Aww Honey, Honey

I sat next to a wonderful couple in a cooking class at L'Academie de Cuisine one evening. As class was wrapping up we began chatting about our interest in cooking. It turned that the couple owns Bee America, and are purveyors of varietal and artisanal honeys and honey gifts. We exchanged business cards . A few days later I sent a follow up email asking if they would consider writing a post for my blog. Tamara Zemlo,  Bee America's President replied immediately affirmatively.
 When I asked Tamara to tell me about Bee America she said, "Bee America sweetens your life with the wholesome goodness of pure American Honey. We offer varietal honeys from iconic regions of the United States; artisanal honeys that capture historic eras in America's past; and natural, honey-based body care products. We started raising bees when our children were very young and as they have grown, so has the size of our apiary."
  Below are Tamara's tips about using honey.  Amazing Honey: Tips for Improving Your Health and Well Being

Honey has a venerable history when it comes to the role it has played not only in enriching the human diet, but also as a valued medicinal compound. Some of the earliest evidence of gathering honey from wild colonies is from rock paintings dating to around 8,000 BC in caves in Spain. In ancient Greek, Roman, Indian, and Islamic texts, there are references to the diverse healing properties of honey. It can be ingested as a treatment for coughs, allergies and other ailments or it can be applied directly to the skin as balm for healing rashes, burns and cuts. Honey is at its most potent in its natural state, i.e., "raw", which means that it is not pasteurized. Raw honey has the substantial benefit of being chock full of active vitamins and minerals, powerful antioxidants and beneficial enzymes. These nutrients are actually destroyed during the pasteurization process.

Amazingly, raw honey is incredibly powerful: it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal super powers. It can fortify the immune system, alleviate allergies and promote digestive health. Honey has a proven clinical ability to treat serious skin injuries and infections. Raw honey has also been used to regulate blood pressure, control sugar levels in the body and lessen ulcer inflammation.

A single teaspoon of honey makes an effective expectorant for treating respiratory conditions. Local honey can help relieve seasonal allergies because it contains small amounts of antigens from the pollen that are ubiquitous to a specific geographical area.
Here are five simple ways to improve your health naturally by using honey:

1. Treat Skin Injuries
Honey dressings haven been shown to be an effective antiseptic for treating burns, scrapes, incisions and ulcers. When honey comes in to contact with a wound, hydrogen peroxide is slowly produced, which generates antibacterial activity that does not damage body tissues.
Tip: Spread the honey on a dressing and apply this to the wound rather than applying the honey directly to the wound.

2. Relieve Itches from Bug Bites
Honey's anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for soothing the itch and redness caused by insect bites, particularly mosquitos. Because honey has the added benefit of being anti-microbial, it can also help prevent infection.
Tip: Use a Q-tip and take a small amount of honey and apply it directly to the bite.

3. Boost Your Immune System
Honey contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that prevent cells from suffering from free radical damage. Many epidemiological studies have shown that regular intake of phenolic compounds is associated with the reduced risk of heart disease.
Tip: To enhance your immune system’s performance, add one to two tablespoons of honey to your tea or a mug of warm water on a daily basis.

4. Improve Your Digestion
Individuals who suffer from indigestion will find relief from the antiseptic properties of honey, which help reduce stomach acidity. Honey can also neutralize gas and can help soothe overextended stomachs.
Tip: Ingest one or two tablespoons of honey before rich meals or if you’ve already overeaten, drink a cup of warm water and honey to help aid digestion.

5. Pamper Your Skin
Honey is the ultimate skin care secret…its anti-microbial and antifungal help protect skin. And, honey has the ability to absorb and retain moisture, which helps to keep the skin well hydrated and dewy looking.
Tip: Apply a dab of raw, organic honey directly to blemishes and let the skin absorb its medicinal properties while you sleep.

Thank you Tamara for sharing your knowledge about honey!

 

 
Want to know more about honey? Buy honey from Bee America? Visit Bee America's website
Follow Bee America on Twitter, @BeeAmerica
Like Bee America's Facebook page

Be well,

Technicolor girl