Sweet Like Honey

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September is National Honey Month and to celebrate you can add some honey to your diet! 


Honey is a liquid sweetener made from bees and its sweetness comes from its chemical makeup (glucose + fructose). There are two forms of honey: raw and pasteurized. Raw honey is the least processed out of the two and is considered safe to eat (except in children under 1). Pasteurized honey has a better shelf life than raw honey because its imperfections are removed. Corn syrup and other sweeteners are also added to pasteurized honey. 


You may have noticed honey can be light or dark. The color of honey depends on what plant the bee took the nectar from and studies have shown that darker honey has less water and more antioxidants than light honey. 


Benefits of Honey

  • Contains antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes

  • Soothes cough (natural cough remedy) 

  • Can be used to treat burns and wounds 


How to Choose Honey

  • The clearer the honey the more processed 

  • Raw honey > pasteurized honey 

  • The “organic” label does not always mean better, make sure to check the ingredients list for added ingredients


How to Use Honey

  • Spoonful in tea

  • A light drizzle in plain yogurt 

  • In sauces or marinades 

  • Bake it in a loaf of bread 


Disclaimer: If you choose to use honey as a medicine, talk to your doctor first. Although honey is beneficial, it still is an added sugar. It is recommended that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily and men only 9 teaspoons per day. 




References

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-benefits-of-honey-how-to-incorporate-it-into-your-diet/ https://honey.com/recipes


-MT

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 19, 2021 at 9:25 PM

    I love getting honey from the local markets. It is always my go to when I get a cold! Nothing like lemon honey tea! great post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 1, 2021 at 12:17 PM

    As I get older I realize why many adults love honey, it just has so many great benefits! Definitely going to have to head to a local market to pick so up!

    ReplyDelete

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