Honey has numerous health benefits. It
would take a long time to list them all; however, there are a
few important benefits we should know about to help improve our
health and prolong our lives. Raw honey is about as natural as
you can get. Many beekeepers only filter large particles. However,
some companies pasteurize their honey to prevent granulation while
on store shelves. There has been debate as to whether pasteurizing
honey reduces some of its beneficial health properties. Every
county in Alabama has at least one beekeeper, so most individuals
should be able to locate local honey to purchase.
Numerous minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants are found in all
honey. Basically, all you need to take is just a teaspoon at bedtime
and a teaspoon of honey in the morning. The minerals found in
honey include magnesium, potassium, calcium, sulphur, iron, copper,
iodine, zinc, and phosphate. Vitamins include A (carotenes), B1
(thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinic acid), B5 (pantothenic
acid), C (ascorbic acid), H (biotin), and R (rutine). Antioxidants
are substances that help the body reduce the effects of cellular
damage and chronic diseases. The amount of antioxidants varies
with the floral sources of honey. For example, darker honey most
often has more antioxidants than lighter honey.
Honey also has some amazing antiseptic and skin healing properties. It contains antimicrobial agents that prevent infections by killing bacteria in and around the wounds. Many types of bacteria cannot survive in honey so wounds heal, swelling eases, and tissue grows back. Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was used to treat wounds. More research is being done on using honey for burn victims since it has shown to dramatically increase healing. Honey also has a wonderful ability to attract water, which makes it great for re-hydrating dry skin. Most individuals know how bad a sun burn hurts but honey can ease the pain and speed the healing process.
Bee pollen is another important substance found in honey. Bee pollen in itself is high in protein and contains all the above vitamins and minerals. But more importantly, it may provide some relief for those who suffer with seasonal allergies. Pollen can be purchased separately; however, one can still benefit from taking honey since it already contains trace amounts of pollen. Consuming pollen every day may help reduce the symptoms of pollen-related allergies by inoculating yourself. In addition, it is very important that pollen and honey be purchased locally since that is where the allergens are located. Because every person is different, one can only try it to determine its effectiveness.
Last Updated: June 23, 2010