Honey has caused quite a buzz in the health industry. The health benefits of raw honey are plentiful, and consuming honey is encouraged when following a well-balanced diet. To help you understand just how great honey is for you, our Bob's Red Mill team put together this complete guide on honey, its health benefits and the countless ways that you can enjoy it.
How Honey Is Made
To fully understand honey and all of its incredible health benefits, it's crucial that we first talk about how it's made. To make syrup, honey bees travel far and wide (about a two-mile radius) to gather nectar from flowers. The nectar is then brought back to their hive, where it is transferred from the collector bees to the worker bees, who then process it into the sweet syrup we know as honey. The syrup is later stored into the honeycomb to keep for future use.
The honeycomb being used for storage is made of a wax produced by young bees who mold it into hexagonal shaped cells. These shells are strong enough to hold the honey and help prevent it from spoiling. After the honey is unloaded into the cells, worker bees fan it to help dry up any moisture and then seal off the honeycomb to protect it during storage.
So, how does the honey get to us? Beekeepers use several different methods to extract the honey from the honeycomb. Some ways drain the honey out to preserve the wax, and others manipulate the wax to remove the honey. Once the honey is removed, it's ready to eat! While larger companies will generally process the honey to eliminate pollen and other naturally occurring elements, small-scale local beekeepers will usually sell the honey in its raw form. If you're purchasing honey from a local beekeeper, don't be alarmed if you have some pollen floating around in it!
How Honey Gets Its Color and Taste
Let's talk about taste. If honey is all made with the same process, why does some honey taste so different than others? The way honey looks and tastes depend on the type of flower the nectar was harvested from. Different weather conditions and regions produce diverse flora that contributes to honey's overall look and flavor. Lighter colored honey, such as clover honey, is usually mild in taste, while amber-colored honey, like orange blossom honey, has a more robust flavor. In general, the darker the honey, the more intense the character will be!
Now that you have an idea of which kind of honey you prefer, you may be wondering how to use it. Honey is a great sugar alternative and can be used to sweeten a variety of dishes. Because honey is sweeter than sugar, you'll likely use less of it. Use honey to sweeten your morning coffee, or enjoy it as a delicious topping on a big stack of pancakes. Raw honey is an excellent addition to your meals and packs quite the nutrition boost.
Curious to learn more about the many benefits of honey? Keep reading to discover why you should incorporate honey into your healthy diet.
Benefits of Honey
Honey Is a Natural Sweetener
Like we previously noted, honey is a natural sweetener. While you've likely heard of people adding honey to their tea to combat the bitter taste, honey doesn't have to be used in drinks alone. Add honey to baked goods, smoothies and even sauces for a hint of sweet flavoring.
Honey Can Strengthen Your Immune System
If you're someone who suffers from allergies, then honey may become your new secret weapon. Because bees gather nectar from flowers in the area, the honey produced contains trace amounts of pollen. By eating local honey, you can help strengthen your immune system to flora and fauna in the area and provide relief from allergy symptoms. Plus, honey is loaded with antioxidants that also work to enhance your immune system.
Honey Can Soothe a Sore Throat
Help helps calm a cough! If you're suffering from a sore throat accompanied by a cough, honey can help with that! For sore throat relief, try gargling with honey. If you're not a fan of the taste of honey alone, that's okay. Several cough drops on the market have honey in them and work to relieve symptoms quickly.
Honey Can Provide a Quality Energy Boost
Need a quick energy boost? Many sports drinks on the market today are filled with processed ingredients and sugars. If you're searching for a more natural way to up your carb intake and receive a boost of energy, honey may be just what you're looking for. Honey is an ideal pre-workout treat as it's packed with easily digestible carbs that can be released into your metabolism at a steady pace.
Honey Has Antibacterial Properties
Honey has antibacterial and antifungal properties that have shown to prevent bacteria growth. While this benefit is excellent when consumed, honey can also be applied topically on cuts or scrapes to aid in preventing an infection. If you're not interested in applying raw honey to your sores, try purchasing a honey ointment to avoid infection and to relieve itching.
Honey Can Moisturize Skin and Hair
Honey is an excellent conditioner for both your skin and your hair! Used in various health and beauty products, honey helps whatever it's applied to retain water. Mix a bit of honey into your shampoo, or apply it to your skin and a moisturizing mask. The benefits of honey are endless.
Honey Inspired Recipes
We love honey so much that we believe it can be enjoyed no matter what time of the day it is. To help turn you into a honey enthusiast, here are our favorite honey inspired meals that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert!
Honey for Breakfast: Honey Oat Granola Pancakes
Wondering how you can wake up to a plate full of honey? We have the perfect recipe for you. While pancakes are not always advertised as a nutritious breakfast, these Honey Oat Granola Pancakes are loaded with health benefits. A sweet way to start your day, this recipe uses our Gluten Free Pancake Mix to create a creamy batter that's safe to eat for individuals with gluten intolerance. To sweeten things up a bit and add a boost of much-needed nutrients, our Gluten Free Honey Oat Granola is mixed in, uniting both texture and flavor.
When it comes to toppings, we urge you to get creative! Fresh fruit, yogurt or even a dollop of honey are all sweet and healthy topping choices that will take the flavor profile of this breakfast to the next level.
Honey for Lunch: Honey Lime Millet Salad
Have you just discovered the amazing health benefits of honey and find that you can't get enough of it? Contrary to popular belief, honey doesn't have to be combined with sweet ingredients to be enjoyable. In fact, the true flavors of honey often shine when paired with more savory dishes. Enjoy honey for lunch, and make this tangy Honey Lime Millet Salad.
This enjoyable summer salad is overflowing with fresh fruits and veggies like corn, peppers, zucchini and tomatoes mixed with millet and fresh herbs. The flavors of this meal genuinely shine when it's combined with homemade spiced honey, citrus dressing. Perfect for your next barbecue or outdoor gathering, this unique recipe will win over any crowd.
Honey for Dinner: Hawaiian Pizza With Honey Whole Wheat Crust
A favorite dinner dish worldwide, pizza is loved by everyone. If you've been craving pizza for a while now and are looking to change up your weekly dinner routine, try this Hawaiian Pizza with Honey Whole Wheat Crust. Mouthwatering pizza dough is created by combining cornmeal, whole wheat flour and honey. It's then loaded with delicious Canadian bacon and juicy pineapple for an over the top flavor sure to catapult you into food-induced bliss!
Honey for Dessert: Honey Blackberry Pie
Now that you know how to enjoy honey for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it's time to work it into a dessert recipe. This Honey Blackberry Pie uses honey to balance out the tart flavors of blackberries, creating a sweet-tart combo that will have everyone heading back to the table for seconds. Made with our Gluten Free Pie Crust MIx, this dessert is also entirely free of gluten! Made in about an hour, enjoy this pie warm or chilled for a refreshingly sweet treat.
It's safe to say that we're sweet on honey. A nutrient-rich and natural alternative to processed sugar, honey is a sweet food accompanied by numerous health benefits. Whether you choose to use honey to replace sugar or work it into a savory dish to boost flavor, there are plenty of reasons (and ways) to enjoy honey.
