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Honey is one of those pure diverse foods that can have a great effect in more than one area.
It’s a type of medicine, sugar substitute, helps with local allergies and lasts forever.
This is one of those rare times when you can eat something sweet and gain benefits. That doesn’t mean you eat a jar at a time, but in moderation, it does mean you don’t have to feel guilty.
Honey, as most of you know is made by bees and is a thick sweet syrup. A tablespoon of raw honey contains 64 calories, is fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free, says the National Honey Board. What some of you don’t know is the difference between raw honey and regular honey.
Raw Honey vs Regular
Raw honey is best described as honey “as it exists in the beehive” (1). It is made by extracting honey from the honeycombs of the hive and pouring it over a mesh or nylon cloth to separate the honey from impurities like beeswax and dead bees (2). Once strained, raw honey is bottled and ready to be enjoyed.
Medically reviewed by Ryan Raman, MS, RD at
On the other hand, the production of regular honey involves several more steps before it is bottled — such as pasteurization and filtration (1). Pasteurization is a process that destroys the yeast found in honey by applying high heat. This helps extend the shelf life and makes it smoother (2).healthline .com
Large commercial honey packers additionally push and process honey through a filter under pressure. This process refines and provides a beautiful transparent product that will look great on the shelf.
However, ultra-filtration creates a problem because it removes beneficial micro-nutrients like enzymes, antioxidants, and pollen in honey. Thereby, weakening the nutritional impact and value of the product.
Health Benefits of Honey
Honey is one of the best remedies to treat seasonal allergies. It is also helpful for pet allergies and dust mites because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Becoming a type of vaccine due to the trace amount of pollen, it naturally helps to protect against specific allergens. A person wanting to use honey for allergies should consume it local, raw, and organic (if you can).
Note: Do not give honey to infants under the age of one year old.
Spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria — found in dirt and dust, which can contaminate honey — may lead to infant botulism and produce a toxin inside the body that can cause muscle weakness and breathing problems.
Medical Daily
Medical Benefits of Honey
A friend’s child who is under the age of two suffered second, and third-degree burns on her
Covering and then wrapping their daughter’s hand with raw honey and gauze they treated her wound. Because of the immediate result of seeing how the hand was healing, they continued to treat her at home for the next few weeks. When we went for supper just two weeks ago and looked at their daughter, I could not tell that she ever had a burn on her tiny hand. It truly was amazing!
Honey is a natural antibiotic that can act both internally and externally. It can be used as a conventional treatment for wounds and burns by disinfecting wounds and sores from major species of bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Medical Daily
Besides its health and medical benefits, honey can add and make a simple meal flavorful and delicious.
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Recipe using Honey
Honey Turmeric Chicken
Recipe by- Rasa Malaysia
Honey Turmeric Chicken – sticky, savory and sweet honey chicken marinated with turmeric and cooked on a skillet. Quick and easy dinner in 15 mins. Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 5 minutes Total Time 15 minutes, Servings 2, Calories 389 kcal
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs deboned but skin-on (12 oz chicken)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- Scant 3/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Add the garlic, honey, oyster sauce, turmeric powder, cayenne pepper and salt to the chicken, stir to combine well.
- Heat up a skillet (cast-iron preferred) on medium heat and add the oil. Transfer the chicken to the skillet and cook on both sides, until they turn golden brown, crispy on the bottom and nicely glazed and browned on the skin side. Dish out and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
You may use chicken breast, chicken drumsticks or wings for this recipe. You may also bake or grill this recipe. If baking, bake it at 400F for 20 minutes or until the chicken is slightly charred.
Honey and Sugar Conversion
How to Store Raw Honey
In a sealed (preferably glass) container and at warm room temperatures between 70-80 degrees, is the best way to store raw honey. Since honey will absorb odors and moisture, a clean quart or gallon jar is best. If the jar has been used for pickles and or olives, then again, be careful they do not still hold a smell.
Do not worry about storing your honey away from the light. The honey will only darken but will not be ruined.
Raw Honey does not need to be refrigerated once opened or stored in an airtight container as it will not spoil. Raw honey will indeed crystallize but that’s natural. Storing your honey in cooler temperatures will allow it to crystallize sooner. Keeping it between 70 – 80 degrees will discourage crystallization and keep it flowing smoothly out of your jar for longer.
If you need to liquify your honey, simply put it out in the sun for a couple of days or if it’s stored in a glass jar, heat it slowly in a pan half filled with water on your stove top.
Raw honey lasts forever and is a wonderful and useful food to have in your home. You never know when it will come in handy with a burn, using it as a sweetener, or adding it to your tea to relieve your sore throat.
Ask a friend or call your towns Bee Keeper to get a local source. Keeping it close to home is always best.
Well, that wraps it up. The benefits of honey are amazing and something each person can obtain on a day to day basis.
-Heather Earles
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