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When last have you stopped to think about bees and their precious gift to humankind?
I recently watched Bee Movie with my niece and nephew - it tells the wonderful story of how one little bee discovers that humans are stealing their honey; and what happens when the bees go on strike and there is no more pollination or honey.
Honey has been known to us for many centuries. Before the discovery of cane sugar in Asia, honey was the only sweetener available to people in Europe and North Africa, and it was treated like gold. It was deemed so precious in Ancient Egypt, that it was used as a form of currency.
It wasn't long before the wonderful healing properties of honey were discovered. Honey has strong antibacterial properties, is a natural antibiotic, reduces swelling and pain, and promotes healing. Roman soldiers used honey to treat cuts and wounds and the ancient Greeks used it to treat ulcers and sores.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, believed in honey as the great golden healer."Honey causes heat, cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips and heals carbuncles and running sores," he wrote.
One of the best-known health benefits of honey is its ability to soothe sore throats and kill the bacteria that causes the infection. Combine a spoonful of honey with some freshly-squeezed lemon juice and drink at regular intervals. If you suffer from a persistent cough at night, taking a teaspoon of honey before bedtime can bring great relief.
Honey is an excellent first aid remedy as it is a natural antiseptic. After cleaning the wound with soap and water, you could apply a layer of honey on a dressing before covering the wound to help keep it clean and free from infection and speed up healing.
There are many more health benefits of honey: from treating hay fever to hangovers, mosquito bites and acne. The list is endless.
The best of all is that honey is the one medicine and food that never expires. The sugar content is so high, that it kills almost all bacteria; and the moisture content is too low to allow fungus to grow. Archaeologists found 2 000-year-old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs that still tasted delicious!
Next time you find that your honey has crystallised, remember that it definitely has not gone off. Simply return it to its liquid form by heating it slowly in a bowl filled with warm water; or by popping it into the microwave for a few seconds.
Here's to a sweet, healthy life with honey.
I recently watched Bee Movie with my niece and nephew - it tells the wonderful story of how one little bee discovers that humans are stealing their honey; and what happens when the bees go on strike and there is no more pollination or honey.
Honey has been known to us for many centuries. Before the discovery of cane sugar in Asia, honey was the only sweetener available to people in Europe and North Africa, and it was treated like gold. It was deemed so precious in Ancient Egypt, that it was used as a form of currency.
It wasn't long before the wonderful healing properties of honey were discovered. Honey has strong antibacterial properties, is a natural antibiotic, reduces swelling and pain, and promotes healing. Roman soldiers used honey to treat cuts and wounds and the ancient Greeks used it to treat ulcers and sores.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, believed in honey as the great golden healer."Honey causes heat, cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips and heals carbuncles and running sores," he wrote.
One of the best-known health benefits of honey is its ability to soothe sore throats and kill the bacteria that causes the infection. Combine a spoonful of honey with some freshly-squeezed lemon juice and drink at regular intervals. If you suffer from a persistent cough at night, taking a teaspoon of honey before bedtime can bring great relief.
Honey is an excellent first aid remedy as it is a natural antiseptic. After cleaning the wound with soap and water, you could apply a layer of honey on a dressing before covering the wound to help keep it clean and free from infection and speed up healing.
There are many more health benefits of honey: from treating hay fever to hangovers, mosquito bites and acne. The list is endless.
The best of all is that honey is the one medicine and food that never expires. The sugar content is so high, that it kills almost all bacteria; and the moisture content is too low to allow fungus to grow. Archaeologists found 2 000-year-old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs that still tasted delicious!
Next time you find that your honey has crystallised, remember that it definitely has not gone off. Simply return it to its liquid form by heating it slowly in a bowl filled with warm water; or by popping it into the microwave for a few seconds.
Here's to a sweet, healthy life with honey.
