Sweet sweet honey. So good for you - and so many uses! To be clear, I'm talking about RAW honey here. That means unpasteurized, unheated, unprocessed - nectar straight from the extractor still brim full of nutrients.
So, your first step? Go buy some raw honey from your local apiary!
K, done that? Great. Now get yourself a spoonful and finish reading this post. :)
Honey contains: Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Niacin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Sodium, Zinc, Potassium, Phosphorus, NO fat, and NO cholesterol. It contains carbohydrates, amino acids, fructose, glucose, enzymes as well as some pollen and water (the less water the higher quality honey).
Honey is an
alkalizing food. Taken orally, it's useful for nausea, indigestion, and heartburn. It's also an
antioxidant and does not ferment in your stomach. Honey (again, RAW honey) contains an enzyme called amylase which is very helpful in the digestion of starchy foods. Honey can
reduce cholesterol. It can also give you a spurt of energy without a 'sugar crash'. So remember Mary Poppins singing "just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" ? - if the sugar is raw honey,
it IS the medicine.
Applied directly on skin it is useful for treating acne, scarring, minor burns, athletes foot, and almost every other skin ailment. It is
antibacterial and
antimicrobial as well as
nourishing and
healing for the skin.
Ways honey can make a difference in your health:
Tis the season to be sick. Sore throat? Mix a teaspoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon with warm water and drink twice a day.
Problem skin? Wash your face and wear a mask of raw honey for ten minutes. Do this every day if you like! It puts nutrients right into your skin, fades scars, heals acne and restores moisture.
Energy lagging in the afternoon? Looking for an alternative to coffee? Have some green tea with a teaspoon of raw honey for the perfect caffeine/sugar boost without the sugar crash.
Honey also helps you sleep, so change your green tea for chamomile in the evening!
My piece de resistance ~
The ultimate cold-kicker, health-booster and DELICIOUS ginger teriyaki sauce
2 tblsp honey
2 tsp olive oil
1 tblsp raw grated/pureed/finely chopped ginger
1 tblsp raw grated/pureed/finely chopped garlic
2 tblsp soya sauce
3 tblsp water
1 tsp cornstarch
(Change amounts according to your personal taste)
1) In a saucepan on low heat add oil, garlic and ginger. Heat 2-3 minutes until the flavour and aroma is released into the oil.
2) Mix the rest of the ingredients into the saucepan. Keep it on a low heat so you don't kill the benefits of the raw ginger, garlic and honey.
3) Serve over stir-fries, salmon, vegetables, rice, chicken, or ice-cream for that matter
Enjoy!
Tip: When you have honey in your tea, DON'T put it straight into hot just-boiled water, it will kill many of the nutritive and antioxidant qualities of raw honey. Drink your tea a little more luke-warm to ensure the full benefits of raw honey.
Here's a fun quiz to tell you a bit more about honey:
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/myth-or-fact.html
Have a great day: enjoy some honey and some dancing today and feel confident you're investing in a long, happy, healthy life :)
