Honey Health Benefits

Written by Kelly, Contributing Writer

I must admit I have a slight addiction to honey…At least twice a day I have a cup of green tea with honey and rice milk.  It’s like holding a little cup of heaven…mmm. Makes me feel so warm, cozy and content.  I have tried other natural sweeteners, but honey always wins!

Besides being tasty in a cup of tea, honey has a long list of amazing health benefits. Awhile back I shared that one of those is healing eye allergies and pink eye with a simple Honey Eye Wash.

So what else can we use this amazing natural product for?

1. Maintain blood sugar and energy

With another year of school starting, we can all use an energy boost!  Honey contains glucose and fructose so it gives a quick energy boost and maintains it unlike the crash of regular sugar.  It is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and is more easily digested than regular sugar.

2. Immune booster

Honey can act as an immune booster, especially when using local honey.  Local pollen will be in the honey making it a natural immune booster.  Even if it is not local, honey contains antioxidants to strengthen your immune system.

3. Clear and soften skin

A skin mask of pure honey left on for 15-30 minutes can soften and clarify the skin.  Wash off with warm water and feel the difference, instantly.  To lighten and brighten the skin, mix a honey and lemon mask.  Or for irritated skin mix a honey and milk mask. Check out this Holiday Honey Face Mask great for your skin as well as an frugal homemade gift.

4. Hair conditioner

A simple mix of honey and water worked into the hair conditions and cleanses.  It can also lighten dark hair roots. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 6 tablespoons of warm water and coat hair.  Rinse with warm water after 15-20 minutes.

5. Soothe an upset tummy

Drinking a warm cup of water with about 2 tablespoons of honey can calm an upset tummy.  Antimicrobial properties in honey can kill bacteria and infection.

6. Soothe cough and sore throat

A spoonful of honey coats and soothes the throat.  For cough, mix 1 tablespoon of honey in 1/2 cup of grape juice.

7. Cleanse and heal cuts, scrapes and burns

The antiseptic properties of honey clean out the wound and promote healing.  Dab honey directly on the affected area.  Mix with a small amount of olive oil if desired.

The antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of honey make it such a powerful natural remedy!  Remember, the darker the honey, the better.  Never give honey to an infant under the age of one and be cautious about using raw honey under the age of three.

What is your favorite honey remedy?

*this post is linked to: Encourage One Another, Titus 2sdays, and WFMW*