Honey is a sweet liquid made by bees using nectar from flowers. Bees first convert the nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation and evaporation, then store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Honey can then be harvested from the hives for human consumption.

Honey is graded by colour, with the clear, golden amber honey often at a higher retail price than darker varieties. Honey flavour (the sweetness of the honey) and colour, will vary based on the type of flower from which the nectar was harvested.

Both raw and pasteurized forms of honey are available. Raw honey is removed from the hive and bottled directly, and as such will contain trace amounts of yeast, wax, and pollen. Consuming local raw honey is believed to help with seasonal allergies due to repeated exposure to the pollen in the area. Pasteurized honey has been heated and processed to remove impurities.

The history of honey

In ancient Egyptian history, we find a very famous person named Imhotep. This man was a multi-genius who is also greatly revered in Greek literature for his success as a physician. Many things about Imhotep match the description of Joseph in the Bible perfectly. One point that is interesting is that Joseph was also head of the physicians in Egypt (see Genesis 50:2).

One of the natural remedies that Imhotep used for treating patients was honey. Considering the great success that he had as a physician and the fact that he used honey in his treatment of the sick, should lead us to take notice, because honey has very many useful purposes in God’s plan of healing for mankind.

The potential health benefits of consuming honey have been documented in early Greek, Roman, Vedic, and Islamic texts; and the healing qualities of honey were referred to by philosophers and scientists all the way back to ancient times, such as Aristotle (384 — 322 BC) and Aristoxenus (320 BC).

  • Over four thousand years ago, honey was used as a traditional ayurvedic medicine, where it was thought to be effective at treating material imbalances in the body.
  • In pre-Ancient Egyptian times, honey was used topically to treat wounds.
  • Egyptian medicines used honey.
  • The ancient Greeks believed that consuming honey could help you live longer.

The beneficial properties of honey have been explored in modern times, and there is evidence to suggest that these historical claims may hold some truth.

PROPERTIES

1) Nutritional value of honey

Honey contains over 90 precious ingredients, among which the most important are the essential oils, herbal dyes, and acids.

It is composed of glucose, fructose, enzymes, amino acids, essential oils, vitamins and minerals (Vitamin B1, B2, B5, B6, C, E, K, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, copper, chromium) and other ingredients.

Below is a typical honey profile:

Fructose: 38.2%

Glucose: 31.3%

Maltose: 7.1%

Sucrose: 1.3%

Water: 17.2%

Higher sugars: 1.5%

Ash: 0.2%

Other/undetermined: 3.2%

  • Honey is a healthy alternative to sugar
  • Kept well sealed, honey has unlimited shelf life.
  • Crystallization of honey is a normal process that does not affect its quality. Place the jar in warm water and again you get liquid honey.
  • Honey has high levels of monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, containing about 70 to 80 percent sugar, which gives it its sweet taste. Minerals and water make up the rest of its composition.
  • Honey is rapidly absorbed into the body

2) Healing properties of honey

Honey also possesses antiseptic and antibacterial properties. In modern science, we have managed to find useful applications of honey in chronic wound management.

Honey has been consumed for thousands of years for its supposed health benefits.

Modern science is finding that many of the historical claims of honey being used in medicine may indeed be true. In the Bible (Old Testament), King Solomon said, “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good.” Proverbs 24:13. There are a number of reasons why it may be good.

Acid reflux

Honey may be helpful in preventing GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux).

Infantile gastroenteritis

A clinical study which used honey in an oral rehydration solution in children and infants with gastroenteritis showed that honey shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhea in infants and young children. Honey does not prolong the duration of non-bacterial diarrhea, and “may safely be used as a substitute for glucose in oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes.”

Healing wounds and burns

There have been some cases in which people have reported positive effects of using honey in treating wounds and honey may be able to help heal burns. Topical honey is cheaper than other interventions, notably oral antibiotics, which are often used and may have other deleterious side effects.

Honey for treating allergies

There is some research to suggest that honey may be useful in minimizing seasonal allergies. Honey even “beats cough medicine” at alleviating and reducing the frequency of cough.

Fighting infections

A study published in the journal Microbiology revealed that Manuka honey is effective at treating chronic wound infections and may even prevent them from developing in the first place. Manuka honey kills bacteria by destroying key bacterial proteins. Some studies have revealed it may even be effective for the treatment of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. Manuka and other honeys have been known to have wound healing and anti-bacterial properties for some time. Honey may even help reverse bacterial resistance.

With honey, parents can treat their children’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulties due to URI (upper respiratory infections). Honey may be a preferable treatment for cough and sleep difficulties associated with childhood.

But “natural honey kills bacteria three times more effectively” than an artificial honey solution of the same thickness and sugar concentration.

