Photo by Oleg Gapeenko on Vecteezy

• Share

PRINT

The buzz on honey and its many benefits

Honey, a luscious, golden elixir, has not only graced our breakfast tables and sweetened our tea, but has been revered for its medicinal benefits for millennia. While it’s a natural sweet treat for many, there are some intriguing facts about honey that may surprise you.

Here are the top five medicinal magic properties of honey:

It’s anti-microbial

Honey’s claim to fame is not just its sweetness. Rich in antioxidants, it fights off free radicals and repairs tissue damage. With its natural antibacterial properties, honey speeds up the healing of wounds and even combats certain harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, it’s also a soothing remedy for sore throats and coughs. The osmotic effect of honey draws out bacteria from inflamed pores, making it a darling in many skincare regimens.

If you make homemade yogurt like I do, you should know that it will not ferment if you add “raw” honey because the natural antibiotic properties will kill your probiotic starter culture during incubation.

Different flowers are used

Not all honey is created equal. From almost clear to deep brown, honey’s hue is determined mainly by its floral source.

Dark kinds of honey, like buckwheat, are rich in antioxidants and flavor. (By the way, buckwheat-derived honey is still wheat and gluten-free.) Lighter kinds of honey, like those from orange blossoms, offer a milder taste.

And then there’s the star of the honey world: Manuka. Hailing from New Zealand, Manuka honey boasts unique therapeutic properties and is often used in wound care.

No honey for babies

Honey and infants? Wait until their first birthday. Babies below the age of 12 months shouldn’t be given honey due to the risk of botulism. But as children grow older, they can safely savor its sweetness.

Vegan or just vegetarian?

Honey’s place in the vegan or vegetarian diet stirs debate. While it comfortably sits on vegetarian menus, its vegan status is contentious.

Since it’s a bee byproduct, many vegans prefer plant-based sweeteners like Bee Free® Honee, monk fruit or stevia.

Allergies

If you are allergic to some flowers, as many people are, it’s natural to question whether the honey derived from that flower’s nectar would also trigger an allergic reaction.

However, honey allergies stemming from floral sources are quite rare. This is because the pollen grains from flowers responsible for most pollen allergies are too large to be carried by bees.

Instead, bees carry smaller, nectar-bearing pollen grains, which rarely cause allergic reactions. Once collected, bees return to their hive and transform this nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation, enzymatic activity and evaporation.

In short, honey is not collected from a flower’s stems or leaves. That said, it’s always good to avoid potential problems with honey if you have severe allergies, and of course, consult your allergist/immunologist.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.