From the experts at Drizzle Honey
Honey is a sweet, golden coloured, thick substance made from the nectar of flowers by the honeybee. It’s super old-school too, with use dating back to approximately 8000 years. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, hailed honey just as the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Romans, Mayans and Chinese did for its powerful nutritional and medicinal properties. It has a tradition in almost every culture in the world, where it’s used in a variety of ways, making it a truly universal food source.
The benefits of honey are plentiful, but let’s break some down together:
It’s Immortal: Well not in the vampire sense, but due to its natural antimicrobial properties honey does not go bad, so literally lives forever! Some data suggests that it can even be left uncovered and does not spoil. How cool is that?
It Promotes Wound Healing: Honey’s powerful antimicrobial nature helps to explain why it’s so effective at healing the skin from minor irritations, cuts and burns. Did you know that there are a variety of medical settings globally that use medicinal grade honey to heal burns and wounds? Although honey can be used as DIY ointment for minor cuts and burns, be sure to seek medical attention if you are seriously injured or burned.
Your Skin Loves This Humectant & Moisturizer: On top of its antimicrobial properties, honey is packed with antioxidants, which are not only needed for the maintenance of good health, but are crucial for keeping our skin tight, toned and youthful! In short, visible signs of aging are due to oxidation of the skin, so when antioxidants are added to it, they help inhibit the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even have brightening properties. Because honey is a humectant, it keeps the skin barrier moist by attracting water from the air into the skin. Some people use honey to gently lighten their hair or as a rescue mask for dry, brittle hair and even wash their face with it.
It Soothes Sore Throats and Coughs: Ever wonder why people tell you to drink honey and lemon when you’re sick? Because honey has both anti-inflammatory and immune supportive properties, it’s a great at home remedy when you’re under the weather. Honey has been shown to increase immune defense cells which are needed to fight off pathogens, while its thick consistency and yummy taste help to soothe a sore throat. It also has expectorant properties, which lessens the frequency of cough, by thinning mucus so the body can expel it easier. Don’t give honey to a child under the age of 1 because of the risk of botulism.
Honey is miraculous and should be added to your diet if possible! Drizzle's collection of raw, unpasteurized, truly sustainable honey is the perfect addition as an all around staple to add to dishes or if you want to use honey in the ways suggested above. If you want to elevate your palate and diet, choose from our selection of superfood honeys that have been infused with extra good stuff for bolder flavour and added nutrients.
[References: Samarghandian, Saeed, et al. “Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research.” Pharmacognosy Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424551/#ref1]
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