Bees play an important role in plant production, helping to pollinate the fruits and vegetables we eat every day. Just in case you didn’t know – September is National Honey Month.
Honey is a wonderful food. It may not be a plant, but honey is a different kind of harvest, a different kind of “fruit.”
Have you stopped to think of all the ways you use honey in your daily life?
Personally, we use it for cooking, salads, making granola, smoothies, coffee, tea, and other kitchen uses.
We all know that honey is one of the best natural sweeteners that Mother Nature has provided us. But a surprising fact is that it is consumed in tremendous quantities worldwide.
UK alone consumes 25,000 metric tons of honey each year, while in the US, it turns out that every American consumes about 1.5 pounds of honey each year.
With such consumption rates, this golden delight offers much more to health than people are generally aware of.
While there are many uses for honey, we are listing 20 that will make you appreciate this ingredient even more. And the benefits honey provides, you will see them yourself after trying these uses.
Natural Sweetener For Desserts
Many people use honey as a sweetener for their morning tea to reduce their calorie intake. But the use of honey should not stop at that.
Its sweetening properties can be put to good use by using honey instead of sugar when preparing desserts.
Apart from its sweet taste and flowery flavor, honey is also rich in antioxidants that are good for the health of internal organs. Antioxidants also slow down the aging process, keeping one looking young for a long time.
Cleanser For Skin
Honey is rich in enzymes that act as very good cleansers for the skin. Using honey as a skin cleanser gently removes dead skin cells and dirt, leaving the skin clean and refreshed.
The enzymes in honey also stimulate the skin cells, improving the blood circulation in them. This provides a natural glow to the skin.
Honey also has anti-microbial properties. Hence, when applied to the skin, it cleans away any harmful bacteria present due to dirt and sweat. Using honey for regular skin cleansing helps prevent skin allergies, acne, and other skin problems.
Healing Dry Lips
Sometimes, despite regular use of cosmetic lip balms, our lips do not get the moisture they need and end up drying out and even chapping. Honey has moisturizing properties that can hydrate and nourish lips, helping prevent them from drying out easily.
Combine a drop of honey with a drop of almond oil, then gently massage onto dry lips. Using this method, dryness around the lips can be reduced in a day or two. This natural lip balm is not only effective but also quite tasty.
Natural Conditioner For Hair
With pollution and stress levels rising in our lives, our hair suffers a lot of damage. Various hair care product companies try to cash in on the desire of damage free, soft hair.
But most of these hair care masks and products are laden with chemicals that only damage hair further in the long run.
Honey has 18% water content and hence has very good nourishing properties.
Mixing a tablespoon of honey with two to three tablespoons of oils like olive or jojoba oil creates the best hair mask that prevents hair damage and avoids splitting.
Cure For Hangover
Hangovers can be cured naturally by eating honey. The natural sugar in honey is present in the form of fructose.
Fructose increases the body’s metabolism, leading to a quicker breakdown of alcohol. This, in turn, can relieve the headaches and discomfort of a hangover.
Quick Boost Of Energy
Honey is made up of 80% sugar and is sweeter than the refined sugar used for everyday cooking. However, the sugar in honey is a simple sugar and can be easily broken down and digested by the body to release energy.
Honey is hence a source of quick energy. Drinking a warm cup of tea when tired or adding it to a smoothie after a workout can help recharge and prepare one for the rest of the day.
Soothing Honey Cough Syrup
The medicinal value of honey has been recognized and appreciated since ancient times. Honey is a natural remedy for a sore throat and cough.
Mixing two tablespoons of honey with warm water and a spoonful of ginger extract makes a soothing cough relief drink.
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe an itchy, tired throat from coughing.
Ginger provides warmth to the body on consumption. Hence, it is very beneficial for coughs due to a cold. The sweetness of honey makes it easy to consume the bitter ginger extract.
Beneficial For Good Sleep
Irregular sleep, interrupted by frequent waking, can be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol can create sleep disorders when they are out of balance.
Eating honey before going to bed has been found to aid uninterrupted sleep. It is found that the soothing properties of honey calm the senses, which reduces anxiety and stress. This, in turn, helps to regulate the hormones in the body.
Cure For Seasonal Allergies
With changing seasons, different people develop allergies, which can lead to skin rashes and itchy, flaking skin. Applying honey to the allergic areas of the skin can provide soothing relief.
Eating a few spoonfuls of local honey during changing weather can also help prevent these allergies.
Honey is derived from flowers, and it has a very small amount of pollen suspended in it. Eating these pollen helps the body develop immunity to them.
Use Honey as a Natural Preservative
Some seasonal fruits taste so good and are so nutritious that we wish we could preserve them longer without losing their nutritional value. Artificial preservatives are not good for health, so many of us prefer not to use them.
