottle will last at least a couple of months as its very concentrated & you only need to use a small amount on your face. All our Bee Potion products are multi-purpose & designed for your multi-tasking lifestyles . Bee Young is super nourishing, refreshing and will help your skin on many levels. The honey is organic, ethical & fair-trade, where beekeeping is part of the culture. You will be glad to hear that the bee economy in the Zambian villages is supporting communities as well as health.