Cold relief

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend honey as a natural cough remedy. Honey reduces nighttime coughing and improves sleep quality in children with upper respiratory infections better than the cough medicine, dextromethorphan, or no treatment.

Everyone knows honey tastes sweet and is delicious mixed with herbal tea and lemon; but chances are you never realized how many health-related uses this versatile food possesses. It makes a wonderful do-it-yourself home remedy that helps to cure many conditions that ail you. The best honey is honey that is totally raw, organic and contains the honeycomb in the jar. It should also include royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen for maximum health benefits.

Here is a whole list of useful ways in which to use honey for better health, both medicinally and for everyday good eating:

Medicinal Uses:

Moisturize skin with a mixture of honey, eggs and flour.

  • Honey is antibacterial and makes a powerful antiseptic to cleanse and heal wounds and prevent scabs from sticking to bandages.
  • Kills viruses and bacterial infections when mixed and eaten with raw, minced garlic.
  • Boosts energy, reduces fatigue, stimulates mental alertness, strengthens immunity, provides, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.
  • Restores eyesight, relieves a sore throat, and makes an effective cough syrup.
  • Prevents heart disease by improving blood flow and prevents damage to capillaries.
  • Regulates the bowels; cures colitis and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
  • Soothes burns, disinfects wounds, reduces inflammation and pain, and promotes faster healing.
  • Reduces anxiety and acts as a sedative; creating a calm and restful sleep, and alkalizes body’s pH.
  • Anti-cancer agents protect against the formation of tumours.
  • Relieves indigestion and acid reflux, and also heals peptic ulcers.
  • Makes a great lip balm and refreshing herbal wash or lotion.
  • Destroys bacteria causing acne, and prevents scarring.
  • Flushes parasites from liver and colon.
  • Heals diabetic ulcers with topical applications.
  • Mix with powdered herbs for topical applications or to reduce bitterness when taken internally.
  • Smooths and exfoliates facial skin, reduces surface lines, and softens dry skin on elbows and heels.
  • Add to green coconut water for supercharged athletic drinks.
  • Protect hair from split ends with a honey conditioner; honey rinse promotes shiny hair.
  • Soften hard water by adding honey to bath water.
  • Speeds metabolism to stimulate weight loss.
  • Improves digestion with natural enzymes.
  • Mix honey and lemon with warm water first thing in the morning for an effective cleanse.
  • Anti-fungal properties cure vaginal yeast infections and athlete’s foot.
  • Relieve hay fever by chewing on honeycomb.
  • Protects topically and internally against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA.
  • Builds immunity to hay fever allergens by mixing honey and bee pollen and taking early in the season.
  • Quenches thirst and relieves heat stroke; also stops hiccups.
  • Lessens the effects of poisons and toxins.
  • Has mild laxative properties.
  • Relieves asthma when mixed with ginger.
  • Controls blood pressure when mixed with fresh garlic juice.
  • Mixing honey and hot water in varying amounts relieves arthritis, bladder infections and abdominal gas; lowers LDL cholesterol, and improves digestion. Additionally, it kills the flu and other viruses, slows the aging process, restores hearing and relieves bad breath.
  • Applying honey, cinnamon, and hot olive oil topically prevents hair loss as well as stops a toothache.

Honey as food

  • Make a salad dressing using honey.
  • Sweeten baked goods with honey instead of sugar.
  • Smear honey on toast.
  • Preserve fruit by adding honey to water and pouring over fresh fruit in canning jars.
  • Make fresh fruit jams with honey instead of sugar.

Warning

Honey is still a form of sugar and intake should be moderate. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 100 calories a day from added sugars; men no more than 150 calories a day. This is a little over two tablespoons for women and three tablespoons for men.

Honey may contain botulinum endospores that cause infant botulism, a rare but serious type of food poisoning that can result in paralysis. Even pasteurized honey has a chance of containing these spores. For this reason, it is recommended that infants under one year do not consume honey.  So, never give honey to babies under the age of one due to the risk of botulism. Honey carries botulism spores and babies do not have enough immunity for proper protection.

The proper use of honey

The recommended daily amount of honey for an adult is between 60 and 100 grams, divided into three parts (in the morning, during the day, and at bedtime).

The recommended daily amount of honey to children under the age of 10 years is 30 grams, also distributed three times a day.

When you add it in hot drinks, the liquid should not be warmer than 40 degrees Celsius, in order to preserve its properties. At temperatures above 41 degrees honey loses its healing properties. So be careful while adding honey to warm tea.

Honey is a food that prolongs your life expectancy. Honey is a food given to us by God. Today it is hard to imagine life without honey.

Victor Shumbusho

      DR Congo Union Secretary