Honey is known for its many healing properties. Many believe that adding unfiltered, unprocessed, unheated honey to your daily diet can alleviate arthritis, reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol and reduce allergies. Honey has also been known to calm an upset stomach, lessen cold symptoms, strengthen the immune system and provide extra energy during a workout. As one of nature’s natural anti-biotics honey also heals wounds while minimizing scarring.
Honey’s that have a wide variety of pollens, like Allergy Bee Gone, have achieved wonderful results in minimizing many people’s allergies. A tablespoon of lavender honey before bed helps people achieve a restful night’s sleep. Cinnamon and turmeric combined with buckwheat honey reduces inflammation in the joints relieving pain from arthritis and strengthens the immune system. Cinnamon honey is also known to help people recover from strokes, help lower cholesterol and eliminate bad breath.
There are many types of honey and not all honey has the same healing properties. Honey that has been processed or heated will not have the enzymes that aid in digestion. Filtered honey removes many types of pollen and other properties that aid in digestion, alleviated cold symptoms and reduce allergies.
When purchasing honey you should know that USDA Organic does not mean the honey is from the United States. Currently the United States has not defined organic honey. Tests completed on honey produced in the U.S. that is not organic have shown extremely small traces of pesticide. It is more important however that the honey be processed organically. It is during this stage that pesticides and other contaminants can penetrate the honey at high levels.
Scott Shurman and Jean Vasicek, beekeepers and owners of Winter Park Honey, suggest asking the following questions from the beekeeper you purchase your honey from.
1. How many beehives do you have? If they do not have any beehives than they are not in control of how their honey is being processed.
2. How do you treat for mites? You are looking to make sure that pesticides are not used.
3. How do you feed your bees? Bees should be fed their own honey for most of the year. You do not want to purchase honey from a beekeeper that only feeds the bees sugar water.
4. Are you state certified for beekeeping and for your bottling facility? This answer should be yes.
5. Do you heat your honey? Purchase honey that has not been heated.
6. Do you filter your honey? The more honey is filtered the less medicinal benefits it will have.
Shurman, Scott and Vasicek, Jean. Interview September 28, 2011. http://www.winterparkhoney.com
Stefan Bogdanov. Honey in Medicine. Web. May 5, 2011. http://www.bee-hexagon.net
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Honey Can Serve as an Effective Carbohydrate Replacement During Endurance Exercise. 2004;18(3): 466-72. Web. http://www.honey.com/nhb
Traci Brosman has studied the mind and the role it plays in success, happiness and health for over twenty years. As co-founder of World Wellness Education she educates and inspires people to live healthier lives via her speaking appearances, TV shows, wellness tip videos, articles and conference calls.
Traci believes integrative medicine will become the medicine of first choice and not the medicine of last resort. This has led her to start Holistic Marketing Mentors and help wellness professionals create ease and flow in their business while increasing profits. Her clients learn to leverage their businesses so that they can help more people and not work twelve and fifteen hour days. Her powerful mastermind sessions are known to help participants break past barriers and stop the cycle of self-sabotage.
Brosman’s latest book, Mastering Your Wellness Business, gives you core business principles to running a successful wellness business and staying sane while doing it.
This information is not meant to be medical advice. No action or inaction should be taken solely on the contents of this information. Instead, you should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being.