Honey is a perfect natural preservative for fruits like summer berries. Mix one part honey with ten parts water to create a natural, honey-based preservative for summer fruits.
The amount of honey can be increased if one prefers a slight taste of honey in berries.
Honey To Clear Up Dry Elbows
Our elbows support our upper body for most of the day. As a result, the skin on our elbows becomes dry and scratchy. Honey, with its moisturizing and cleansing properties,z has proven to be an effective solution for dry elbows.
Combine honey with oats to create a gentle scrub for elbows. Apply the mix on dry elbows and massage for a few minutes to release dead skin cells, dirt, and dryness.
Another way to use honey for dry elbows is to rub a small amount onto them after a bath. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash it off.
Honey For Weight Loss
This is the sweetest news for those looking to lose weight. Although honey is high in sugar, it also helps reduce weight.
Honey increases the body’s basic metabolic rate, leading to faster calorie burn.
Mixing a spoonful of honey in a glassful of warm water prepares a rejuvenating morning drink. Drinking this honey in warm water helps cleanse the body and remove toxins.
It hydrates the body and provides sufficient energy to help avoid morning cravings. This, in turn, helps lose weight over time.
Treating Burns With Honey
Honey is not only a beauty enhancer but also extremely beneficial in the medical sciences. In the olden times, too, honey was used to calm and soothe burns. Honey has anti-septic properties, which make it a good natural healer.
Honey has a cooling effect and, when applied to burns, helps soothe the skin. Honey also reduces the risk of scarring from burns because it is rich in minerals that help repair skin.
Solution To Diabetes
Being diabetic can be a challenge for those who enjoy relishing desserts. Honey, however, has been found to help control blood sugar levels and manage diabetes.
Replacing refined sugar with honey can make it possible for even those with diabetes to enjoy desserts.
Honey has a very low GI – Glycemic Index. This means that the sugar from honey is released very slowly into the bloodstream. This ensures that there are no sudden spikes in blood sugar levels that can be harmful to the body.
Improves The Health Of The Heart
Apart from sugar and water, honey is rich in minerals. These minerals are essential for the smooth functioning of the heart. Honey contains minerals such as Sodium, Magnesium, Iron, Potassium, and Phosphorous which work differently to improve heart health.
These minerals found in honey help metabolize bad cholesterol, break it down, and eliminate it from the body. This keeps the heart’s blood vessels healthy and in good working condition.
Good For A Relaxing Bath
Those who are not looking for any beauty benefits can also use honey for its other important properties. Honey is a very good body relaxant. After a tiring day, soaking in a honey bath can relax the body and mind, leaving one feeling refreshed.
To create a relaxing bath, mix two spoons of honey with one cup of hot water. Let the honey dissolve completely, and then add it to your bath along with essential oils of your choice. The minerals in honey help the body and mind relax.
Improve Nail Health
While we take a lot of care of our bodies, our nails are often neglected. We only remember to care for them when they begin chipping. Using honey for nails is a simple yet very effective home remedy that keeps nails strong and supple.
A few drops of honey can be mixed with a few drops of coconut oil to create a creamy lotion.
This can be applied to the nails and cuticle by gently massaging. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wipe clean or wash. This lotion not only nourishes the nails but also clears them of harmful bacteria.
Removing Parasites From The System
Parasites entering the body might sound impossible, but it truly isn’t. For those who have any issues with parasites in the intestines, honey can be a great relief.
The antimicrobial properties of honey make it repel parasites from the body.
Mixing equal parts honey, vinegar, and warm water and drinking it for two to three days can help remove parasites from the body. For this very reason, it is advisable to carry honey along when on backpacking tours.
A Quick Facial
Not always do we have the time for facials that can make our skin glow. However, that does not mean that the face skin cannot be pampered in less time. Honey can be used to make a quick facial that will make skin look happy.
Two spoons of honey should be mixed with two spoons of milk to create a thick, creamy mixture. This can be applied all over the face and neck, then left on for 10 min. Wash away to find soft, glowing skin within.
Store For Emergency
Honey is one food item that can be stored for a long time without fear of spoiling. Because it can quickly boost energy levels, honey can be stored for emergencies when food is not readily available.
Those who go camping or hunting are often advised to carry honey, as it does not spoil and can provide sufficient energy if food is scarce.
From food to a beauty enhancer to a medicinal cure, honey plays a role in every aspect of life. The sweet golden delight can be relished in a number of ways and consumed in any way, honey never fails in benefiting the body.
Switch to honey for internal and external health, and make the most of the goodness Mother Nature provides.