Lots of recipes take hand of honey to add its sweetness.
Ever wondered how much effort and hard work is behind the honey making process?
The bees in the colony must visit at least 2 million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles to collect just ½ kg of honey. This would be the lifetime work of approximately 768 bees! Our ancestors were very well aware of the benefits of honey and for a long it is been used for its medicinal values. In Siddha and Ayurveda use of honey is prominent.
Honey is actually the stored food for bees. The colour, smell and taste depend on the kind of flowers they have visited to collect nectar. It contains minerals, nutrients and has absolutely no fiber, fat and proteins. One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories.
Why is honey better than sugar?
Honey is 80% sugar and 10% water. Negative impacts of white sugar are already known to all. Although honey also contains simple sugars in its chemical structure, it is quite different from white sugar. Honey also has dextrin, which is a starchy fiber. This regulates blood sugar level, hence making it safer to consume. Diabetic patients still have to take caution before consuming it.
Why honey?
- Remedy for cold:
Mainstream medicines cannot be effective all the time and it can also cause side effects. Honey is a soothing remedy for cough in children and adults. It cures symptoms of cough and improves sleep. It is advised that children under 12 months should not be given honey due to the risk of botulism.
- Improves growth of friendly bacteria:
Honey is rich in probiotics thus help digestion, good immunity and reduces allergies.
- Balances blood pressure:
Consumption of honey would balance the blood pressure and have beneficial impact on RBC and WBC count in blood.
- Heals wounds:
Application of honey on burns and wounds would heal them fast. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and hence sterilizes wound. It destroys antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Worker bees which are females transform the collected nectar into honey by adding enzymes and reducing the moisture content. Honey when stored in air tight glass containers can last long, say it would not rot at all.
Dark coloured honey is said to have more antioxidants. Highest medicinal values are seen in honeys collected from mountain forests. This amber liquid has got everything to sustain human life including water and minerals.
